motivate people to take up learning by enabling them to access learning
in small blocks for which immediate credit is given
make learning opportunities more accessible to a wider range of learners
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2. Lifelong Learning
NICATS aims to make lifelong learning a reality because:
all learning achievement will be recognised through credit which will be
recorded on a personal NICATS Credit Transcript
learners can build credit towards further study if they so wish
learners will be able to study at a time, place and pace which suits them
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3. Equality
NICATS will promote equality by:
providing a common language for recognising achievement from the most basic
level to doctoral level
encouraging parity of esteem between qualifications through the use of this
common language[Top]
4. Upskilling
NICATS will enable:
employers to respond rapidly to the changing needs of industry through providing
customised programmes
learners to claim recognition for such customised programmes thereby increasing
motivation and opportunities for career progression
such programmes to contribute to government targets relating to workforce
skills levels
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5. Untapping Potential
NICATS will untap individuals' potential by:
engaging more people in learning as they will be able to tailor their learning
to suit individual interests and needs
increasing motivation as success will be experienced more regularly through
the achievement of smaller blocks of learning
taking the fear out of education by eliminating the traditional linear process
of learning [Top]
6. Employability
There is an emerging shift from education for employment (developing the ability
to do a specific job) to education for employability (developing the ability
to adapt skills to new, working environments)
NICATS can facilitate this by:
providing a system which enables education and training to be adaptable
and flexible
enabling people to upskill by taking short, relevant, credit-based programmes
encouraging a culture of lifelong learning
enabling employers to deliver programmes in a more cost-effective and focused
way
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7. Raising Standards
NICATS will contribute to the raising of standards because:
adherence by all stakeholders to the principles
and guidelines recommended by NICATS will help to ensure standards
of programmes in terms of the nature of learning, intellectual demand (level)
and volume of learning (notional learning effort)
unitised programmes can be updated rapidly
it will facilitate responsiveness by enabling programmes to be tailored
to meet market-led demands
unitisation enables overlap to be identified thus avoiding proliferation
of units/qualifications
learning goals can be achieved more efficiently without unnecessary repetition
of learning
the NICATS model will encourage good practice in teaching and learning through
the adoption of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and will make learning
achievement explicit - this benefits learners, employers,
gatekeepers and providers
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