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UK Credit Equivalence Project

1. Background and Rationale

The UK Credit Equivalence Project is a partnership involving NICATS, the Credit and Qualifications Framework, Wales (CQFW), the Learning and Skills Development Agency ((LSDA), formally the Further Education Development Agency), and others to carry out work to establish credit equivalences for a range of national qualifications. These will include GCE AS/A Level, GCSE, GNVQ, NVQ and other vocational qualifications. NICATS input to this Project is funded by The Department for Employment and Learning (DEL).
The CQFW initiative is financed by Education and Learning Wales (ELWa) and has full support from the Welsh Assembly.

Establishing agreed credit equivalences for nationally recognised qualifications and their constituent units will enable learners, deliverers of learning, gatekeepers and employers to compare qualifications and make judgements on how accredited portions of learning relate to one another. [Top]

2. Methodology and process for ascribing credit equivalence

A methodology and process for ascribing credit equivalence has been agreed by the core partners. The process for ascribing Credit Equivalence is based on the following general principles.

The process will involve survey and panel activities.
The process will be supported by the provision of staff development.
Those involved in ascribing credit equivalence should have a sound understanding of the process.
Those involved in ascribing credit equivalence should have experience in the area.

The process of ascribing credit equivalence involves four main steps. These are:

1) Identify practitioners for survey in relation to credit equivalence

The views on credit equivalences for existing qualifications (and their units) will be sought through a survey of a wide range of practitioners from as many different types of organisation as possible.

2) Collection of practitioner credit equivalences via a survey

Experienced deliverers of the qualifications for which equivalences are sought are asked to provide their estimates of credit equivalence.

3) Analysis of survey results

Credit equivalences will be collected and tabulated and the average calculated. An interim report will be prepared to focus discussion at the subject panel.

4) Establishment of credit equivalence panel

Panels of subject specialists will be convened to discuss the findings of the survey contained within the interim report and agree a recommended credit equivalence. [Top]

3. Progress to date in Northern Ireland

Phase 1: January 2001 - February 2002

To date, the NICATS credit equivalence project has concentrated on assigning credit equivalences to qualifications (or specific units within the qualification) in the areas of mechanical/manufacturing and software engineering. Credit Equivalences have been agreed for the following qualifications (or specific units within these qualifications) :

Units within the Edexcel National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering
Units within the Edexcel National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering
City & Guilds 2280: Mechanical Production Competence - part 2
City & Guilds 2290: Fabrication and Welding Competences - part 2
NVQ level 3: Engineering Production
NVQ level 3: Technical Services
NVQ level 3: Engineering Maintenance
Units within the NVQ levels 1 & 2 in Performing Engineering Operations
Units within the NVQ level 2 in Engineering Production
HNC & HND Engineering units (Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace, CAD/CAM, Plant & Process)
HNC & HND Computing (Software Engineering) units.

Phase 2: March 2002 - September 2002

During this phase the qualifications within the area of electrical and electronic engineering (including aspects of Construction) will be surveyed. Those qualifications to be surveyed within the area of electrical and electronic engineering include:

BTEC Nationals and Higher Nationals

BTEC National Certificate in Engineering (Electrical/Electronic)
BTEC National Diploma in Engineering Engineering (Electrical/Electronic)
BTEC National Diploma in Engineering, Computing, Mechanics and Electrical Engineering
HNC Engineering (Electrical/Electronic)
HND Electrical/Electronic Engineering
HND Engineering (Electrical/Electronic)

NVQs

NVQ levels 2 & 3 in Electrical & Electronic Servicing (City & Guilds 2248 and ETC awards)
NVQ level 3 in Electrical Installation Engineering (City & Guilds 2350)
NVQ levels 2 & 3 in Installation and Commissioning Electrotechnical systems (City & Guilds 2355)

City & Guilds VQs

Electrical and Electronic Engineering (C&G 2320)
Electrical Installation (C&G 2360)
Electronics Servicing (C&G 2240)
Inspection, Testing, and Certification of Electrical Installations (C&G 2391)
Knowledge of Electrical Installation Engineering (C&G 2351)

Progress to Date (The CQFW Project)

The CQFW project has established credit equivalences for qualifications included within Curriculum 2000. The following credit equivalences have been agreed:

an A level, A/S and AVCE unit = 9 credits at level 3;
a GNVQ Intermediate unit = 10 credits at level 2;
a GNVQ Foundation unit = 10 credits at level 1;
a GCSE (grades A* to C) = 15 credits at level 2;and
a GCSE (Grade D and below) = 15 credits at level 1

The CQFW project is currently credit equivalencing all professional qualifications offered within Wales. The project will also credit equivalence those NVQs related to The Modern Skills Diploma for Adults.

Related Features

NICATS, University of Ulster, York St, BELFAST T. +44 (0)28 9026 7250 F. +44 (0)28 9026 7253 nicats@ulst.ac.uk

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