Research into NVQ Provision and Progression Routes in the South West
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Transcript of Research into NVQ Provision and Progression Routes in the South West
Research into NVQ Provision
and Progression Routes in the South West
Presentation by Nigel Tremlett for
South West Employment and Skills Forum
8th January 2004
Research coverage
Key economic sectors
Aerospace & Advanced engineering;
Food and Drink;
ICT; Marine; and Tourism.
Emerging sectors
Biotechnology; Creative industries; Environmental
technologies; and The underpinning
technologies
Research objectives
1. Review existing research data and plans for NVQ delivery in the region;
2. Map NVQ delivery by NVQ level and sector;3. Identify and map progression opportunities
and constraints from NVQ Level 1 to Level 5;4. Identify gaps and oversupply against demand;5. Review and assess past, current and intended
relevant key studies; and6. Providing appropriate recommendations for
the future development of progression routes by sector.
Research methodology
Literature review Quantitative analysis
Validation work
Reporting
Interviews and consultations
Research issues
Work-based and FE provision; Sources of data; Currency of data; Involvement of different
stakeholders; NVQ focus.
The National Qualifications Framework
Level of qualification
General“academic”
Vocationally related
Occupational
5 Higher level qualifications
Level 5 NVQ
4 BTEC higher nationals Level 4 NVQ
3(Advanced)
A LevelAdvanced
GNVQ Level 3 NVQ
2(Intermediate
)
GCSE Grades A-C
Intermediate GNVQ Level 2 NVQ
1(Foundation)
GCSE Grades D-G
Foundation GNVQ Level 1 NVQ
Findings at the South West regional level
Type and geography of NVQ provision
Provision levels in relation to SW working population
Comparison with national figures
Type and geography of SW Provision
Table 3.4 South West population compared with all NVQ learners
Population/LLSC
Devon & Cornwall
Somerset BournemouthDorset &
Poole
West Of
England
Wiltshire &
Swindon
Glosc SouthWest
Total Population
1,576,000 498,000 692,000 983,000 613,000 565,000 4,927,000
Working age pop
688,000 231,000 309,000 474,000 311,000 273,000 2,286,000
Work-based NVQs
16,820 4,690 6,711 7,257 4,673 4,948 45,099
FE/HE NVQs 13,048 4,006 6,211 9,270 8,541 3,344 44,420
All NVQs 29,868 8,696 12,922 16,527 13,214 8,292 89,519
Workingpop/ NVQs
1/23 1/27 1/24 1/29 1/24 1/33 1/25
Swindon
Abergavenny
Avonmouth
Barnstaple
Bath
Bournemouth
Brecon
Bristol
Bude
Cardiff
Cardigan
Carmarthen Cheltenham
Exeter
Falmouth
Fishguard
Haverfordwest
Hereford
Honiton
Ilfracombe
Launceston
Llanelli
Newport
Newquay
Pembroke
Penzance
Plymouth
Salisbury
Swansea
Taunton
Torquay
Truro
Weston-super-Mare
Weymouth
Yeovil
Key Workingpopulation
NVQLearners
Devon & Cornwall – 688,000
Somerset – 231,000Bournemouth,
Dorset & Poole – 309,000
Wiltshire & Swindon – 311,000
Gloucestershire – 273,000
West of England – 472,000
South West regional level – The geography of provision
National comparison
% of NVQ certificates awarded at five levels 2002
Level National South West
Level 1 18% 14%Level 2 58% 49%Level 3 21% 35%Level 4/5 3% 3%
Findings for theEnvironmental Technologies
sector
1. NVQ availability2. NVQ provision3. Levels of supply and progression
opportunities4. Main gaps in provision5. Validation work with employers6. Key recommendations
1. NVQ availability
Eighty NVQs identified nationally as being currently available and relevant to ET sector
All at level 3 or above; Six at level 4 and one at level 5; Good coverage of two manufacturing
sub-sectors (electricity distribution and ventilation equipment), poorer coverage of two others (sewage/refuse disposal and collection/purification of water).
2. NVQ provision
Sixty two of the eighty NVQs identified were actually provided in the South West in 2001-02
A total of over 9,500 learners were on these 62 courses in 2001-02;
Virtually all of these at level 3; Most of this provision was work-based;
and Concentrated in three LSC areas:
• Devon & Cornwall;• West of England; and • Bournemouth, Dorset & Poole.
3. Levels of supply and progression opportunities
In terms of numbers of learners, there is sufficient supply to meet demand for labour replacement and productivity gains;
In terms of progression opportunities, the development of the sector is limited by;
NVQ level; and Course type and depth.
4. Main gaps in provision
Levels 4 and 5 overall; Short, modular courses; Areas/topics;
Energy usage; Waste management; CAD skills; Environmental legislation;
Depth and content of current NVQs.
5. Validation work with employers
Agreement with overall findings, but; No great concern over lack of NVQs at levels
4 and 5, because it was felt that staff at this level would need degrees or postgraduate qualifications and “years of experience”;
Divided opinions over manner of NVQ provision, some satisfied, others not.
5. Validation work with employers (ctd)
Generally poor perception of NVQs; “NVQs don’t meet our (specific) skills needs”;
and “NVQs are very, very basic”.
NVQs not seen as being relevant to future of sector;
“NVQs not relevant to ET”, “We need graduates/MScs/PhDs/etc, not
vocational qualifications”
6. Recommendations for ET sector
NVQs needed for missing subjects; Existing NVQs need to be updated
and more advanced in content; Short, modular courses needed; Provision at levels 4 and 5
required; and The administration and
bureaucracy associated with NVQs needs to be simplified.
Summary of overall recommendations 1
SupplySupply of of
NVQs NVQs
(Perceived) (Perceived)
Quality of Quality of NVQsNVQs
Employer/ Employer/ learner learner demand demand for NVQsfor NVQs
Summary of overall recommendations 2
Seven key recommendations
1. Increase overall levels of NVQ provision;2. Provision to fill identified gap areas;3. Improved opportunities for progression within
existing NVQ framework;4. Modular provision and short courses;5. Improved/advanced course coverage; 6. Improved spatial delivery; and7. Improve the image of NVQs to encourage
uptake among a greater proportion of employers.