Newsletter – Issue 3
Transcription
Newsletter – Issue 3
Newsletter – Issue 3 December 2015 Greetings from the Director General Dear readers, I sincerely congratulate everyone on the occasion of the 44 th National Day. We should combine our efforts to empower our citizens, build a sustainable society and meet the goals of the UAE Vision 2021. We appreciate your interest in the activities of the National Qualifications Authority (NQA). The Authority is in charge of the establishment and implementation of an internationally recognised qualifications system for the UAE, which includes a national qualifications framework – QFEmirates. At the end of November, NQA actively participated in the Innovation Week 2015, in line with the directives of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. The current issue of the newsletter covers the major projects we are working on, the initiatives we have launched, the conferences and workshops our staff has recently attended, and a lot of other interesting information. Best regards, “A country's greatest H.E. Dr. Thani Al Mehairi investment l ies in building generations of NQA at a Conference in Saudi Arabia T he National Qualifications Authority (NQA) participated in a public education evaluation conference entitled Evaluation in the Kingdom: a Prelude to Education Quality and Development held by the Public Education Evaluation Commission (PEEC) in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on November 3-5, 2015. PEEC has organised a rich program of events including presentations of papers and workshops. The participation in the conference aimed at strengthening the bonds as well as exchanging expertise and successful experiences among specialists in education and training sectors from the Gulf and other countries. The conference addressed several topics, including the development of education, teaching methods and strategies, and the impact of education on economy and society. Ms. Noura Al Matrooshi, director of the National Qualifications Framework department at NQA, presented a paper entitled The Impact of Education on Economic Growth, which emphasises the importance of the national qualifications framework in order to meet the UAE's labour market requirements and its role in building and developing the national skilled labour in response to the country’s wise leadership for achieving innovation and international competitiveness. In addition, Ms. Al Matrooshi adverted to the NQA’s initiatives and achievements at the international level, such as the recent alignment of the Qualifications Framework for the Emirates, QFEmirates, with the UK counterparts. This is considered to be the first alignment of its kind outside Europe. This will enable to develop a new mechanism for the recognition of vocational qualifications obtained by Emirati students from British vocational institutions, which will result in supplying the UAE labour market with national skilled and specialised professionals. educated and knowledgeable youth.” H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Inside this issue Greetings from the Director General 1 NQA at a Conference in Saudi Arabia 1 TVET Department Activities and Achievements 2 R&D Department 2 National Qualifications Framework 3 Government Communication Office 3 NQA’s Delegate Visit to 4 Australia and New Zealand Innovation Week 2015 4 Crossword 4 Compiled by R&D Department, NQA TVET Department Activities and Achievements R&D Department Research conducted by the R&D Department focuses on a broad range o f t o p i cs rela ted to human capital and workforce development in the UAE . The latest reports released are: Reviewing the Implementation and Impact of the QFEmirates, which specifies problems in the implementation of the framework and how to solve them; R e fe r e nci ng of the QF Emirates to Other Q u a l i f i ca t ions Frameworks, which aims to establish linkages and alignment with other c o u n t r i e s for proper c o m p a r i s o n of qualifications in order to improve learner mobility; Vocational Education and Training Data Collection in the UAE and Selected Countries , the first report on the national data standards for the VET sector and a data collection system NQA is currently establishing. Join NQA-QFSC NQA is establishing the Qualifications Framework and Systems Community (NQA-QFSC) to enable members to share experiences, ideas and research, and to participate in relevant NQA events. To 2 join NQA-QFSC, please complete this survey. T he Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Department has resumed carrying out the assigned functions and responsibilities directly associated with its strategic plan, particularly those related to operationalising the systems approved by the NQA Board of Trustees such as development, assessment and endorsement of the national qualifications and awards based on the National Occupational Skills Standards (Q+NOSS), training providers’ evaluation and accreditation, providing technical support to evaluating and regulating labourers quality, besides other assignments linked to vocational education and training. National Occupational Skills Standards and Vocational Qualifications A. Q+NOSS Technical Workshops A few Q+NOSS workshops have been organised by the department to entities and institutions to highlight the importance of Q+NOSS for individuals, employers, labour market and the country as a whole as well as to show mechanisms of Q+NOSS development as per NQA approved quality assurance criteria. B. Review and Evaluation of Recognised National Development Committee (RNDC) Part A Applications The department has received a few RNDC Part A applications from different national entities and institutions interested in developing Q+NOSS and qualifications for a group of occupations in various disciplines and sectors. The staff reviewed and evaluated the applications in cooperation with representatives from the awarding bodies. The applications that meet the RNDC requirements were approved and forwarded to the Vocational Education and Training Awards Council (VETAC) Executive Secretary to take action. The applicants whose applications failed to pass the review checklists were notified and updated about the evaluation result. C. Review and Evaluation of a Batch of Vocational Qualifications Received from Awarding Bodies for Endorsement Purposes The awarding bodies forwarded a batch of vocational qualifications developed by training providers working under their auspices to the TVET Department for endorsement purposes. A review was conducted against the qualifications as per the NQA quality assurance procedures. The awarding bodies were informed about the review results. D. Auditing Works on the Endorsed National Qualifications The department staff conducted a comprehensive and broad auditing review on the endorsed national qualifications to ensure that they are complete before uploading them on the NQA website to be accessible to users. E. Continuous Update of RNDC Products and Outcomes A weekly meeting is conducted between NQA and the awarding body technical teams. At these meetings, the awarding body representatives update the NQA staff about the results and outcomes of RNDC’s work functioning under its supervision, basically development processes. The awarding body produces a monthly report detailing what has been achieved to date. Obstacles and problems the developers face and how they address them in time are discussed. F. Providing Support to Entities Interested in Developing Q+NOSS The department provides the necessary technical support to entities interested in developing Q+NOSS through conducting specially arranged meetings, during which the importance of these products and mechanisms of developing them are presented. Participants are invited to attend the technical Q+NOSS workshop, usually held twice a month. In addition, support is provided via email or phone. G. Cooperation with the Company Contracted to Build and Operate the Electronic Systems of Q+NOSS Templates The department has taken part in the technical meetings devoted for building and TVET Department (cont.) operating the approved electronic systems of Q+NOSS templates. Necessary consultation and advice were provided and the company representatives’ doubts were clarified. Evaluating and Accrediting Training Providers A. Initial Registration of Training Providers The department continues receiving applications from training providers interested in becoming initially registered in the NQA database. Applications received on the NQA website are addressed on a daily basis. When the registration requirements are met, a special unique number is usually given to the training provider to apply for the full registration at the awarding body. Providers failing to submit complete and correct applications are notified via email or phone to resubmit their applications with correct data and attachments. B. Full Registration of Training Providers Five (5) full registration applications have been received from the existing training providers. They are currently being reviewed for official accreditation to become eligible to deliver endorsed national qualifications. Another batch of 15 applications is also under review for accreditation purposes. Full registration in the NQA database means that the training provider has met all quality assurance criteria and requirements. National Qualifications Framework T he National Qualifications Authority (NQA) has overall responsibility to set policy, manage and assure the quality and integrity of the qualifications system implemented under its auspices. NQA coordinates with three operational bodies or commissions. These are: the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) the General Education Commission for Secondary Education (GEC) the Vocational Education and Training Awards Commission (VETAC). While CAA, which covers higher education, and GEC, which is in charge of general compulsory Grade 12 school education, have respective l e g i s l a t i v e a u t h o rity to Figure 1: QFEmirates perform their functions, VETAC operates under the auspices and legislative authority of the NQA. It is exclusively responsible for vocational education and training within its remit and, where relevant, professional education and training. NQA has designed the Qualifications Framework for the Emirates, QF Emirates, to be the single structure through which all qualifications in the UAE can be described and compared, enabling the relationship between all qualifications Figure 2: Qualifications endorsed by NQA to be defined. The QFEmirates consists of ten (10) levels. See Figure 1. Three qualification types have been identified within the QFEmirates: Government Communication Office In October 2015, NQA, represented by the G o v e r n m e n t Communication Office, participated in an Arabic international forum entitled DardaChat Arabia. The forum offered a platform to a number of important young Arab leaders in various fields to exchange prominent ideas, experiences and efforts that have had a positive and significant impact on the lives of others as well as those who have in one way or another made a contribution to the development on either personal or social level. Taking into consideration the importance of communica tion in the exchange of expertise and transfer of knowledge, the UAE government plays a great role in supporting thinkers, talents, creators, and scientists. Principal qualifications (the major type) Composite award (for the partial completion of studies) 3 Component award (the smallest one). Figure 2 shows the breakdown of qualifications endorsed by NQA so far by QF level and type. 3 NQA’s Delegate Visit to Australia and New Zealand I n July and August 2015, a delegate from NQA paid an official visit to Australia and New Zealand. The delegate consisted of Mr. Khaled Obaid Al Hajeri, Chief Innovation Officer, Director of IT and Administration Affairs Department, the head of the delegate; and the members: Ms. Nourah Abdulla Saeed Al Matrooshi, head of the National Qualifications Framework Department, Mr. Tawfiq Deeb, Specialist in Q+NOSS from the TVET Department, and Ms. Arwa Al Ali, Data Officer from the Research & Development Department. The visit aimed at exposing the delegate to mechanisms of qualifying, registering and licensing teachers and school leaders in the two countries, familiarising the members with the electronic systems employed by NZQA in performing specialisations such as the development of national occupational skills standards and vocational qualifications, registration of training providers, verification of foreign qualifications, data entry of national exam results, and others. Innovation Week 2015 NQA celebrated Innovation Week 2015 with a number of activities, such as iShows, iCompetitions, and i A w a r d s . A mong the i n t e r a c t i v e p r o g ra ms w e r e a s m a r t Encyclopedia, an innovative calendar competition, display of the innovative projects from Zayed Higher Organisation for Humanitarian Care and Special Needs (ZHO), and others. The visit made it possible for the delegate members to get an idea about some of the best international practices in licensing teachers and school leaders, which will hopefully enhance the to-be-developed structure and procedures of the licensing teachers and school leaders system in the UAE. The delegates learned about the electronic systems operated by the NZQA staff, their merits and demerits, difficulties and challenges faced while activating them and how these systems can assist the authority in achieving its missions and responsibilities. It is expected that the NZQA positive practices will be taken into consideration and the new NQA’s electronic systems, to be installed and activated, will be accordingly simple, applicable, operational, and easy to use. Crossword Do you know NQA terms? Down 1 A formally approved learner's achievement to standards set by the relevant accreditation/awarding body 2 An award to provide formal recognition for learners who have partially met the learning outcomes required for a qualification National Qualifications 3 The process of acquiring knowledge and skill Authority (NQA) 4 Relating to, or connected with a vocation or occupation 5 The formal approval and recognition of an education and training organisation that conforms to public standards and quality requirements Keep in Touch 6 The number of levels in the QFEmirates 7 The ability coming from a learner's knowledge, practice, aptitude, etc., to do something well P.O. Box: 63003 Abu Dhabi, UAE Phone: +971 2 815 6666 Fax: +971 2 815 6677 Across Web: www.nqa.gov.ae 1 The national qualifications framework for the UAE 9 The smallest qualification in the QFEmirates If you have any 4 questions, please contact us at: 8 Non-structured learning that occurs over time and in a variety of places through experiences 10 The major type of qualification associated with formal recognition at each level in the QFEmirates R&[email protected] 4 Answer key will be in the next issue of the newsletter.