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Standards and Qualifications
Integration of Vendor Certifications and NVQs/SVQs
The UK government has worked with ITC employers to develop a qualification framework based on the employees ability to prove that they can do their job. These are known as National/Scottish Vocational Qualifications (NVQs/SVQs). The candidate shows, by collecting evidence, that he/she can perform a range of tasks spanning technical skill, communications, management and health and safety.
ITC vendors, such as Microsoft, Cisco and Novel also offer qualifications. These tend to be highly technical and well recognised by industry.
Up until now, these qualifications have developed in parallel. The NVQs/SVQs make indirect reference to the content of vendor qualifications but the two types of qualification had not formally been linked.
Due to mounting pressure from employers the government agencies charged with looking after NVQs/SVQs in the sector (namely QCA, SQA, e-skills NTO, and nto.telecom) have worked with vendors to bring the two types of qualification together.
A study of the similarities and differences has shown that the NVQs/SVQs are excellent at demonstrating competence across a wide range of skills important to a person in the ITC sector; and that the vendor qualifications are excellent at developing in-depth technical knowledge on a vendor platform.
The NVQs/SVQs require much of the technical knowledge defined by the vendor qualifications and add to this some of the softer skills. The way the NVQs/SVQs are examined - in the work place - means they are a true measure of an individuals competence. A candidate with both qualifications would have a detailed technical knowledge and have proved that he/she could use it in a real world situation."
Please refer to the "
Prove you can do IT
" pages to find out how Vendor Qualifications relate to specific NVQs/SVQs.
Contact: Andrew Gibbons on or
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IT Systems Support Technician
Progression Award Level 2
The ITSS Technician qualification has been developed to address the IT Services skill shortage, thanks to a partnership involving colleges and industry representatives, including Compaq Computers and SMEs. The new course and qualification provide the technical knowledge and skills to understand, install, maintain and troubleshoot hardware and software, as well as the soft skills needed to interact efficiently with colleagues and customers.
The ITSS Technician qualification has been specifically designed to underpin the IT Services Customer Systems Support NVQ Level 2. It is ideal for young people keen on starting a career in IT Services, but also meets the needs of adults looking for a change of career and individuals working in an IT Services-related area (eg sales people or helpdesk professionals).
As part of the project, the ITSS Technician CD-Rom has been developed to allow for distance learning and to support course delivery.
There are now plans to develop the next level qualification, ITSS Professional.
Contact: Terry Killer on or
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Graduate Apprenticeship Pilot Continuation
The NTO has been asked by DfEE to seek industry support in continuing a successful sector Pilot with a view to increasing dramatically the uptake of graduates into the sector next summer. We are now forming a Steering Consultancy Group with Virtual and Attending members to address the roll-out issues of Infrastructure, Marketing, Financial Modelling and Learner Support and would welcome any new members.
A year ago the companies involved in IT Servicing came together with Higher Education and the NTO to develop a Framework for streamlining the entry of students and graduates from Higher Education into jobs in the sector. The Framework was built around the good practice in the sector for ensuring an effective and efficient transition for incoming students and graduates, which would in turn ensure they learned quickly and became revenue generating cost-effectively.
This Framework has been tested by Placement Students at Compaq for a year for flexibility and suitability and has been enthusiastically received by both students and Compaq. They have achieved NVQ Unit Certificates at level 3 based on Customer, Business Awareness and Team skills and Certificates for Communication and Problem Solving as Key Skills.
The job now for the NTO is to find out from employers in the sector and HE what is needed to overcome barriers to take up and hurdles on the delivery route.
Contact: Christine Sanderson on or
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Graduate Apprenticeship for Diplomates
Do you have a number of non-graduates who would be interested and capable of undertaking HE modules? If so, DfEE is sponsoring 10 new pilot apprenticeships to help companies (particularly SMEs) offer higher education to enhance the skills of their existing employees. The employees will study for HE modules and gain related key skills and NVQ units. The HE modules will be by distance work-based learning.
Please contact the NTO if you are interested in being one of the piloting companies or if you would like further information.
Contact: Anne Cantelo on or
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