July 2009
Once more, the CfA sends you a warm summer welcome to our July eBriefing. This month, we are proud and excited to be able to take your first bookings for our 2009 conference in November, held at the NCSL Learning & Conference Centre, Nottingham. We report on the success of VQ Day 2009 last month, see how others have achieved excellence in Apprenticeships and our ‘Focus on…’ section this month sees the departure of one of our team and the addition of another. Plus, we have updates from OCR and QCF and much more for you. If you would like to comment on any of these stories, become one of our sponsors to benefit from a regular slot in the eBriefing and see your logo displayed next to ours, or if you have a feature of your own to contribute, please , please contact Helen Gerlach.
If you no longer wish to receive these eBriefings please click here to email us with your name and organisation. If you know somebody who would like to receive our eBriefings, please pass it on or ask them to contact us with their email address. |
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Friday 27th November 2009 The CfA are pleased to announce that bookings are now open for the Conference 2009: Focus on Change, taking place on Friday 27th November at the NCSL Learning & Conference Centre, Nottingham.
There will also be the opportunity to attend two, hour-long seminar sessions, of your choice, on a range of topics including:
If you’re involved in the delivery of Business & Administration skills then this is the conference for you! This is the ideal opportunity to get together with other like-minded Business & Administration colleagues and to hear about the key developments affecting the Business, Administration & Governance pan-sector. For further information about these events, or to book your place, please click here. We look forward to seeing you there! visit the CfA website |
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The QCF is continuing to run the Employer Recognition Programme following another year’s remit from DIUS (Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills). Since maintaining the work with employers from March 2008, the scope of this programme has been extended in order to support the Government’s emphasis on re-skilling the workforce. To find out more please visit the website. visit the QCF website |
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Modern Apprenticeship Awards - Wales 2009
To enter please click here. Go on, get yourself registered! visit the website |
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SQA Star Awards - 'Skills Competitor of the Year' This is to let you know that the all-important deadline for registrations for th The top three short-listed applications for the SQA Star Awards ‘Skills Competitor of the Year’ will then be invited to the SQA Star Awards Dinner on Friday 30th October at the Radisson Hotel, Edinburgh. This award is sponsored by the Scottish Government on behalf of UK Skills and recognises SQA candidates who have developed their vocational qualifications to competitive levels, locally or nationally. Candidates must have demonstrated outstanding commitment in one or more of these areas: in the way they value vocational skills, in the way they have used SQA’s vocational qualifications to participate in skills competition, in making an outstanding contribution to their centre, employer or community or in demonstrating a personal commitment to personal development by participating in skills competitions. To make your nomination by Friday 24th July 2009, please click here.
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Matt says, “My role covers a wide range of responsibilities, involving updating and maintaining the CfA Group websites and managing forward ePortfolio PLUS and delivering customer service excellence. Additionally, I am responsible for putting together some of the marketing publications that CfA delivers to its customers and putting this eBriefing into electronic format for you and organising, planning and attending events throughout the UK to promote and represent the CfA Group. Another part of my role involves working to marketing budgets and developing campaigns, along with everyday tasks, such as preparing literature, mailing publications, proof reading documents and formatting.” Matt continues, “In my spare time I enjoy socialising, travel and keeping as fit and healthy as possible. I am a keen runner and have successfully completed several marathons including the Sheffield Half Marathon in February 2009 where I ran for Cancer Research. I was previously a volunteer and supporter for the RSPCA in Sheffield and hope to continue this in London.” We’d like to take this opportunity to say a fond farewell to Ollie as he leaves us for uni, and to thank him for his essential contribution to our team over the last year. And we welcome Matt on board!
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Vocational qualifications are just one path on the road to success. And as millions of people study for vocational qualifications every year, to celebrate this, VQ Day was launched in 2008 to raise the profile of vocational qualifications and celebrate vocational success. This year’s VQ Day took place on 24th June was marked by national showcase events in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland with people all over the UK celebrating their vocational training triumphs. Read all about it and see if you can spot someone you know by going to the website.
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Anthony thoroughly enjoyed the experience, particularly the work placement he had at Rolls Royce which, he says, helped to rejuvenate his attitude toward learning. “It was a fantastic experience,” he commented. “I was trusted to do real work that was important to the company and that made me so much more motivated than I’d been feeling at school. I really think the Young Apprenticeship has changed my life.” Since completing his Young Apprenticeship, Anthony has started his own web design business, which he is running with a friend he made on the Young Apprenticeship programme. We’ll have an update for you in August on the National Young Apprentice of the Year Awards that will be held on 16th July in London, and on how Anthony fared at the awards.
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Since it’s launch in April 2007, the Training Quality Standard (TQS) has become a recognised quality kitemark for every organisation and institution that is involved in delivering employer focused learning. The complexity and depth of the application process sets the TQS apart from other quality standards and once achieved, presents new opportunities and fresher approaches for the learning business.
Over recent months, the CfA has received an increasing number of calls from Training providers and FE Colleges with the need for support in completing their application. Many organisations are experiencing challenges, particularly in completing Part B of the application. As a reviewing body for the TQS, the CfA is limited in the information that can be given to providers and, due to popular demand and increasing requests, the CfA is able to announce a TQS Awareness Day for all providers for the beginning of September. Details of the date and venue will be published on the CfA website by the beginning of August. If you would like to attend this event please email Uta Sempf. |
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OCR's QCF Administration suite DIUS has commissioned an additional strand of piloting, in order to evaluate the suitability of replacing the Skills for Life qualifications in adult literacy and numeracy with functional skills. OCR is involved in this additional adult strand and in January, participating centres entered a number of adult learners – who were following a Skills for Life programme – to take functional skills assessments in English and Maths, allowing learners’ Skills for Life results to be compared with their functional skills results. Results of the evaluation that OCR undertook with participants, have already provided some interesting pointers in respect of how functional skills are experienced by adult learners. Details are available in the latest issue of Functional Skills Watch For further information please click here. OCR's QCF Administration (Business Professional) suite of qualifications The full suite of OCR's new QCF Administration (Business Professional) qualifications has now received accreditation from Ofqual. These qualifications, which comprise an Award, a Certificate and a Diploma at each of Levels 1 to 4, will be available for registration from 1st September 2009. The qualifications are flexible, allowing centres to choose individual units that best fit the needs and level of achievement of their learners, whilst at the same time ensuring that essential areas of knowledge and skill from the administrative sector are covered. Text Processing units may also be taken as options, increasing the breadth of skills demonstrated by successful learners. All units are assessed on demand through the use of model assignments which where appropriate may be altered within tolerances according to each centre’s individual requirements. Free training sessions are available for centres interested in offering these new qualifications. For further information please click here. For further general information on the new suite, please visit the OCR website or call the OCR Customer Contact Centre on 024 7685 1509 or email.
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A:No, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) have confirmed that Functional Skills do not attract proxy qualifications of any kind.
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To subscribe to the CfA eBriefing, please email Helen Gerlach. The CfA is not responsible for the content of any external links from this newsletter. The Council for Administration is a registered charity, No 1095 809. |
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At the Modern Apprenticeship Awards - Wales 2009 rewards apprentices, learning providers, colleges and employers who have excelled in contributing to the development of the Modern Apprenticeship programme in Wales. The awards are free to enter and the closing date for receipt of completed applications is 31st July 2009.
This month, Matthew Appleby joins the CfA marketing team as Marketing Officer here at our HQ in London. 
If you would like to submit information to the CfA eBriefing, please contact Helen Gerlach on 020 7091 9620.
© CfA 2009
