News
Learning Bites
The first new modular qualifications for the Glass Industry are here!
A new suite of modular vocational qualifications will be available for the Glass and Related Industries from January 2010.
This new modular structure of qualifications has been introduced to make the system simpler to understand and use and offers employers and learners greater choice on the right qualification for their needs, closer alignment with what they actually do at the place of work and more flexibility to construct the right learning pathways that suits the learner and the needs of the business.
The modular qualifications are built from small ‘bite sized’ units, and are available as Awards, Certificates or Diplomas depending on how long they take to complete. These new qualifications also have a “level” of complexity, ranging from level 2 to level 8 (fairly basic to post-graduate).
Proskills research in the glass industry shows that an overwhelming majority of employers say that qualifications add value to their training and this new structure will increase the contribution that qualifications bring to business performance.
Lisa Williamson, Proskills Standards & Qualifications Manager, said, “The new qualifications provide learners in the glass industry with a more flexible route to gaining industry specific qualifications. The glass industry has many different manufacturing systems and products and the new qualifications provide learners with a more flexible system to suit their preferences and needs. The new qualification structure provides a much more effective route to up-skilling the UK workforce.”
For companies already using vocational qualifications, the new structure offers opportunities to look at additional areas where qualifications could add value and for those companies who have not previously used vocational qualifications it will open up new possibilities to see how flexible qualifications can contribute to more effective training and business performance.
The following new qualifications will be available from January 2010:
• GQA Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Automotive Glazing
• GQA Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Windscreen Repair
• GQA Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Domestic Fascia, Soffit and Bargeboard Installation
• GQA Level 3 NVQ Certificate in the Fabrication of Glass Supporting Systems
• GQA Level 2 NVQ Certificate in the Fabrication of Glass Supporting Systems
• GQA Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Flat Glass Manufacturing
• GQA Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Fenestration Installation
• GQA Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Automotive Glazing
• GQA Level 3 Certificate in Automotive Glazing Supervision
• GQA Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Glass Processing
• GQA Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Curtain Wall Installation
• GQA Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Glass Container Manufacturing
• GQA Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Glass Container Processing
• GQA Level 2 Certificate in Glass Related Operations
• GQA Level 3 Certificate in Glass Related Operations
The Glass Qualifications Authority (GQA) has worked with Proskills in converting standards to the new qualifications. GQA is also one of the first awarding organisations to have been accredited by Ofqual to award the new qualifications and Glass is the first industry within Proskills’ footprint to launch the new modular qualifications as part of the National Qualification Credit Framework (QCF) which is being rolled out across all sectors throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Maria Charlton, Director, Independent Windscreen Academy said “Automotive glazing repair specialists will have more choice and additional routes to gain a nationally accredited qualification, which will increase overall industry standards and skills whilst allowing businesses to celebrate the hard work of their employees.
The new qualifications will allow individual learners and businesses to be involved with the learner pathways, thus catering to their own specific training needs whilst developing in line with the changes individual businesses will face in the future.”
The framework aims to simplify qualifications, make them more accessible to employers and individuals, and be more closely linked to improving the effectiveness of training and business performance.
For further information regarding the new glass qualifications, please contact Lisa Williamson on 07500 086 599 or lisa.williamson@proskills.co.uk