A bi-annual meeting of the Sector Panel for Computing met yesterday (in Glasgow). It was a good meeting, with most members managing to attend.

The Panel is primarily responsible for advising SQA about external developments and helping me to identify what qualifications needs to be developed. It’s also a good forum to give me strategic direction on a number of issues. There are representatives of FE, HE, vendors, and industry serving on it.

Yesterday’s agenda included a presentation about Glow, an interesting discussion about achievement in the Computing area (previously discussed), and a debate about links with vendors.

That final topic was particularly interesting to me. My team find it difficult to keep up-to-date with the changes that vendors make to their qualifications and curricula. The Panel provided many constructive suggestions and we agreed to commission a report into the possible options.

Please contact Shirley if you want to know more about the work of the Sector Panel or volunteer to serve on it.