Validation of Microsoft PDAs

We held a validation event for three vendor-related PDAs today. The awards are linked to Microsoft certification: Certificate in Desktop Support (linked to MCDST) Advanced Certificate in Network Administration (linked to MCSA) Advanced Diploma in Networking Technology (linked to and MCSE) The event went well. Although the Panel imposed conditions, there was nothing that the Qualification Design Team can’t action quickly. We’re hoping to have the awards available to centres by the end of June.

E-Skills seminar

The E-Skills Sector Skills Council held an information seminar in Glasgow this morning to answer questions about the new SVQs in Information Technology. There was a good turn-out at The Corinthians in the city centre. Chris Morrow described some of the resources available to support the new awards – including a new website to support the new Standards. Both myself and a representative from Scottish Enterprise answered questions relating to the new qualifications.

Design Team meeting for IT

The Qualification Development Team responsible for creating a new national framework for HNC/D Information Technology met today at the Stirling Management Centre. The purpose of the meeting was to determine the core skills that the new awards should include and also to make a first attempt at a qualification framework. The Team is led by George Johnson of Reid Kerr College; June McCamlie is the lead developer; and Angela Orr is the Qualification Officer responsible for this project. We’re hoping…

Happy birthday blog!

The blog is one year old today! It was started on 13 May, 2004. It was actually done as an experiment to see if a blog would be useful to teachers and lecturers with an interest in Computing/IT qualifications. So far the blog has had over 400o hits – that’s more than 15 hits per (working) day – so it appears to be quite popular. The blog was also intended to reduce the clutter in your inbox. Instead of “pushing”…

SQA Customer Conference

The first ever SQA Customer Conference was held today at the Radisson Hotel in Glasgow. Around 700 people attended. The purpose of the conference was to highlight some key SQA developments – including PC Passport and E-Qualifications. There were presentations and stands where people could get information and collect materials. The PC Passport and E-Qualifications stands were very popular… we ran out of materials for E-Qualifications! So it was a very successful day.

There were rolling presentations on E-Qualifications throughout the day. Attendance at the seminars was good – except the 5 o’clock showing which had one person!

The E-Qualifications stand was busy. Lots of teachers, lecturers and trainers wanted to know more about this suite of awards. Many were considering doing one of these awards themselves for their own professional development.

The PC Passport stand attracted people who wanted to know more about this popular suite of IT awards.

Welcome to Angela

Angela Lees joined the Computing team this morning. Angela is a Qualifications Officer, working alongside Caroline. Some of you may know Angela as Angela Orr – but she’s getting married in a few weeks so it seems easier to refer to her by her married name. Either name will work if you want to contact her. Angela has specific responsibilities – the main one being Higher National awards. So she’s the person that you would contact for matters relating to…

Customer Conference

The first-ever SQA Customer Conference takes place next week – and it includes two sessions of particular interest. The programme [PDF] includes a session on PC Passport and another on E-Qualifications. I’m doing the E-Qualifications presentation which takes places at 11am, 3pm and 5pm (for 45 minutes). There’s still time to register [PDF]. I’m meeting with my team today to discuss the arrangements for next week.