Qualifications Scotland

We're working on a new website. You'll see references to both Qualifications Scotland and SQA while we complete this work. Learn more.
Categories

Stay up to date with Computing and Digital Blogs

Read our privacy statement.

Computing & Digital Blog

January 13, 2016

HNC/D Computer Games Development update

Helen and I met with the Lead Developer for this award today. The aim of the meeting was to review progress.  This development is progressing well. The development team are currently writing the Group Award Specification (GAS) and the Unit Specifications. The aims, structures, articulations and unit briefs have all been completed. The revised awards will contain a number (11 in total) of new or revised Units including two new Maths units. It is being proposed that the role of Maths…

Categories: Computer games, Development, HN

Bobby 1

January 11, 2016

Stakeholder groups

SQA tries to work closely with the people who use its qualifications and services. At the qualification team level, this means working with a number of committees and special interest groups. The Sector Panel consists of representatives of industry, business, national organisations, professional bodies, vendors, colleges, schools and training providers. Its role is to provide strategic advice to me and my team about external developments so that the qualification portfolio remains relevant and appropriate. The Sector Panel meets once per year…

Categories: Committees

Bobby 2

January 8, 2016

Digital DNA

The Digital Leaders lecture in December was given by Jaqueline de Rojas, Advisory Board member, presenting an 11 point plan of opportunities for UK to become a significant digital nation. There were no surprises. Existing technology is available to all of the UK and can be harnessed to overcome risks of social exclusion through all the reasons we already know about – whether geographical, age, disability, or income related. There is a skills challenge: 2 million digitally skilled workers required by 2020. The…

Categories: Digital Skills

hilaryweir 0

January 8, 2016

Heads of Computing event 2016

We’ve been running an annual “Heads of Computing” event for a long time. It’s normally well received since it gives busy people (you) the opportunity to find out what’s been going on with qualifications and assessments. So it wasn’t an easy decision to cancel this year’s event due to staff shortages. It will be back next year but, given the current pressures on the team, it’s impossible to have one this year. Because of the changes in colleges, I intend to…

Categories: Event

Bobby 1

January 6, 2016

HN developments

A number of Higher National (HN) awards are currently being reviewed. These are: HNC/D Information Technology (led by Chris Deegan of Glasgow Met.) HNC/D Interactive Media (led by Fiona Murnin of New College Lanarkshire) HNC/D Computer Games Development (led by Gill Flockart of Ayrshire College). Each development is at a different stage but all are well underway. Progress has been slower than I had hoped, mainly as a result of staff changes within SQA. I intend to meet with each of the lead…

Categories: HN, Qualifications

Bobby 1