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Computing & Digital Blog

August 4, 2020

PDA Cyber Resilience is now live

Following the recommendations from the validation panel, the PDA Cyber Security has been retitled “PDA Cyber Resilience” to more accurately reflect the content of the award. The suite of PDAs at SCQF levels 7, 8 and 9 is now validated and available for centre delivery. GR3R 47 PDA Cyber Resilience SCQF level 7 GR3T 48 PDA Cyber Resilience SCQF level 8 GR3V 49 PDA Cyber Resilience SCQF level 9 More information about this award can be found on the subject…

Categories: Computing, Cyber Security

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August 4, 2020

Refreshed combined assessments for HN Computing

The “HN enhancement” project has two parts. Part 1 was adding units to the existing HNC Computing, which has now been done, and part 2 is refreshing combined assessments that were produced a few years ago and making these available to all centres. The combined assessments were originally devised in 2014 (and made available in 2015) to reduce the amount of assessment (by integrating several assessments into one) and giving learners “a university experience” of assessment. They’re also known as…

Categories: Computing

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July 28, 2020

NPA Computer Networks – Update

The revision of the NPA Computer Networks is now underway. As stated in an earlier post, this will be a relatively quick development. The three component units are being revised and should be finalised by mid-August. A writer and vetter have already been allocated to this job. The units being revised are: Computing: Install and Maintain Hardware (F1KF 11) Computing: Install and Maintain Software (F1KP 11) Computing: Computer Networking Fundamentals (F1KH 11) Once the units are finalised, the award will…

Categories: Computing

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July 17, 2020

Update on new Higher Nationals

Regular readers will know that Computing is one of the pilot areas for the development of new types of Higher National (HN) awards, part of SQA’s Next Generation of HN awards. I first announced this development in February. Since then, a Qualification Development Team (QDT) has been formed (consisting of over 30 representatives of colleges, schools, universities and employers) and met a couple of times. We’ve also selected lead developers for each qualification. The leads have been busy over the…

Categories: Computing

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June 27, 2020

PDA Data Science validation

The validation event for the Professional Development Award in Data Science was held on Thursday afternoon. The purpose of validation is for an independent group of experts to approve new qualifications. The panel had representation from universities, colleges and employers. This was my first experience of a virtual validation (we used Microsoft Teams), which worked really well. I’m pleased to let you know that the suite of qualifications was approved with some conditions and recommendations. The main condition relates to…

Categories: Computing

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