HN Business Consultation 2019 HN Business Consultation 2019

HN Business Consultation 2019

HN Business Consultation - 2019 Why? 1. Present awards validated in 2010 after a review of the 2004 awards. 2. Other awards have been reviewed and adapted 3. Significant changes in the business environment 4. Feedback from SQA annual surveys 5. Feedback from the HN Enhancements Project Aims 1. 2. 3. 4. Review content and assessment Review aims of the two awards Check suitability for progession Check suitability for gaining employment

HN Business Consultation - 2019 Constraints 1. Changes to units in other frameworks 2. Existing design rules for HNC/D awards 3. The needs of Higher Education Institutions that are reflected in the current design of the awards 4. The outcomes from the Next Generation Project Stakeholder Groups w Scottish centres w Higher Education w Employers

HN Business Consultation - 2019 Primary Three surveys were conducted, one for each stakeholder group Secondary w SQA HNC/D Business Centre Survey 2017/18 w HN Enhancements Project feedback w Qualification Verification visits and Qualification Verification Summary Reports w Feedback to SQA And last but not least, TODAY

HN Business Consultation - 2019 Exercise

HN Business Consultation - 2019 Contradictions and constraints w w HND is too easy or HND is too hard All closed book versus reduced assessment Content too light, content too heavy Radical structural change compared to awards already updated w No changes required versus changes essential

HN Business Consultation - 2019 Agreements in general w There is too much assessment w Managing the existing assessment is hard for candidates and staff alike w There are significant changes taking place in the business environment w Some content and assessment changes are required w The HN Enhancements Project is well received

HN Business Consultation - 2019 General Recommendations 1. Opportunities should be identified where assessment might be reduced. 2. Identify opportunities to integrate assessment should be identified. 3. Opportunities to add assessments to the HN Enhancements Pilot should be identified 4. Opportunities to conduct E-assessment should be identified and is encouraged if appropriate and practicable 5. There is a need for a digital technologies/online business unit within the mandatory section of HNC Business

HN Business Consultation - 2019 General Recommendations 6. Seek opportunities to gain self-employment skills and further embed enterprise activity 7. Add business simulation activity 8. Seek to add opportunities for candidates to attain soft skills 9. Add opportunities to strengthen research skills, referencing and essay writing to further enhance transition to degree studies 10. Review the current optional units 11. Consider structural changes once the Next Generation project reports

HN Business Consultation - 2019 Unit Recommendations w Managing People and Organisations: Content should be updated and seek opportunities for reduced assessment and integration of assessment. w Business Accounting: Concern about difficulty therefore rreview unit assessment requirements w Communication: Business Communication: Changes required but no consensus on what w IT: Applications Software 1: ITAS 1 to be removed and replaced with a new SCQF level 7 digital technologies unit within the mandatory section of HNC Business

HN Business Consultation - 2019 Unit Recommendations w Business: Graded Unit 1: Revise the unit in light of any changes to contributing units and update case materials w Business Culture and Strategy: Revise unit content in light of the survey comments w Economics 1: Micro and Macro Theory and Application: Review the assessment requirements and conditions w Economics 2: The World Economy: Revise in Brexit requires it w Statistics for Business: Potential for a new unit that focuses more on analysis and interpretation

HN Business Consultation - 2019 Unit Recommendations w Preparing Financial Forecasts: Review content and in particular the requirements/conditions of assessment w Business Law: An Introduction: Review content in light of Brexit w Business: Graded Unit 2: Minor review on instructions and requirements The next steps • Next Generation • Qualification Review Team