Engineering Qualifications Portfolio Scoping Review Stage 1

1. Engineering Qualifications Portfolio Scoping Review Stage 1 Stewart McKinlay

2. Links – SDS – Future jobs and industry: responding to the speed of change https://youtu.be/ITJUQre19Mg TED Talks Daily – David Lee: Why jobs of the future won’t feel like work https://tunein.com/radio/TED-Talks-Daily-p1018360/?topicId=117344935

3. “it is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; it is not the strongest that survives; but the species that survives is the one that is able best to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself” Leon C. Megginson, 1963 “Industry 4.0, in short, is here, and is real” The Manufacturer Industry 4.0 UK Readiness Report

4. Process and Schedule • Stage 1 (expected completion by October 2017) • Consult with industry/employers, employer representatives, trade federations/associations, professional bodies/institutions, regulatory bodies and Universities where appropriate in order to determine whether the specific aims of the qualification(s) are meeting current and future needs of the sector. • Stage 2 (expected completion by January 18) • Produce an overview, based on findings, of changes required to make the existing qualification(s) fit for purpose and meet emerging /future needs of the sector. • Consult with approved and delivering centres to scope required development work to the qualification(s) and/or their product surround.

5. Qualifications HNC Electronics, HNC Electrical Engineering, HNC Engineering Practice, HNC Engineering Systems, HNC Fabrication, Welding and Inspection, HNC Manufacturing Engineering, HNC Mechanical Engineering, HNC Measurement and Control Engineering, HNC Mechatronics, HND Electrical Engineering, HND Electronics, HND Engineering Systems, HND Manufacturing Engineering, HND Mechanical Engineering, HND Measurement and Control Engineering, HND Mechatronics, NC Electrical Engineering at SCQF level 5/6, NC Electronic Engineering at SCQF level 5/6, NC Engineering Practice at SCQF level 5, NC Engineering Systems at SCQF level 5/6, NC Fabrication and Welding Engineering at SCQF level 5/6, NC Manufacturing Engineering at SCQF level 5/6, NC Measurement and Control Engineering at SCQF level 6, NC Mechanical Engineering at SCQF level 6, NC Mechanical Maintenance Engineering at SCQF level 5, PDA Engineering Practice: Electrical Engineering at SCQF level 7, PDA Engineering Practice: Engineering Maintenance at SCQF level 7, PDA Engineering Practice: Engineering Manufacture at SCQF level 7, PDA Engineering Practice: Fabrication and Welding at SCQF level 7

6. Process and Schedule • Stage 1 focussed on employers’ needs and future requirements. • Desk-based research on future skills needs and the SQA engineering qualifications portfolio data was undertaken whilst the initial employer survey was being completed. Further engagement was then undertaken with employers to review findings from the research and survey.

7. Employers 2H Offshore Engineering, Archibald Young Ltd, Ashgill Electronics, BAE Systems and Naval Ships, Babcock, Castle Precision Engineering, Chevron Aircraft Maintenance, Clyde Bergemann, Clyde Marine Training, Clyde Space Ltd, Cummins, DuPont Teijin Films UK Ltd, EGGER (UK) Ltd, Emergency One, Ferrovial, FES Ltd, Fife Fabrication Ltd, Forth Ports, Fortum O&M (UK) Ltd, GE Caledonian Ltd, Glasgow Airport, GlaxoSmithKline, Hyspec Engineering Ltd, Land Energy, LifeScan Scotland Ltd, MacTaggart Scott, Mainetti UK Ltd, McDowell Machine Tools, Morgan Sindall, NEL (TUV SUD Ltd), Petroineos, Premier Hytemp, Sanmina-SCI UK Ltd, Scotmas Limited, Scottish Leather Group, Scottish Water, Scottoiler Sports Solutions Ltd, Star Refrigeration Ltd, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, TechnipFMC, Thales UK , Touch Bionics, Vallourec Oil & Gas UK Ltd, Wabtec Faiveley - Rail Scotland, William Grant & Sons, Woodward

8. Qualification Portfolio Context and Review

9. Qualification Portfolio Context and Review

10. Qualification Portfolio Context and Review • The alignment question • Ratio of awards to entries for qualification types • Variation in ratio for individual qualifications

11. Employer Consultation - Quantitative • How well do they meet their stated objectives? 7.5 • How satisfied are you with the current structures? 7.4 • How satisfied are you with the component units? 7.2 • How satisfied are you with the assessments used? 7.5 • Overall how satisfied are you with the current awards? 7.6 • For each qualification: • Current use v future use • Entry qualification v training up

12. Employer Consultation - Qualitative • What changes, if any, would you make to the structure of the existing awards? • Approximately half of those employers who responded to this question said that no changes were required • A significant proportion of those who responded stated that there was insufficient flexibility with a greater need to include/exclude sector specific skills and the ability to “mix and match” • A smaller proportion said the structures should be more tailored to business, have more links to industry and more practical experience

13. Employer Consultation - Qualitative • What changes to assessment, if any, would you like to see? • Approximately half of those employers who responded to this question said that no changes were required. • Some employers said the assessments should be more practical and more work based or should perhaps use an independent assessor rather than an IV • A smaller proportion wanted increased use of on-line assessments or felt that improved methodology should be introduced to standardise variations between providers

14. Employer Consultation - Qualitative • What are the strengths and weaknesses of these awards? • Strengths included helping recruitment/training by providing a recognised standard and strong theory content providing a good all round exposure which met employers’ needs. • Weaknesses (or opportunities) included a lack of flexibility and the need to improve the utilisation of theory in the workplace, providing more practical knowledge and skills: • Some employers felt that the support should be more progressive

15. Employer Consultation - Qualitative • What new or revised support materials, if any, would you like to have available? • A number of employers wanted more (or all) of the materials available via open learning or on-line • Some employers felt the set up and transition between qualifications was too complex or there was a lack of information and an employer forum may help this

16. Employer Consultation - Qualitative • How well do the existing courses prepare learners to progress to other awards? • Most employers felt the existing courses ranged from ok to very good, providing articulation to HN’s or Degrees. • Some employers’ recognised progress had been made but wanted more improvement or increased ability to learn on the job

17. Employer Consultation - Qualitative • What specific suggestions would you make in terms of the need to review, or gaps in knowledge and skills? • This question elicited a broad range of ideas from employers. Specific suggestions included “information and support on security of operational technology”; “Programmable Logic Controllers, Vision systems, Machinery Electrical Safety systems, Robotics, Drive systems programming and Diagnostics” • Greater industry engagement and flexibility (common themes) and identifying commonality in vocational and academic qualifications were other recommendations put forward

18. Employer Consultation - Qualitative • What else should be considered to reflect changes likely to occur in the next 5-10 years? • A number of employers reinforced the idea that more eLearning and electronic workbooks were required • Employers also valued links to other qualifications/frameworks • Many listed specific requirements including: manufacturing, quality, 3D modelling, IoT, safety and security of critical infrastructure, software tools, technology changes, methods of communication, and Industry 4.0 • Cont.

19. Employer Consultation - Qualitative • What else should be considered to reflect changes likely to occur in the next 5-10 years? • Some stated “it’s difficult to predict what will be required in the future” and others added that as the pace of change is increasing, perhaps SQA should “consider moving review from 5 years to 2 1/2 or 3 years” • Others were concerned with funding or upskilling existing workers • Finally, employers do cherish the engagement process and appreciate that sometimes they can’t always contribute as much as they would want to

20. Employer Consultation - Qualitative • Are there any other comments to add that are relevant to the scoping remit? • A number of employers wanted to provide positive feedback • Some employers commented on their own role in the partnership • Some wanted to focus on specifics and others on more generic points • Finally, others commented on the infrastructure

21. Conclusions • There is no evidence that the vast majority of employers want wholesale or significant changes to any of the qualification structures. They are looking for more ability to flex one or two units; to not have employees’ complete units that are of no use to them, or to complete alternative units that are of use. These could be from other qualifications, or could be delivered by the company themselves, perhaps even employers own provision if appropriately credit rated • Where these options are already available, it shows that improved communications between employers (and providers) is necessary

22. Conclusions • Employers value SQA engineering qualifications and want to strengthen those links. They appreciate being part of qualification development teams and some want to increase the proportion of work-based learning, whilst recognising that operational demands mean they can’t always engage as much as they would want • Employers see the clear benefits of on-line learning, assessment, and support materials. They want those advantages to start appearing in SQA engineering qualifications. This could support employers in more specialised sectors and remote geographical locations

23. Summary • Majority of employers are aware they need to change but that hasn’t translated yet to demand for significant changes in the qualifications. • 3 key themes emerged. Employers do want: • Some increased flexibility in the qualification structures • More engagement with SQA and engineering qualifications • Alternative modes of delivery

24. Recommendations • SQA and providers review structures to assess how some improved flexibility can be achieved without affecting qualification integrity whilst identifying demand for the units that could be included should it be viable • SQA review employer engagement/communication strategy via provider channels with a view to increasing work-based learning content/input. Consideration should be given to the creation of an employer forum, perhaps as part of existing network • SQA and providers review structures and units to assess where on-line learning, assessment and support materials could practicably be created.