Mandatory Review of Social Skills Qualifications Consultation document for Approval to List February 2015 Prepared by: National Qualifications Services on behalf of the Social Skills Governance Group 1
Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Purpose of the Consultation 3 Background 3 Evaluation received from Application to Develop 4 Governance Group considerations 4 Proposed qualification in Social Skills 5 Qualification Specifications and Conditions 5 Consultation Questions 6 Key Documents 8 Next Steps 8 2
Purpose of the Consultation The purpose of this consultation is to seek stakeholder feedback on the detail of, and support for, the final draft of the Social Skills qualification to replace current qualifications. This feedback and support will be used to inform an application for Approval to List the qualification. The key focus is on the detailed specifications and conditions, which are designed to help programme developers. The Governance Group would like to invite feedback on the final draft qualification via the survey accessible from the Social Skills review page on the NZQA website http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/qualifications-standards/qualifications/social-skills-qualifications/ Alternatively, feedback can be submitted by email to socialskillsquals.review@nzqa.govt.nz Consultation lasts for 3 weeks. Background The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) is currently overseeing the Mandatory Reviews of Qualifications, which are reviews of all Level 1 to 6 qualifications on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF). The reviews aim to reduce the duplication and proliferation of qualifications, and to ensure all qualifications meet the overall needs of their particular sector and are useful, relevant and fit for purpose. The Social Skills mandatory review contains 19 qualifications, owned by 12 qualification owners. In 2012, there were 25 tertiary organisations, and 243 secondary schools, which reported credits in Social Skills. The target learners for these qualifications are people with learning disabilities, including those with intellectual disabilities i.e. those who require some form of support with their learning, either through additional resources, specialised equipment, or adapted teaching programmes. The review of Social Skills qualifications is governed by a group drawn from across stakeholders. The proposed qualification is developed by a working group. A sector meeting took place in May 2013 to discuss the review process, and the development of a preliminary needs analysis followed. Originally, one qualification was proposed and went out for consultation in October 2013. See below for relevant links. The Governance Group considered the feedback received and responded with the development of two qualifications: NZ Certificate in Supported Learning (Introductory) (Level 1) (60 credits) and NZ Certificate in Supported Learning (Level 1) (240 credits). Consultation on these draft qualifications, levels, titles, credits, strategic purpose statements, graduate profile outcomes, and employment and education pathways took place in December 2013 February 2014. Following the consultation round, an application for Approval to Develop the qualifications were submitted to NZQA s Quality Assurance Division in March 2014. 3
Evaluation received from Application to Develop The Social Skills Governance Group met in October 2014 to discuss the evaluation of the submission of the proposed qualifications for Application to Develop. One qualification was approved for development. Approval to Develop the NZ Certificate in Supported Learning (Introductory) (Level 1) (60 credits) was granted as there was significant evidence to support this qualification. The application for the remaining qualification, the NZ Certificate in Supported Learning (Level 1) (240 credits) was declined due to insufficient difference from the 60 credit qualification and a lack of sector support for a 240 credit qualification. The Governance Group was tasked with re-working the one approved qualification to better meet the needs of the learners and to ensure development aligned with NZ Qualifications Framework (NZQF) definitions and level descriptors. Consideration was given to upholding the integrity of the NZQF Level 1. All qualifications must be consistent and relative to all other NZQF Level 1 qualifications both in credit size and levelness. Open-ended, downward qualifications and assessment standards, which were allowed at the establishment of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), are now no longer possible. Governance Group considerations Learning journey from secondary through tertiary: As only one qualification can be developed, the learning journey from secondary through tertiary sectors needed to be considered. A number of options were discussed: Learners may achieve in secondary schools and be credited with assessment (unit and achievement) standards. They may continue their pathway of learning at a tertiary organisation towards the proposed Social Skills qualification. Learning towards the proposed qualification may occur over a number of years. Core outcomes in the proposed qualification may be achieved at secondary school, and the employment strand at tertiary organisations or through workplace assessment. Graduates of the proposed qualification could progress to another Level 1 qualification, such as Foundation and Bridging or possibly NCEA. Whatever option is chosen the learning journey from secondary to tertiary would require liaison between secondary and tertiary providers for it to be effective. Credit value: It is expected that the new qualification in Social Skills will be 60 credits, to be in line with other NZQF Level 1 qualifications e.g. Foundation and Bridging qualification currently developed under the mandatory review. This poses a challenge as a 60 credit qualification, based on the ten notional teaching and learning hours attached to a credit, is not realistic for supported learners who require a longer period. NZQA Qualifications Services consulted 4
with Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) regarding TEC funding formulas for programmes leading Social Skills qualifications. After consideration, on 3 December 2014 TEC agreed to using learning hours to calculate the EFTS value of the Social Skills qualification. This will formally be communicated to the sector once the proposed qualification is approved and listed on the NZQF. Proposed qualification in Social Skills To develop a qualification which would: meet the needs of learners, community, work place, secondary and tertiary sectors progress graduates onto the workplace be flexible to cater for different contexts and delivery types, the Governance Group proposes the: NZ Certificate in Skills for Living for Supported Learners (with an optional strand in Skills for Working) (55-75 credits) Employment Strand (optional) 20 credits Skills and knowledge required for employment Core Learning 55 credits Self-management Interpersonal Problem-solving Literacy, numeracy, digital technology Knowledge of local and NZ history and current affairs Knowledge of rights and responsibilities of a citizen Qualification Specifications and Conditions New Zealand Qualifications contain four distinct sections the strategic purpose statement, the graduate profile, specifications, and conditions (both overarching and related to specific outcomes). This consultation and the Approval to List process focuses on the specifications and conditions of each qualification and how well they inform programme development. 5
The table below summarises the NZQA requirements for the different sections of New Zealand qualifications. Please consider this when providing feedback. What to consider and feedback on Qualification section Specifications Conditions Criteria The specifications are intended to provide guidance to educators and trainers in their interpretation of the qualification and development of programmes of study or training. Conditions, which can be either mandatory or optional, can apply to the whole qualification or to specific outcomes. They should provide clarity and lead to consistency across a range of programmes. The conditions are intended to 'unpack' the intent of the outcomes, which are generally quite broadly written to allow delivery in a range of contexts. They ensure there is enough information to assist programme developers with interpretation when designing programmes towards the new qualifications. Consultation Questions Background Question 1: Question 2: Is your response a personal view or the view of your organisation? Please indicate the stakeholder group to which you most closely relate. The following section provides prompt questions you may wish to consider for feedback. The working group has tried to retain as much flexibility as possible for programme design while providing sufficient information to ensure consistency of graduates. Title Feedback received from Application to Develop application stated that the original proposed title of NZ Certificate in Supported Learning did not make clear the intended audience. It could be assumed that this qualification title is a credential for those who wish to be involved in supported learning education such as teachers, rather than those with learning disabilities. After consideration, the Governance Group changed the title to NZ Certificate for Skills for Living for Supported Learners (with an optional strand in Skills for Working). Question 3: The title reflects the target learner and the skills a graduate will have achieved upon completing the qualification? Please provide any feedback or comments in relation to the title. 6
Structure The qualification has a core component and an optional employment strand. Question 4: The structure of the qualification meets the need of learners, qualification providers, community and employers? Please provide any feedback or comments in relation to the qualification structure. Conditions Question 5: To what extent do you support the generic qualification conditions, including the evidence requirements for assuring consistency? Please provide any feedback or comments in relation to the generic qualification conditions. Question 6: To what extent do you support the specific conditions relating to the qualification outcomes? Please provide any feedback or comments in relation to the specific conditions relating to the qualification outcomes. Credit value The core qualification is 55 credits and the employment strand is an additional 20 credits. The credit value of this qualification is in line with other similar NZQF Level 1 qualifications. TEC will use learning hours to calculate the EFTS value of this qualification as the programme may require a longer period of learning than the assigned 60 credits e.g. 1 credit may equate to 20 hours of teaching and learning. Question 7: In terms of proportions, to what extent do you support the credit allocations against each outcome, in relation to the size of the whole qualification? Please provide any feedback or comments in relation to credit allocation. Overall Question 8: Please provide any overall comments about the qualification. Learning journey from secondary through tertiary Whilst not directly related or required for Approval to List this qualification, the Governance Group consider the learning journey from secondary through tertiary a critical factor in the success of this qualification. Question 9: What is the best mechanism for liaison between secondary schools and tertiary providers in relation to transition for learners? 7
Key documents New Zealand Certificate in Skills for Living for Supported Learners (with an optional strand in Skills for Working) (Level 1) 55 75 credits Background information and documents related to the Social Skills review can be accessed at: http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/qualifications-standards/qualifications/socialskills-qualifications/ Background information and reference documents on the mandatory review of qualifications can be accessed at: http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/providerspartners/approval-accreditation-and-registration/listing-qualifications-on-the-nzqf/ Next steps All feedback received by the deadline (both via the website and email) will be collated and analysed. A summary of this analysis will be published on the Social Skills review page on the NZQA website. The feedback will then be used to inform the application for Approval to List this qualification on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework. 8