With the new QCF framework and many different nationally recognised qualifications supporting CompTIA amongst many other vendor qualifications. Course options have evolved since September the 1st, this session will explore different opportunities available and potential routes for delivery.

1. Delivering CompTIA Certifications:
New opportunities with the QCF
A “Blue Skies” and “pragmatic”
view of 2010 and beyond

2. Who are we
• Richard Cotton
• Gerry Craughwell
• Andrew Smith

3. Your session this afternoon
• Blue Skies, what could be accomplished
in an ideal world
– Andrew
• Pragmatic View, the current realities we
all live with
– Richard
• And also …
– Gerry

4. Blue Skies : The QCF
• All may change in the next 24 hours

5. Blue Skies : The QCF
• Long gone is Curriculum 2000
• Enter the Qualification and Credit
Framework
• Amongst many positives
– intended to standardise size/shape/level of
units
– Remove repetition across qualifications

6. Blue Skies : The QCF, eskills &
Vendors
• There is a working group collaborating
to:
– Include more vendor units in the QCF
– Co-ordinate inclusion of certifications
– Co-ordinate retirement of certifications
– Agree level and credit value
• BCS, CompTIA, Cisco, Certification
Partners (CIW), LPI, Microsoft, Oracle,
VMWare

7. Blue Skies : The QCF, eskills &
Vendors
• When units are in the QCF …
– Awarding Bodies may, with the support of the
vendor, include the unit in their QCF
qualifications
– Funding bodies will fund ‘selected’
qualifications, such as BTEC or Procom
• SQA are working along side and it „ports‟
into the EQF (Scottish into European)

8. Blue Skies : The QCF, eskills &
Vendors
CompTIA
Another
Vendor
eskills
Another
Vendor
Another
Vendor
QCF
ofQual
City
&Guilds
Edexcel
OCR
Another
Awarding
Body
UK
Funding
Agencies
SQF/EQF
Selected
Qualifications
Your Centre
Student

9. Blue Skies : BTEC
• Confession : one knows more about
BTEC
• Now with almost 50 vendor units
• From Level 2 to Level 5
• QCF level transfer of 25%
• Maximum vendor of 33%
– Giving either 2,4,6 units out of 6, 12, 18

10. Blue Skies : BTEC units
• Merit + Distinction
– If you teach the programme, the assessment
is ‘synonymous’ with all the work you do for
the pass, by drawing on evaluative and
cognitive domains
– Do it, review it, justify it
• Removal of Forbidden Combinations
• Pathway flexibility

11. Blue Skies : BTEC unit synergy
• Synergy Units
– Able to deliver Network+, Security+, A+ as
direct units
– Or : Use many other units along side
– Or : Use many other units instead
• Taking the A+ alone, there are five
complimentary units at Level 3
• There is synergy with Cisco IT essentials

12. Blue Skies : BTEC bonus
• Level 3, has 120, 240 and 360 UCAS
points
• Level 2, is worth 4xGCSE
• Has international market recognition

13. Blue Skies : Procom
• Not unique to any awarding body
– (different flavours maybe)
• Supports Apprenticeships
• Has 25% in „school‟ vendor
• Has 50% in „work‟ vendor
– (foot note some instances<=66%)
• For OCR this was the iPro

14. Pragmatic View :
• Reality
– To offer vendor quals will cost you more
• Exam cost + invigilation – if they pass 1st time
• New QCF quals – students must pass all units
– Achievement is everything, will everyone
achieve, if not what are you going to do?
– But then so is quality, Vendor quals matter
they give students real skills in a world where
skills matter

15. You have the choice
• Be clever with course offerings
– Adults, apprentices, BTEC and full cost in the
same class
– C&G new Level 3 – full level 3, tech cert for
apprenticeship, embedded Vendor offerings
– No forbidden combinations in BTECs
– Deliver vendor qual teaching for another unit
and offer the exam as an add-on to students
– Differentiation for gifted and talented
students

16. And also

17. The Irish Situation
Gerry Craughwell
crocker@scd.ie

18. The National Framework of
Qualifications (NFQ)
• In place since 2003.
• Designed for the development, recognition and
award of qualifications based on standards of
knowledge, skill and competence acquired by
learners.
• The Framework consists of 10 levels, from basic
learning to Doctoral awards.
• It has been designed to accommodate all types
of education and training, wherever it takes
place.

19. CompTIA and the NQF
A+ and Network+ belong at Level 5

20. Meeting Funding Requirements
• Further Education and Training Awards
(FETAC)
– In most cases funding for training programs is
contingent on FETAC acreditation
• Obtain FETAC Recognition for CompTIA
– A+ and Network+ already recognised at HETAC
Level 6
– E2C and Commercial training providers must
work together to obtain FETAC recognition for
CompTIA awards

21. Funding Solution
• FETAC
– Dual Delivery
– CompTIA - A+ & Network+
• Computer Network and Maintenance
(Code: CCNMX )
• Hardware Essentials – (C20254)
• Systems Software – (C20255)
• Network Essentials – (C20256)
See http://www.fetac.ie

22. Forgiveness is easier obtained than
Permission.
• Deliver a Use UK based Program
– For example
• EDEXCEL Award for IT Practitioners
• City & Guilds Program
• On Completion of the Program
– Submit learners qualifications to FETAC under
recognition of Prior Learning protocol.

23. Some Funding Sources
Currently funding is difficult to obtain.
• Possible sources:
– FAS
– Labour Market Activation Fund
– LES
– Dept of Social Welfare
– Funding for FE Colleges contingent on
FETAC approved courses

24. CompTIA EMEA
Member Conference