1st round of GQA CPD events well received

Following on from our 2nd Conference in November 2011, and following requests from  Approved Centres, GQA ran 5 CPD events during April and May. There were 3 topics covered: Best practice in Assessment, Professional Discussion and the new Assessor and IQA awards. To give the opportunity for as many Centres as possible the events took place across a number of venues. 


The events were attended by Assessors, Internal Verifiers and Centre Coordinators from the Glass and Print industries, with all welcoming the chance to compare their Centres and Industries. Feedback from those attending was very positive with all asking to be kept informed on future events and offering suggestions for other topics to cover. 


The following is just a selection of the comments received:

• “Rewarding and informative, will use information gained in my job role”- David Edwards, NLTG 
• “Very useful day to clarify some questions”- Chris Whitehead, Manchester College School of Printing
• “Very good, helping me to focus on areas within my own Centre” –Tony Blake, Schueco
• “Realised how far we have come - facilitator was very good”- Roy Pusey, NLTG
• “Good opportunity to see how other industries assess”- Geoff Lowe, Manchester College School of Printing
• “Interesting and informative, will definitely use the knowledge gained today”- Tony Green, Autowindscreens
• “Feel I gained clarification on changes to aid reinforcement of our own systems and procedures”-Jo Taylor, IPS International
• “As someone new to assessing I got so much information and knowledge”-Ray Yonnish, Freelance Assessor
• “Good course, made enjoyable and all topics were covered”- John Cook, Pilkington
• “Understanding and knowledge of new Assessor requirements is now much clearer, very good”-Lee Harland, IPS International 

The events were delivered by GQA External Verifier Martin Sadler, supported by GQA Technical Officer/EV Sean Hayes. Martin said “It was a pleasure to be able to help our Centres understand the changes in assessment and Quality Assurance and also get them to share best practice and look at new assessment methods, as the GQA mantra is “advice, support and guidance” the opportunity to be involved in delivering CPD events was too good a chance to miss” 


Sean said “It was good to have Centres from Print and the wide ranging Glass industries attending the same event; the commitment to quality shown by all those attending was great to see. I would also like to thank the Centres who generously helped by providing venues and catering facilities and look forward to the next series of CPD events and hope even more of you take the time to attend”


Venues were provided by North Lancs Training Group, The Vocational College, Schueco, Autowindscreens and CTS Ltd. 


If you would like information on future events or have particular topics you would like to see GQA run CPD events on then please email GQA or speak to your External Verifier. 

Search Begins for UK's top Automotive Glazing Technician

The hunt is on to find the UK’s best automotive glazing technician. Following a series of regional heats, six finalists will compete for the title of UK Master Fitter 2012 at the national Skills Show taking place at the NEC, Birmingham, in November.

Now in its third year, UK Master Fitter is part of WorldSkills UK, which runs a portfolio of national and international skills competitions for young people and adults, designed to showcase talent in vocational skills across many different industries. WorldSkills UK is managed by the National Apprenticeship Service, in partnership with organisations from industry and education.

UK Master Fitter is open to all experienced installers of automotive glass and participation is free of charge. This year, some forty technicians will compete at seven regional finals in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland with the top six overall scores going forward to the final. Competitors will be required to repair and replace a windscreen and replace a side and rear window, within a specified timeframe, under the watchful eye of the UK Master Fitter judging team.

Co-ordinated by official partner, the Independent Windscreen Academy (IWA), which is providing administration and training assistance, UK Master Fitter is being organised by a consortium of industry partners. These include:  AA Autowindshields, Auto Windscreens, Dow, Esprit Windscreen Systems, GQA Qualifications, Laddaw, Master Auto Glass, Nationwide Windscreen Services, National Windscreens, Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), Sika and Proskills. The competition is being sponsored by AGC, Dow, Sika and Kimberly-Clark Professional, the latter a market leader in commercial health, hygiene and safety products.

Automotive glazing is a technology all of its own and technicians are required to have extremely complex skill sets. UK Master Fitter aims to be a champion for recognising their talent and highlighting the sector as an important industry to the economy. Being part of WorldSkills UK will showcase automotive glazing to a wider audience and help our campaign to attract young people into the industry as apprentices.

Speaking about its involvement in the competition for the first time, Nathan Bennett, EMEA Key Account Manager Automotive, Kimberly-Clark Professional, said:

 

“As a leading global supplier of wiping and safety products to the automotive glass industry, we are delighted to be on board as sponsors in 2012. We place the needs of technicians at the heart of every innovation we bring to market, so by being involved with UK Master Fitter it allows us to build on this understanding, which really helps us design products to make their jobs safer and more efficient. Our very best of luck to all the finalists.”

 

The final and awards ceremony of UK Master Fitter will take place at the Skills Show in Birmingham at the NEC on 16-17 November

IVS help Droylsden Glass to “Be Better Qualified”

In early 2010, Droylsden Glass Commercial Director Kevin Thackeray contacted Stockport based IVS Training and Assessment Ltd about the possibility of them delivering Fenestration qualifications to the business. 

IVS visited Droylsden Glass, a manufacturer and installer of high-quality windows, doors and conservatories based in Audenshaw, Manchester, and began working with 11 installers on the GQA Level 2 Fenestration Installation qualification.

IVS Assessor Nick O’Brien said “Kevin was great in ensuring I had access to everything needed and that all the guys were moving in the right direction throughout, keeping them on track to complete their qualifications within the required timescale. The partnership was so successful that in the middle of 2011 Kevin contacted me again to enquire about the remaining installers, very keen to get them onto a course. So in July 2011, another 7 Droylsden Glass Installers started on the GQA Level 2 Fenestration Installation qualification and 3 on the Level 3 qualification. Again I had great support from Kevin, it was really pleasing to see the recommendations I had made to his operation in 2010 had all been put into practice, all the systems were in place and being adhered to by all.”

Nick continued “The assessment was carried out ahead of planned end dates due to the enthusiasm of all candidates. I am delighted for Kevin and the guys who are now fully qualified and for Droylsden Glass who now have a 100% of their work force qualified to nationally recognised qualifications with the GQA”

Kevin Thackeray said “As part of our company’s continuous development, one of the areas identified was providing suitable training and qualifications for our workforce, both the external operatives and the internal staff. By encouraging our team to achieve the Level 2 & 3 qualifications, we not only developed the skills of the individual and awareness of Health & Safety matters, but also helped us as a company in delivering a safe environment for us all to work in. I was very impressed with the way IVS worked with us and would have no hesitation in working with them again”

GQA External Verifier Harry Charnock attended a presentation where the latest group of Droylsden Glass Installers were presented with their GQA qualification Certificates along with members of the Droylsden Glass management team.

Glass Focus Conference 2012 - Innovation, Development and Fresh Thinking

London Heathrow Marriott Hotel

Bath Road Hayes, Greater London, UB3 5AN

United Kingdom

The Glass Focus Conference, on 18 May 2012, is the first of its kind and will bring together all stakeholders in the glass supply chain to stimulate debate about innovation in design, use and the application of glass, generate new thinking for research and development in the coming years and promote communication throughout this chain – both between levels of the chain as well as from tip-to-tail.

From raw materials and recycling, through manufacturing, processing and final product production and onto retail to the end-user/consumer this conference will bring stakeholders together to stimulate debate. It features tailored sessions to meet the needs and interests of each distinct market for the different types of glass product: automotive glass, container glass (packaging), domestic glass (crystal, furniture and tableware), flat glass (structural glass and glazing), special and technical glass (laboratory and scientific applications).

The day features six bespoke breakout sessions including: packaging (container glass), building products, design and sustainability (flat and fibre glass), raw material supply and legislative compliance issues. Also included is the launch of a new glass skills academy, 

Discussing the event Dave Dalton, Chief Executive Officer of British Glass, said, “We want to express the forward thinking and innovative dimensions of glass and the glass supply chain and to share this with all relevant stakeholders.”

Delegates include national and international stakeholders from around the world, including: raw material suppliers, glass manufacturers and processors, brand owners, retailers, food manufacturers, architects, designers, politicians and civil servants.

Interested parties should contact Jackie Donoghue at British Glass on +44 (0) 114 290 1850, or email: glassconference@britglass.co.uk

External Verifier Vacancy at GQA

GQA Qualifications (GQA) is a modern day Awarding Organisation offering qualifications within the Processing and Manufacturing industries. We are looking to recruit a Sheffield Office based External Verifier to work with our established team and the GQA Approved Centre network throughout the UK.

The ideal candidate will have experience of national vocational qualifications and the current qualifications frameworks within GQA related sectors, holding Assessor and Internal Verifier qualifications is essential, with the External Verifier qualification being an advantage. With experience of Awarding Organisation systems, the candidate must possess excellent communication skills and have the ability to deal with a wide range of issues linked to qualification regulation, development and monitoring. 

Experience in the use of Information Technology is essential. Must hold a full, clean UK driving licence.

Interested applicants should send a CV and covering letter to:

The Office Manager

GQA Qualifications Ltd

Unit 1, 12 O'clock Court, Attercliffe Road, Sheffield, S4 7WW

email

Closing Date for applications is the 30th June 2012

Best Practice in Assessment CPD Event

GQA will be running the Best Practice in Assessment CPD event on the 18th April 2012 at The North Lanc's Training Group, Accrington and 24th April 2012 at Schueco, Milton Keynes.

This GQA CPD event is a 1 day interactive event that has been designed specifically around the delivery of GQA qualifications but many of the practices can be used across qualifications in other occupational roles.

The day will include a session on the new standards for assessors, and then cover every stage of contact between Assessor and Learner. This will include the Initial assessment process, effective assessment planning, and the range of assessment methods available and the use of RPL. Also included are sessions on adopting a holistic approach to assessment, evidence gathering and judgement, an overview of questioning techniques, use of professional discussion and how to deliver effective feedback.  There will also be the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the part that Regulatory Authorities and Sector Skills Councils play in qualification delivery.

Target Audience

This event is suitable for qualified assessors, new assessors, and assessors in development, those with a responsible for internal quality assurance as well as those with responsibility for the quality of provision. The course content has been produced to ensure anyone wishing to gain skills, knowledge and understanding in relation to assessment methods will have the opportunity to do so, and will also satisfy the requirements for proving an understanding of the new Assessor awards and their approach.

Resources

Delegates will be provided with comprehensive resources including delegate pack and a range of handouts that will be useful both during and after the workshop.

Course Leader

The event will be delivered by a highly experienced External Verifier with comprehensive experience of assessment and quality assurance in addition to having extensive practical experience in the learning and development sector. All courses are quality assured and delegates will receive a Certificate of Attendance.

Price: £75 (including lunch and refreshments)

Please Contact Emma at GQA to book your place Tel: 0114 2720033 

Assessor & Internal Quality Assurance Awards Update

GQA will be running the Assessor and Internal Quality Assurance Awards Update CPD event on the 16th May 2012 and 24th May 2012 venues to be confirmed.

Course overview

The old individual “A” and “V” Assessor/Verifier qualifications and their predecessors D32/33/34, were replaced at the end of 2010 with new series of Assessor and Quality Assurer Qualifications. These new qualifications have some important differences when compared to the old A, V and D awards - and all Assessors and Verifiers/Quality Assurers will need to be able to evidence that they are fully familiar with the changes and new approaches, and that assessment and Internal Quality Assurance practices in the Centre are in line with these updates.

This CPD event  is one of the suite of GQA CPD workshops. This one explores the requirements of the latest assessment qualifications, explains how the new qualifications differ from the old “A” and “V” units and provides practical guidance on how to perform to, and meet, the new requirements for assessment practice.

  

• A short overview of the new awards and how they sit in relation to previous awards and qualifications
• The key principles and practices of assessment in relation to changes in the new awards, in particular:
• Increased need to ensure the learner is at the centre of learning
• Developing and Using assessment plans which are truly holistic
• Involving candidates and others in the assessment process
• The Importance of reflective practice and continuing professional development
• The key principles and practices of internally assuring the Quality of assessment in relation to changes in the new awards

Target Audience

This intensive combined one-day update workshop is designed for experienced assessors, verifiers and quality assurers (Internal Verifiers) who hold existing qualifications, A1, A2 and/or V1 or the older D32/33/34 units who now need to gain and evidence understanding of the new standards, in order to ensure their authority to assess remains current.

This workshop is NOT considered suitable for those new to assessment or quality assurance. Practitioners looking to gain the assessment/quality assurer qualifications for the first time should aim to achieve the full qualification.

Resources

Delegates will be provided with comprehensive resources including delegate pack and a range of handouts that will be useful both during and after the workshop.

Course Leader

The event will be delivered by a highly experienced External Verifier with comprehensive experience of assessment and quality assurance in addition to having extensive practical experience in the learning and development sector. All courses are quality assured and delegates will receive a Certificate of Attendance.

Price: £75 (including lunch and refreshments)

Please Contact Emma at GQA to book your place Tel: 0114 2720033