Diploma in ICT Professional Competence

The QCF framework

• New way of recognising achievement: awarding a credit value for units and qualifications

• Qualifications titles, sizes and levels (entry→ L8) standardised nationally: Awards (1-12 credits), Certificates (13-36 credits), Diplomas (37+ credits)

• Qualifications will be:– designed to fit a national (unit) template with learning outcomes

and assessment criteria– subject to agreed rules of combination (RoC) – migrated to the new framework by end 2010

• All units will be assigned a credit value at a level

• Levels are same as NQF – L2 roughly GSCE level, L3 A Level, L4 1st year undergrad, L8 PhD.

• One credit = 10 notional learning hours (NLH)

• NLH – average time it would take a learner to complete a unit– consists of guided learning hours (GLH), personal study time,

‘on the job’ experience, assessment preparation and assessment time

Credits and Levels

QCF Structure

Ofqual’s Equivalencies

General observations

• The framework has changed, but methods of assessment have not

• Each unit needs to be able to be assessed separately in a workenvironment, but evidence can still be used across a number of units where appropriate

• Greater flexibility may result in qualifications with more than one assessment model - OCR will consider the assessment burden when developing rules of combination

• Full scheme documentation, including entry details, will be available on the our website

• Named and unnamed registration routes will be available

• Full qualification and unit entry will be available

Further information

More information about the QCF is available on the

following websites:

www.ocr.org.uk/qcf

www.ofqual.gov.uk

Diploma in ICT Professional Competence

• Developed to replace the existing QCF/NVQ units with the Professional Competence qualifications

• Existing units redeveloped• New units developed• Diploma available at Levels 2-3 to include level 4 units• The QCF allows candidates to complete units for a qualification

across levels• A candidate working towards a level 3 qualification can achieve

with units awarded at level 2* and level 4*

*provided the minimum requirements for the level are met

Competence credits

Level 2 Diploma in ICT Professional competence – 48 Credits

• Mandatory units – a minimum of 9 credits

• Optional Units – a minimum of 39 credits (Includes new and existing NOS based units, plus vendor units)

• Restricted Optional - Up to a maximum of 12 credits (Includes IT User options, imported units and employer units)

Competence credits

Level 3 Diploma in ICT Professionalcompetence – 72 credits

• Mandatory units – a minimum of 12 credits

• Optional units – a minimum of 60 credits (Includes new and existing NOS-based units, and Vendor units)

• Restricted optional - Up to a maximum of 24 credits (Includes IT User options, imported units and employer units)

New & Existing units

Unit Title Level Credit New or replaced unit

Computer games development 2 4 New

Computer games development 3 10 New

Creating a procedural computer programme

2 10 Software development – component creation

Creating a procedural computer programme

3 12 Software development – component creation

Creating an event driven computer programme

2 7 Software development – component creation

Creating an event driven computer programme

3 12 Software development – component creation

Creating an object orientated computer programme

2 7 Software development – component creation

Creating an object orientated computer programme

3 12 Software development – component creation

New & Existing units cont.

Data modelling 2 6 Data analysis and data structure design

Data modelling 3 9 Data analysis and data structure design

Data Structures and Algorithms 4 15 Data analysis and data structure design

Designing and Developing a Website 4 15 Software Design

Designing and Developing Event Driven Computer Programmes

4 10 Software Design

Designing and Developing Object Orientated Computer Programmes

4 15 Software Design

Designing and Developing Procedural Computer Programmes

4 15 Software Design

Develop own effectiveness and professionalism 2 6 Develop personal and organisational effectiveness

Develop own effectiveness and professionalism 3 9 Develop personal and organisational effectiveness

New & Existing units cont.

Introduction to IT Systems Development 2 6 Investigating and defining requirements

Investigating and defining customer requirements for ICT systems

3 12 Investigating and defining requirements

IT Project Management 2 4 New

IT Project Management 3 10 New

Technical Advice and Guidance 2 9 Technical Advice and Guidance

Technical Advice and Guidance 3 12 Technical Advice and Guidance

Technical Fault Diagnosis 2 9 Technical Fault Diagnosis

Technical Fault Diagnosis 3 12 Technical Fault Diagnosis

Existing units cont.

The following units (at levels 1 to 3) have been extended and will be included in the new Professional Competence qualifications with no changes to their content or credit values.

Title Level Credit Title Level Credit

Health & Safety for ICT 1 3 Software Installation and Upgrade

2

3

9

12

Customer Care in ICT 2

3

9

12System Management 2

3

6

12

Interpersonal and Written Communication

2 9 ICT System Operation 2

3

9

12

Quality Management of ICT Systems and Products and Services

3 12 Testing ICT Systems 2

3

9

12

Remote Support for products and services

3 12 User Profile Administration 2

3

6

9

Security of ICT Systems 3 12 Working with ICT Hardware and Equipment

2 9

Vendor Units

Please see e-skills/NDAQ website for full list of vendor units once accredited as there are too many to list.

• Microsoft – All Active units are available

• CompTIA – A wide range are available

• Cisco – CCNA Discovery/Exploration & IT Essentials are available

• Oracle – Includes Database Administrator

• VM Ware – Master Enterprise Administrator/Design

Diploma in ICT Professional Competence – Mandatory units

L2 Diploma

L3 Diploma

48 credits

72 credits

Personal Effectiveness L2 (6)

Health & Safety L1 (3)

Personal Effectiveness L3 (9)

Health & Safety L1 (3)

Spiky Profile – Cross LevelAchievement

• Level 2 Diploma in ICT Professional Competence – (48 credits) example of achievement

L2 Mandatory Unit -

Personal effectiveness – 6 credits

L1 Mandatory

unit - Health & Safety

– 3 credits

L3 Optional unit -

Technical Advice and Guidance

- 12 credits

L2 Restricted Optional unit - Set up an IT System –

4 credits

L2 Optional unit –

Creating a procedural computer

programme – 10 credits

L2 vendor unit Cisco IT Essentials Part 1 – 10

credits

L2 vendor unit -Pre-installing

for OEM’s Windows Vista and

server operating

systems – 3 credits

Candidate achieves a full level 2 qualification meeting the mandatoryrequirements with units from adjacent levels and vendor units

Assessment

• Candidates are still required to meet all assessment objectives

• Evidence must not be simulated

Support

• Exemplar material to be developed for new units

• New handbooks and units available from Sept 2010

Summary

L2 Diploma in ICT Professional Competence

L3 Diploma in ICT Professional Competence

Threshold 48 72

Achievable at level 29 44

Mandatory 9 12

Optional (min) 39 60

Restricted optional (max) 12 24

Range of GLH 250-386 369-608

60% must be achieved at level