TalentScotland Graduate Placement Programme - Multi-party programme launched in October 2010 to increase business innovation and to create opportunities for graduate employment. So far 30 graduates have been placed with private sector businesses or social enterprises in the Highlands and Islands. It is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund in the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) region. Delivered by HIE and Scottish Enterprise across Scotland.
- This programme allows the participation of graduates in a 5-day residential training course on business development, innovation and employability skills. This training is delivered by Robert Gordon's Business School and University of Strathclyde's Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship and funded by the Scottish Funding Council and Skills Development Scotland.
SAAS - Cyprus - working with the universities promoting higher education in Scotland.
NUS · Dissemination activities including: - 13 October 2010 - NUS UK's International Student Training Day was a training workshop using best practice case studies from the Students Without Borders project. - 15-19 November 2010 - International Education Week - online promotion of events by Scottish HE associations and institutions. 31 March 2011 - Workshop piloting training materials at the sparqs conference 4 April 2011 - keynote speech on internationalisation and the project's work to date at the Internationalisation Symposium, Heriot-Watt University. · Activities including: - Study visit to Brussels in December 2010 - International student training development and piloted delivery - 4 European festivals at HE institutions in Scotland to promote outward mobility - UKBA International Student Immigration consultation reports - Contributed to publication sharing best practice case studies for international students for the European Students Union QAA - Continues to support a Bologna/EHEA network on Recognition of Prior Learning. The future operation of the group is likely to be reviewed later in 2011.
- Continuing its review of the 'Academic Infrastructure' looking at that which underpins quality and standards in UK higher education. In Scotland, we have begun a review of our broader approach to quality assurance and enhancement in HE over the next 4-6 years. This will include consideration of the impact of international reviewers (in place since 2006) and the scope for extending international benchmarking of Scottish HE practice and policy. The outcomes will be known around October 2011.
SQA - Ongoing awarding activity including:
- Continuing to deliver qualifications in 3 international geographic regions - Attended and presented at the annual China International Education Exhibition Tour (CIEET) and the Study Abroad Forum in Beijing in March 2011. - Have agreed to work together with the Hanban for an initial 3 years in support of their Summer Camp initiative. - Engaging with the UK India Skills Forum (UKISF) which forms part of the UK India Business Council whose remit is to support and facilitate business development in India. - Developed 8 customised awards in the area of Soft Skills/Employability. A further 8 are in the early stages of development. - Work is ongoing with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) in preparation for certification of their first customised award. - A further potential customised award is in the early stages of development for the United Arab Emirates. - Ongoing consultancy activity including:
- Managing the National Qualifications Framework Project in Bahrain which continues on track. - Services to support and accredit Botswana Technical Education Programmes. .Phases I and II successfully implemented. An extension to Phase III was approved by the Permanent Secretary, Botswana, which has extended the duration of the project to March 2013. - Awarded an EC contract to provide assistance relating to strengthening institutional framework for the development of the VET occupational standards / qualifications & curricula in Croatia. The project continues on track. - Awarded a contract to provide assistance relating to a Regional Network of Local Learning Institutions in Croatia. The project continues on track. - Carried out a pilot for the endorsement of standards in Egyptian Vocational Competence Based Qualifications (EVCQs). SQA is now in the position to scrutinise 230 EVCQs and endorse up to 500. - Awarded an EC contract to provide assistance for The TVET Reform Project (Phase 3) for the reform of the vocational education and training system in Egypt which continues on track. - Participated in the TVET Reform Twinning Project through a Feasibility Study workshop for establishing an Awarding Body capacity within the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development for craft qualifications in the construction sector. The project is now complete. - Assist the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic to establish an effective system of general and vocational education and training. The Environment 1 project officially commenced in November 2010 and implementation is now underway. - Partner in an international consortium relating to Continuous Vocational Training in Environment Protection in Romania and funded by the European Social Fund. The project began officially in October 2009 and is scheduled to run for three years and is on track - Environment Project 2, a continuation of above, aims to further elaborate the development of occupational standards and evaluation of vocational competencies in the environment sector. - Providing technical assistance relating to strengthening of the Workforce Development Authority (WDA) and support to the establishment of an integrated TVET System in Rwanda - Participated in study visits:
- hosted a visit from the Government of Kuwait and the World Bank in December 2010 - hosted a visit from the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), India on 17 March 2011. |