Scottish Government

International Lifelong Learning Network - activity update

August 2010

Key forthcoming activities

SQA

• August - Presenting at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Global Skills Summit in Delhi and hosting a study visit from the Indian National Accreditation Board for Education and Training (NABET).
• September - Hosting a number of visits including the Ukrainian National Qualifications System (NQS) to consider Quality Assurance (QA) systems, the governance and role of Sector Skills Councils, and the referencing of the SCQF to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF); a study visit from United Arab Emirates Institute of Applied Technology: Qualification Framework Project (QFP); and 26 delegates from the Bahrain National Qualifications Framework project working groups as part of their strategy for knowledge transfer and capacity building.
• October - Planning for a delegation to China for meetings with partners and government agencies.

SDI

• Planning, research and lead generation activities are focussed on their markets of prioritisation which include India, South East Asia and the Gulf Co-operation States.
• Vietnam and Malaysia - will implement market research to identify business opportunities for the Scottish Education Sector.
• Malaysia and Singapore - developing collaborative projects for the university sector in areas such as Teacher Training and Sport.
• China - supporting various programmes around the Shanghai Expo and also the planned visit of the Cabinet Secretary in the autumn.
• Middle East - commissioned research into engineering opportunities in the Gulf Co-operation States. Also working on initiatives in Healthcare, Engineering and Energy.
• India - leading a mission in November to the FICCI Higher Education Summit incorporating representatives of the university and college sectors in Scotland.

SAAS

• Dublin September - The Times Higher Options event - 3 days.
• Work with the European Recruitment Group - final list of countries not confirmed yet

QAA

• Continuing its review of the 'Academic Infrastructure'. Relevant elements include a Code of Practice, subject benchmarks and programme specifications. Some changes may be proposed to address issues of international education.
• Running an International Benchmarking project on the topic of Research Degrees. It will look at international practice with a view to identifying aspects of provision from which HEIS in Scotland might learn. The work is also building links with EUA Council for Doctoral Education. An international conference on the Research Degree may be held in Scotland during 2011.

HIE

• A new three year programme, the Talent Scotland Graduate Placement Programme, providing 6-12 month placement opportunities for graduates in the private and social enterprise sectors across Scotland. International students with at least 12 months on their Post Study Work visa may apply.

Key activities over past six months

SQA

• Ongoing awarding activity including:

- Continuing to deliver qualifications in 3 international geographic regions.

- 26 centres operational in China currently undertaking the HND programme. This summer, the total number of certificates issued for the SQA HND programme will exceed 9,000.

- Continuing to work with Hanban (Chinese Language Council International) to extend the successful partnership which began in 2008. Also held discussions on supporting British Council and LTS initiatives to extend the number of Scottish young people attending summer camps in China.

• Ongoing consultancy activity including:

- Managing a National Qualifications Framework in Bahrain. SQA made a monitoring visit and attended the Project Launch Conference on 26 May.

- Services to support and accredit Botswana Technical Education Programmes. Phases I and II have been successfully implemented and Phase III is scheduled for completion in March 2011.

- Awarded an EC contract to provide assistance relating to strengthening institutional framework for the development of the VET occupational standards / qualifications & curricula in Croatia.

- Awarded a contract to provide assistance relating to a Regional Network of Local Learning Institutions in Croatia.

- Working to provide technical assistance for the development of further Egyptian Vocational Competence Based Qualifications (EVCQs) and has carried out a pilot for the endorsement of standards in EVCQs.

- 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.

- Awarded a World Bank-funded project in 2007 to provide technical assistance to the Mozambique Government to support reforms of technical and vocational qualifications.

- Partner in an international consortium relating to Continuous Vocational Training in Environment Protection in Romania funded by the European Social Fund (ESF). The Environment 1 Project began on 1st October 2009 and is scheduled to run for three years. A study visit to SQA took place 26-28 May 2010. The Environment Project 2 launch conference took place on 21-22 June 2010

- Partner in an international consortium that aims to improve the quality of VET in Romania by creating a Resource Centre in Social Work and adapting the work force to labour market requirements. The Project Manager attended and presented at the launch conference in Bucharest on 3 June.

• Participated in several strategic visits to raise awareness of Scottish education and training which include:

- First EC Network Forum for implementation of ECVET on 24/25 June in Paris

- The Director of Business Development and the Head of International visited Delhi in July

- Kurdistan Conference, 15-16 June 2010 in London

SDI

• Undertook research into corporate CPD opportunities in India across Life Sciences, Energy and Financial Services companies.
• Delivered a thought leadership event for the Scottish Education sector in Singapore on the theme of Sport; the business the economic impact and the opportunities for partnership in partnership with the University of Stirling as Scotland's Institute for Sporting Excellence.
• Alongside SQA, SCI and the Scottish Government visited India to identify a 'team Scotland' approach to the vocational opportunities and challenges arising across India

SAAS

• Irish Career Guidance Counsellors National Conference (1 day) - 2 seminars in conjunction with the University of Edinburgh on Higher Education in Scotland.
• Berlin - StudyWorld 2010 events (2 day event) - Stand promoting higher education in Scotland. This is one of the events SAAS attend as part of the European Recruitment Group
• Irish Schools Trip (5 days) - Working in conjunction with the universities, talking to students and parents about Higher Education in Scotland.

QAA

• Organised an international workshop in Brussels in February, on "Recognition of Prior Learning: sharing European principles and practice". Work is progressing on setting up a European RPL network to share practice. In April and May, they also held workshops and conferences on work-based learning, and on mechanisms for supporting students.
• A proposal for the development of a Bologna/EHEA network on RPL has been drafted and is going to the next (August) meeting of the Bologna Follow-up Group.
• Been gathering case studies of RPL practice from across Europe

Other major international activity

SQA

• Chinese Study Visit to Scotland, 12 May 2010: Officials came to learn about Scotland's VET system. Hosted on behalf of Anniesland College who are engaging with the colleges on a PMI2 initiative.
• Azerbaijan Study Visit to Scotland, 16-21 May 2010: Officials came to gain knowledge of a decentralised VET system Delegates visited Stevenson and Elmwood Colleges, Scottish Government offices, SQA and heard from the Scottish Tourism Forum, Skills Development Scotland and the Sector Skills Council.
• Romania 3 day Study Visit to Scotland, 26-28 May 2010: To provide information on SQA qualifications, the SCQF, role of Sector Skills Councils and recognition of prior learning
• Croatian Study Visit to Scotland, 21-25 June 2010: Representatives of the Croatian Government and the Agency for Vocational Education and Training (AVET). Visited SQA to introduce delegates to examples of good practice of vocational qualifications in Scotland.
• Saudi Arabian Study Visit to Scotland, 1 July 2010: Teachers from colleges in Saudi Arabia came to learn from SQA how they conduct our operations in Finance, Management Information Systems and Quality Assurance.
• Saudi Arabian Study Visit to Scotland, 5 July 2010: The Saudi Arabian Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) study visit was hosted by the British Council. TVTC wish to establish an Accreditation Body for Saudi Arabian Technical and Vocational Training and has examined VET systems around the world to inform their own developments

QAA

• Continue to maintain liaison with other national quality agencies, to conduct overseas audit of UK-badged HE provision, and to monitor trends in regulation of transnational education.

Commonwealth Games activity

• SDI is providing briefing and meeting support for the First Minister's visit in October.