BTEC Higher Nationals, Further Education and Vocational Degrees

John DaviesHead of HE Programme DevelopmentHigher Education Qualifications

Policy barriers to expansion of HE in FE

• Vocational progression

• Funding cap

• The impact of Foundation Degrees

• Effective employer engagement

• Browne and the impact on HE.

BTEC HNS

• BTEC HNs retain employer respect

• National credibility with local flexibility

• Now on the QCF

• Fully unitised

• HNC = first year of a degree, HND = second year.

BTEC HNS: the future

• We are proposing to launch a BTEC L6 HN ‘Graduate

Diploma’

• We plan to provide extensive e-learning support (HN -

Online)

• We plan to add new title to the HN portfolio where

there are gaps.

BTEC HN L6 ‘Graduate Diploma’

BTEC L6 HN ‘Graduate Diploma’ – the proposal

• 120 credits

• 30 – 70 credit dissertation

• Dissertation is the only mandatory component

• Suite of new L6 option units

• Graded as HNC / HND: Pass, Merit or Distinction.

BTEC L6 HN ‘Graduate Diploma’: Key Milestones

• Sept 2010 survey centres to test proposition

• Autumn 2010 develop L6 Graduate Diploma for

Business

scope L6 Graduate Diploma for

IT, Eng and H&SC

consultation with key centres

• January 2011 consultation across market

recruit pilots for autumn 2011

• September 2011 run pilots.

BTEC HN - Online• E-learning

• Teaching support

BTEC HN - Online

• Develop e-learning support for HNs for Levels 4, 5 and

6

• Harness Pearson Education HE publishing portfolio

• Integrate with Pearson Learning Studio VLEs

• Deliver resources online for flexible / blended learning

• Develop teaching support: content, exemplar

assignments etc

• Facilitate online assessment

• Establish an overarching brand identity.

BTEC HN – Online, Key Milestones

• Q4 2010 survey centres to test proposition

build two sample core units for HN Business

» Marketing Principles

» Managing Financial Resources & Decisions

• Q1 2011 proof of concept trials with centres (UK, Int’l)

• Q2 – 3 build remaining core units for HN Business

build & trial selected option units for Business

• Sept 2011 launch HN+ Business

build sample units for IT and Engineering.

BTEC HNs

Enhancing the portfolio

BTEC HNs – Enhancing the portfolio

• Incremental programme of enhancement and updating

• Consult with centres, employers, SSCs

• Update where necessary

• Add new units, endorsements or titles: e.g.

– New titles – Law, Nursing, Education, Psychology

– New pathways – Entrepreneurship (Business),

International Bus.

– New units – Renewable energy, Nuclear Energy.

Address any further questions or concerns about HNs to:

John Davies

Address Details:Higher Education QualificationsPearson EducationOne90 High Holborn,London,WC1V 7BH

e: john.davies@edexcel.comm: 07595 217 097p: 0207190 5126