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Lecturers from the Further Education Colleges of Bradford, Rotherham and Sandwell along with representatives of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining met with City & Guilds and BTEC Edexcel in London on 22nd November 2002 to discuss pathways for qualifications in Metals Technology at GNVQ level 3 that would allow progression from Advanced Modern Apprenticeships to National Certificate or equivalent, and also to a Higher National Certificate or Foundation degree in Metallurgy.

The following information emerged from these meetings:

City & Guilds

City and Guilds is the awarding body for three progression awards which provide the underpinning knowledge (the technical certificate) for modern apprenticeships in the metals processing, casting and finishing industries. The progression awards in production engineering (6984) covering casting and finishing are available. A new progression award for the process industries
(0603) which includes metals processing has not yet been approved by QCA. In the meantime, the old awards are continuing.

Bridging units have been developed to assist progression between levels VQ3/VQ4 so that students can progress to the new Higher Professional Diploma in Engineering. There are plans for this latter award to become the stage 1 exam for Incorporated Engineer status, but at present it has no materials strand.

  

BTEC Edexcel

Edexcel recognises that the NQF design criteria work well where there are large student numbers nationally with large classes being taught in many centres. The requirements for a reduced number of frameworks with 1/3 of courses being centrally assessed means that important minority pathways have been ignored since large student numbers are necessary if central assessment is to be cost effective. Metals Technology is one such pathway. However, Edexcel identified a number of possible mechanisms which could be used to ensure the continuation of a specialist framework in Metallurgy:

  1. Develop a specialist framework for metallurgy and materials technology and submit to QCA for approval.
  2. Concentrate the running of courses at small number of specialist centres which have COVE status (Centres of Vocational Excellence).
  3. Run specialist courses with local funding to meet local needs. Such courses would not be on the National Qualifications Framework.
  4. Add new units to existing programmes, and submit the new pathway for accreditation by QCA.

Edexcel then provided examples of two different approaches to meet the requirements of the NQF.

In polymer technology, the initial plan had been for the special units to be developed within the framework of Applied Science. However, this approach would have resulted in too many specialist units within the framework. Instead, Edexcel has contextualised existing applied science units to meet the needs of the polymer processing industry. This has been submitted to QCA. Approval is still awaited.

In manufacturing engineering, there is a common core of 6 units for several pathways, with students selecting another 6 specialist units from groups of optional units. By restricting the options it is possible for special pathways to be recognised in the title of the award - for example, a National Certificate in Manufacturing Engineering (Welding & Fabrication) is awarded if students select specialist units from a reduced list of options.

  

The Way Forward

It was agreed that a new National Certificate in Metallurgy would ideally take this last approach. This will require:

  1. Reviewing the current range of units already developed in the NC in Manufacturing Engineering
  2. Identifying and outlining up to six units covering principles of metallurgy and materials technology which could be added to the specialist options within the award.
  3. Specifying a restricted range of optional units so that students could be awarded a National Certificate in Manufacturing Engineering (Metallurgy).
This approach would meet several requirements:
  • The core units would be delivered across a number of engineering specialisms providing sufficient student numbers for central assessment to be economic.
  • Colleges could teach the core units to combined classes of students studying a number of engineering specialisms, thereby improving the economics of teaching.
  • The specialist units would meet the industrial need for training in metallurgy.
  • The student would receive recognition for the specialism that had been studied.

If this model is used, QCA approval will be needed for the new pathway that is created. This will require the industrial need to be identified - indeed, industry should be involved in the specification of the specialist units. There will also need to be articulation with the industry Advanced Modern Apprenticeships and the developing AGCSE in Materials for schools. Finally, the pathway should meet the academic requirements for the 'Technician Engineer' qualification.

  

A working party consisting of the Institutes of Materials, Minerals & Mining, and Cast Metals Engineers together with the Further Education Colleges of Rotherham, Bradford and Sandwell will meet at Rotherham on 10th January 2003 to progress this issue. In the meantime, the existing National Certificate in Metals Technology has been listed for extension for two years until 2004.

For more information about this project, please contact John Wilcox on +44 (0)1555 773301 or john.wilcox@iom3.org.