Three Year Deal for BTEC Degree Validation

In a move to confirm the continued quality of the BTEC Foundation Degree, the University Vocational Awards Council (UVAC) has signed a three year deal with Edexcel to validate them using their new validation body.

The agreement marks the launch of the NVC, guaranteed by the UVAC. This is a flexible, national awarding service established as a company to meet the needs and requirements of employers, colleges, public bodies and other higher vocational training providers who lack the ability to award their own degrees.

Vocational Importance

The move was welcomed as a sign of the importance being given to vocational education by Professor Simon Roodhouse, chief executive of UVAC. He said: “The creation of NVC reflects the importance government and Higher Education Institutions are placing on vocational learning and the need for progression routes from the new vocational diplomas into higher education.”

The Chair of UVAC, Professor David Melville, added that he also welcomed this new development: “UVAC believes that quality higher vocational learning and training supplied by higher education institutions, professional bodies, training providers and, where appropriate, employers should enjoy the same status as higher academic study. Now, at last, there is a flexible mechanism in place through NVC to validate such programmes and provide them with the recognition they deserve.”

The Early Stages of Progress

Professor Melville recognises that the project is in its initial stages, but says that the model will “continue to evolve to meet the needs of higher vocational learning providers across all levels and occupational sectors.” The UVAC is ideally placed to help to push this project forward as the independent representative of more than 80 universities and colleges with an interest in higher vocational learning, and considers vocational learning to be at the heart of its activities.

Edexcel are also excited about the collaboration with UVAC, with their BTEC Director Rick Firth stating: “Edexcel looks forward to working with UVAC and NVC to offer its BTEC Foundation Degrees. This complements the full range of BTECs and allows full progression for learners studying vocational qualifications from 14-19 and also adult learners and those studying for work-based qualifications.”

Jethro Marsh