NFEC Autumn National Conference
 

NFEC Autumn National Conference - Advance Information

Thursday 26 & Friday 27 November 2009 – Holiday Inn, Coventry (M6, J2)

 

 Thursday 26 November

NFEC Ltd AGM – John Lockey, Chair

Preparations for QCF Implementation

In the run-up to 2010 when all qualifications must be reformed to comply with QCF guidelines, are developments still progressing according to plan and what outstanding issues remain for successful implementation?   How are the relationships between awarding bodies going to be affected by the development of “shared” and “restricted” units?

Funding Strategy in Support of QCF Implementation

Developments have been progressing in the development of a funding strategy that will effectively embrace the QCF model of programme structure. What fundamental structures will be in place to fund this new structuring of qualifications and how will they operate?

UK Skills – Preparation for Skills Olympics 2011

With the success of the 2009 “Skills Olympics” in Calgary behind us, how are preparations developing for those for 2011.  How can providers and employers become involved?  Following this presentation, delegates will have the opportunity to speak with Director of Skills Competitions to find out how they can get involved.  They will also be able to view a skills competition taking place in parallel with the conference.

Workshop Session 1

Given the success of the workshop format at previous conferences, the following workshops are being made available with the opportunity to rotate and therefore broaden the experience that can be gained from them. They will be led by practitioners and be chaired by an NFEC Director. Please prepare clear, concise feedback.

-       View the skills competition running in parallel with Conference.

-     Apprenticeships – In preparation for the presentationon SASE, what concerns are emerging and how might they be addressed, including those on which NFEC may need to make representation.

-     Engineering Diploma - One year on, what lessons are being learned from the delivery, organisation and development and use of teaching materials?

-     The Manufacturing Diploma was launch in
 September – what are the initial findings in the
 delivery of this new programme? Are there lessons to

 
be learned from experiences of delivering the
 Engineering Diploma?

-     Implementation of the QCF - Views of awarding~
bodies on the implementation of the QCF (EAL,    IMI & C&G)

Lunch (and check-in for Residential Delegates)

Workshop Session 2 – An opportunity for delegates to rotate and attend another workshop of their choice.

HE in FE – A Change of Direction?

In the early part of this year, proposals were still in place for colleges to establish their own vocational degrees to be known as Bachelor of Vocational Studies. This plan has now been dropped - in favour of more direct funding of colleges for degree programmes.  Either way, are we moving to a position where colleges will take the place of Polytechnics 'as was' – a slot vacated when they became universities?

The future of the Established Vocational Qualifications with the Emergence of Engineering and Manufacturing Diplomas?

There is still much talk (and indeed, some confusion) over the future of the well-established vocational qualifications in the light of the emergence of the new diplomas. What is the current thinking and have the mixed messages from Government on this matter been clarified?

Day 1 plenary session  John Lockey – NFEC Chair

Review of the issues from Conference so far and in particular the Workshops.  Identification of actions for NFEC from Day 1.  To include succinct presentations from Workshop Chairs on identified issues for NFEC to address 

Close of Thursday Session.

Conference Dinner - residential delegates and invited guests

  DINNER WINE SPONSORED BY  EAL

 

 

 Friday 27 November

New Technological Developments in the Automotive Industry

Developments in automotive engineering have and continue to gather speed. What features of the vehicles of today are likely to change to accommodate the expanding demands for a greener society?  A view from a leading car manufacturer development centre. How might these developments affect the content of programmes of training for the engineers of tomorrow?

Workshop Session 3 

In response to feedback from previous conferences, some of the Conference  Day 1 workshops are being made available  again – another opportunity for you.

-    Apprenticeships – In preparation for the presentationon SASE, what concerns are emerging and how might they be addressed, including those on which NFEC may need to make representation.

-     Engineering Diploma - One year on, what lessons are being learned from the delivery, organisation and development and use of teaching materials?

-     The Manufacturing Diploma was launched in
 September – what are the initial findings in the
 delivery of this new programme? Are there lessons to

 
be learned from experiences of delivering the
 Engineering Diploma?

-     Implementation of the QCF - Views of awarding~
 bodies on the implementation of the QCF (EAL
 IMI &
C&G)

Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for England (SASE)

SASE sets out the requirements with which each recognised Apprenticeship Framework in England must comply.  Launched in February of this year, the SASE will replace the existing non-statutory “Blueprint” and is in response to the Government World Class Apprenticeship published in January last year.   How does the SASE differ from the Blueprint and what are the expected advantages to apprentices, employers and providers – is there a watering down of standards with the demise of Technical Certificates - views from both SEMTA and Summit Skills.

Revised Inspection Framework

Following consultations and pilot inspections, OFSTED introduced the revised framework for inspection of post-16 education and training in September. Whilst the revised arrangements were expected to build on the current Common Inspection Framework, what key differences and/or enhancements are there - and how do they benefit  the learner, provider and employer?  What do the inspected Centres think?

Plenary Session – NFEC Directors

This to be kept very focused and closely related to the actions delegates would like to see NFEC take in relation to the themes and topics from the Conference.  The structure of the discussion will encompass:

–      Issues from workshops and conference

–      Related agreed actions for NFEC

–      Agree themes/topics delegates would like
  to see covered in the next Conference.

Lunch 

Collection of delegate feedback on the event     

Close & depart