Welsh ITQ Case Studies
e-skills UK has led 2 pilot ITQ projects in Wales in Spring and Summer 2007:
The NHS Wales ITQ Data Quality offering a 'light touch' approach to e-assessment using the e-skills Passport
The Welsh Assembly Government ITQ project funded under the Step Up Sector programme.
In addition we have a series of seven short case studies from Welsh providers as follows:
A FE College using ITQ with full-time students
B Government funded training provider using e-skills Passport to support their growing demand for ITQ
C Registered charity offering ITQ and e-skills passport
D FE College with a full range of IT User course provision
E Training provider using online or blended learning approach
F FE College offering level 2 and 3 ITQ
G IT training provider who have offered ITQ for over 3 years
FE College
College A operates in 4 locations and offers ITQ courses in 3 of them (differing in the Levels provided). The e-skills Passport has never been tried across the organisation, neither by the staff, nor by the students.
ITQ is perceived there as fitting well with the ‘e-quals’ qualification which has been offered to A’s students long before ITQ was launched. ITQ has been provided by A for two academic years now. The important difference between the two is, however, is that ITQ demands a work-based learning module and more paperwork from both students and teachers. On the other hand, ITQ provides very attractive government funding for the college and that’s basically why A has decided to provide it.
In general, ITQ is seen as a rather “wishy-washy” scheme in comparison with the original NVQ in IT – an easier way to get a formal qualification of this kind. On the other hand, A’s students are being forced to register on ITQ courses (richer in workload than e-quals) as it’s economically very beneficial for the college. ITQ is presented to them as a classic “two in one” deal – they get an extra qualification on top of the other. At the same time the college regularly provides other qualifications as well (e.g. ECDL), on demand from employers.
A always delivers ITQ always in the same way – on a full time basis and mainly through traditional teaching (with obligatory work-based units provided through real life work based practice). It also fits standard teaching provision of the college (one ITQ level a year).
A’s IT teaching staff see less of a demand for IT courses across the college. They think this may be due to the natural cycles of popularity of some courses over others or just a more general social change and overall increase in the IT skills amongst young people. Since ITQ Level 1 isn’t very demanding for a student and ‘easy to achieve even for a 9 year old’, young students may not feel that obtaining it would be in any way beneficial for them in the future.
A doesn’t plan to extend the number of ITQ courses also for other reasons. A’s teaching staff finds it hard to find suitable companies for their students to provide the obligatory work-based practice as a part of ITQ curriculum. However with ITQ students on levels 1 and 2 the College itself can provide some real-world practice for the students in-house, the ITQ level 3 requires some more challenging tasks for students to do and this has to be achieved outside of the college. Organising suitable training for students on level 3 is thus very hard because of a lack of companies interested in this kind of cooperation in the local area.
ITQ and e-skills Passport Provider
B is an approved government training provider taking part in the e-skills Passport pilot, who has been delivering e-skills Passports for over 6 months now. e-skills Passports have been given to B and it currently uses them with the rest of the ITQ package.
B delivers ITQ on levels 1 to 3. However around 1500 students currently work towards their ITQ with CAD, only around 50 Passports have been used to date. All ITQ training is provided as part-time courses and delivered over more than 3 months. All the ITQ courses are provided in an appropriate ‘blended’ way.
The main reason for getting involved in ITQ provision for B has been the funding connected with it. As a private company B is strongly focused on ITQ as a product bringing profit to the vendor. Thus B is happy that not only is ITQ clearly a part of the government’s policy at the moment but also fits the market demand in general.
For B, ITQ seems an optimal IT-user training product to deliver. B is very positive about the ITQ impact on students and shows strong interest in its becoming the mainstream tool of IT-user training provision across Wales. That’s why, if needed, B would be ready to increase the number of students on ITQ courses. To do that B would have to be offered extra support in terms of extra hardware and software, some funding to employ extra members of staff and also a revision of current funding rates in order to make them reflect growing training provision.
For the time being, B hasn’t experienced any problems with finding candidates for the places on its ITQ courses. It assesses that the number of ITQ students grows about 20 per cent each year (last academic year about 2000 students have been registered on ITQ courses with B).
ITQ Provider
C is a registered charity providing training, development and support for sustainable employment across Wales through a delivery network in 4 different locations, with claims to be one of the 50 top providers of training and employability services in Wales. Training seekers, who are referred to C by Jobcentre Plus or Careers, are offered their services free of charge.
C’s management see ITQ and the e-skills Passport in a broader context of a multitude of IT qualifications and initiatives available for employers and employees across Wales. They understand ITQ rather as a natural successor of NVQ in IT than as a brand new qualification scheme and as just one of a myriad of the IT User qualifications registered in Wales. They haven’t heard of the e-skills Passport and both find the name confusing (as it may be easily confused with European Computer Driving Licence, however even this qualification, a better established one, isn’t in their opinion well recognised by employers).
C finds the demand for IT-user courses is undoubtedly growing. However, the greatest demand for IT-user training they find is in the more specialised, areas of IT expertise. Employers come to them with their particular needs and those needs are usually specific to their industry. That’s why a broad IT-user qualification, like ITQ, only partly meets the market needs (however ITQ is a more flexible tool in this design than previous NVQ in IT anyway).
C’s management feel their organisation is prepared for the challenge of taking up more students on IT-user courses, including ITQ, over the next years both in terms of infrastructure and teaching staff. They have recently recruited a number of new staff (quality assessors) and constantly develop their IT facilities across their centres. They have also taken extra effort to prepare a special computer suite fully suitable for blind people.
The biggest problem they encounter regarding the provision of IT, as well as other IT-user training, is the money for running the services (they themselves depend financially on the grants from the Welsh Assembly Government). The organisation also struggles to keep up with the pace of technology change in IT in terms of their IT equipment. Unfortunately, contrary to colleges, this type of IT training provider isn’t given any reductions when they purchase IT equipment.
ITQ and e-skills Passport Provider
D is a college in North Wales taking part in the e-skills Passport pilot scheme. It has been providing ITQ for two years.
D offers a very broad range of IT User qualifications, both as “sat” courses and provided in the clients’ premises, using laptops, as a typical work-based learning, on a roll on – roll off basis (eg. ECDL, advanced ECDL, CLAiT, BTECH, CISCO networking courses, e-citizens courses etc.) Each year they deal with massive number of IT students (reaching 2000 for a single academic year). In comparison only a tiny percentage of them (about 30 a year) take ITQ course.
After a initial period of being reluctant about the e-skills Passport, D is getting more and more convinced that the e-skills Passport is a useful tool for the teacher (it helps precisely evaluate the student’s entry level of computing skills), for a student (it keeps the record of his/her achievements) and the employers (know exactly where the employee stands when it comes to his/her IT qualifications).
By far D has used less than 30 e-skills Passports. The first 8 were used for the D’s IT staff – as a way to try it in-house before it was offered to the clients.
D perceives ITQ as much more restrictive and time-consuming than ECDL. They provide loads of ECDL courses currently as it’s very popular. ITQ is more on-demand. However, the feedback they get about ITQ from the students is very positive.
D got involved in ITQ through their client, which was approached by e-skills UK. Since ITQ is attractively funded by the former Assembly Government Department of Education Lifelong Learning and Skills it has become an attractive choice for D itself as well. Apart from that, D finds ITQ a very good, well designed course – a good quality product.
Also the e-skills Passport is perceived by D as an extremely useful tool of assessing entry IT qualifications of students coming to the college. It makes the whole process of acquiring new qualifications more transparent for all parties involved in it.
D clearly has the capacity to provide more ITQ courses in future. But the exact number of students on ITQ courses depends on the funding from the government and contracts with some of their key clients. If the numbers are to be much bigger than they are currently, some extra members of staff would have to be up-skilled and also the funding would have to be appropriate (it would have to reflect e.g. time and cost of the assessors’ travelling).
ITQ and e-skills Passport Provider
E are a leading learning and development company specialising in providing IT training and business solutions across South Wales and South-West England. They have provided ITQ for 3 years, and have used the e-skills Passport for the past year, with around 18 learners currently registered. E were one of the first in Wales to deliver the ITQ, and it has “fitted in nicely with e-learning”. Getting involved in ITQ was only natural as they began with the IT NVQ some 8 years ago, and have therefore worked with e-skills UK and the previous organisation.
They have a contract with the Welsh Assembly Government to deliver software development, however they would like to do more online NVQs in Wales, but cannot do so as the Assembly Government do not accept electronic signatures. The e-skills Passport “fits in well for our customers”, as they can easily track the progress of learners. E currently has 120 learners on ITQ courses, with around 500 learners on non-ITQ courses spread out over 4 centres. They specialise in ITQ levels 2 and 3, and also run Modern Apprenticeship Programmes. Over 50 learners have completed their ITQ courses to date.
E mostly have a blended approach to training e.g. online and classroom courses, Portfolio development. E believe that the ITQ and e-skills Passport does link in well with other IT User training routes, but “there is more awareness of ECDL”. The ITQ is “more flexible”, is relevant to “work based candidates”, and “fits in nicely” with IT diplomas in schools and colleges. The ITQ however can be time consuming, with much time taken on observing candidates to make sure they learn.
E are of the opinion that ITQ awareness is not a problem with learners, it is employer awareness that is crucial; it’s a “credibility issue” with them. The ITQ and e-skills Passport needs “better publicity…you need to convince the user of its merits”. E believe that there is a definite role for the British Computer Society in promoting the ITQ/e-skills Passport. Employers are more aware of other IT courses e.g. NVQs, Business Administration, but they need to be convinced that the ITQ is “more relevant”.
Both the ITQ and e-skills Passport are improving IT skills and learning experiences, as it tests “the competency of the individual”, and ensures they’re up to date with packages. E believe that the public sector understands the relevance of the ITQ/e-skills Passport, but the SME sector is “lagging”. The ECDL needs to lead on into a full ITQ, and “getting away from the paper system” is important. The e-skills Passport “allows you to identify the type of IT usage the service sector needs…you’re able to focus clearer”, and the ability to map the competency of the individual in units is a “huge advantage” for the employer.
All of the training staff in E have a level 3 online tutor course, therefore they can all deliver ITQ, and emphasis is put on delivering online. Apprentices in E are encouraged to up-skill their training e.g. ECDL, second NVQ. E are hoping for large increases in their future provision, and want to deliver more online. They have the capacity to double in the next few years, and are currently looking for new training providers.
E believe that the Assembly Government are unaware of who the specialist IT training providers are, and are concerned that there is a technology based learning gap in Wales; more investment in e-Learning is needed. Employers need to have more input in IT training, because most still see vocational qualifications as the “poor relation” and would choose ECDL over other training routes. More pilot programmes for the e-skills Passport, with suitably sized pilots, would be a good idea.
ITQ Provider
F are a North Wales based college who deliver ITQ and other IT-user training routes, including NVQs. They offer ITQ Levels 2 and 3, because Level 1 “doesn’t seem worth the cost”. They have provided IT training from 2006, after stopping for some 18 months previously due to management changes. One problem with offering ITQ is a “lack of awareness”, and ITQ is seen as “more complex”. The ITQ has been offered since 2003, but take-up has been poor e.g. only 2 ITQ learners since the beginning, with another 2 currently registered. The ITQ is usually completed between 12 and 18 months, and can be completed at a pace that is suitable for the learner.
F hope to see better ITQ take-up in the future. They realise they have lost learners to other providers whilst they stopped providing for 18 months. Staff are in place to deliver the ITQ, and they are eager to answer future demand. F see the ITQ as “more modern”, and that other courses are following the ITQ model. They see that the ITQ brings flexibility, and can be helpful in addressing the IT skills gap in the UK. ITQ has the potential to meet “certain specific employer/individual needs”.
In terms of the e-skills Passport, F were unaware if it was a tractor tool or a scoping tool. They thought the Passport could help large SMEs, but would not be suitable for micro SMEs. Interest in the Passport has been poor. The £10 cost is a problem, especially if employers have to pay for it and don’t believe in its value. F work with local hospitals and will market the Passport to hospital staff for autumn 2007. Registering people at any levels e.g. Level 1 just to gain qualifications should be avoided.
F believes that awareness-raising is the key, explaining to people why ITQ is different and better e.g. some believe ITQ is too IT specific and only for IT staff. Getting people used to ITQ/ e-skills Passport could take a few years however. Improving the quality of IT assessors is also crucial.
ITQ and e-skills Passport Provider
G are an IT and training programme provider based in North-East Wales. They have been delivering ITQ since 2004, and have used the e-skills Passport for the past year. They have some 50 ITQ learners at present; the use of the Passport has been gradually phased in, after a trial with a pilot group of about 20 learners. Since then, all new ITQ places are delivered with the Passport. Promoting and recruiting people for ITQ has not been a problem; employers “come to us” because they have heard ITQ/ECDL training is for free. ITQ learners have usually been employed/work-based learners, although some low-level ITQ learners come straight from school.
The issue of £10 per user was contentious, as it can be quite expensive for low-level income learners over 3 or possibly 4 years. The Welsh Assembly Government could perhaps consider the cost issue in the future. ITQ has the potential to be more “lucrative” as a training route, although it can be “more resource intensive” to deliver and to learn from.
The Passport is a “useful diagnostic tool” but isn’t quite the perfect model just yet. There are problems with the diagnostic side of things e.g. learners answer with Yes/No answers without their answers being tested or validated, and the tracking dimension of the Passport does not work e.g. does not allow any charting of progression, it just shows new levels achieved.
G have found that it is difficult to get employers to participate; spending additional time tailoring, refining and updating training plans may be too big a leap for some employers. G feel that the ITQ profiles need greater flexibility so as to give the learner more ownership. There are also problems with the lack of timelines for the achievement of units or qualifications.
G also feel that they could easily increase provision, and would be keen to do so. Doubling their capacity could be done in a short space of time, but additional assessors would be required. G wish to use the Passport at a level closer to its full potential, and beyond the ‘front end’ of the process.
In order to improve awareness of ITQ/ e-skills Passport G suggest ITQ seminars, newsletters, more marketing in the business community and getting more awarding bodies involved. Regional networking meetings might be an useful way of developing understanding and usage of the Passport.
G are pleased to be an ITQ/ e-skills Passport provider, emphasising that the ITQ units are “pitched just right”, the old IT User standards were ridiculous, and the ITQ does not “demand excessive amounts of quantity”. They are fully behind ITQ and the linked use of the Passport, however they do want the Passport to live up to its full potential.
Last modified: 12 Nov 2007
Quotes
"Appointing an ITQ champion was crucial" - Kit Ruparel, Message Pad
