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ACTVET© All Rights Reserved
No part of these presents may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means including photocopying and recording without the written permission of the copyright holder, application for which should be addressed to ACTVET, P.O. Box 108800 Abu Dhabi. Such permission must also be obtained before any part of these presents is stored in any retrieval system of any nature.
QUALIFICATIONS
Qualification Development Procedure
ACTVET_L3_Q_QDPRCDR001
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Contents
1. POLICY STATEMENT ........................................................................................................................ 3
2. FLOWCHART .................................................................................................................................... 4
3. PURPOSE ......................................................................................................................................... 5
4. SCOPE .............................................................................................................................................. 5
5. REFERENCES .................................................................................................................................... 5
6. DEFINITIONS .................................................................................................................................... 5
7. RESPONSIBILITY ............................................................................................................................... 9
8. OPERATION ................................................................................................................................... 10
9. DOCUMENTATION ........................................................................................................................ 12
10. KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS .................................................................................................. 13
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1. POLICY STATEMENT
ACTVET aspire to be the benchmark for, and leading Awarding Body in the UAE providing high
quality, world class technical and practical support and guidance for industry stakeholders to
develop UAE principal qualifications. In the first instance, the qualification should provide career
pathways for an occupation. Smaller composite and component awards will be devised taking the
Unit Standards from the principle qualification. We aim to provide corporate learning and
development solutions that support the growth and development of the UAE Human Resource
Capital to develop national qualifications that skill for industry and the UAE knowledge based
economy.
ACTVET will promote the value of vocational qualifications aligned with industry needs, supporting
competence for increased profitability and the measure of GDP. We will add value to our
Recognised National Development Committees (RNDC) through a commitment to excellence in
providing outstanding customer service and embedding quality in everything we do.
ACTVET will create learning partnerships with commerce and industry that promotes responsiveness
to the needs of the UAE knowledge based economy through the identification, development, and
transference of occupational skills into the world of work.
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2. FLOWCHART
Start
YES
Acknowledge receipt and send documents and registration
number
NO
ACTVET send letter with PART A to Submit to NQA
(in Arabic)
NQA Approve PART A
RNDC informed by NQA of approval of PART A
PART B Submission received
PART B approval
RNDC notified of PART B approval and request for
PART C
PART C submission received
Part C approval
RNDC notified of PARTC approval and request for
PART D
Part D received
Portfolio submission received
Send RNDC submission to NQA for endorsement
NQA Endorses qualification
NQA notifies RNDC & QD of endorsement
End
NQA database
YES
YES
YES
Part A Submit RNDC
ACTVET Database
NQA
QD
Registration number
PART B Submission
NO
PART D Submission
Part D and Portfolio Submission
NO
NO
NQA
QD
QD
NQA
ACTVET
ACTVET
Receipt of completed Part B Application to develop
occupational profile(s) sent to RNDC
ACTVET_L3_Q_QDPRCDR001_APLCTN000
Receipt of completed PART C and approval to
develop PART D
ACTVET_L3_Q_QDPRCDR001_APLCTN001
ACTVET_L3_Q_QDPRCDR001_APLCTN002
RNDC
PART C Submission
RNDC
RNDC QD
QD
NQA notify RNDC of changes required
NQA
Part B Functional MapACTVET_L3_Q_QDPRCDR001_TMPLT020
Part B Functional AnalysisACTVET_L3_Q_QDPRCDR001_TMPLT021
RNDC
Quality Checklist - Qualification Development
ACTVET_L3_Q_QDPRCDR001_TMPLT022
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3. PURPOSE
The purpose of this procedure is to outline the qualification development process delegated by
Vocational Education and Awards Council (VETAC) to approved Recognised National Development
Committees (RNDC’s) within Abu Dhabi and Northern Emirates.
4. SCOPE
The scope of the procedure is to:
4.1 Detail the process requirements required by Vocational Education Awards Council (VETAC)
for quality assurance of the development of qualifications through Recognised National
Development Committee’s (RNDC) development processes.
4.2 To develop qualifications following the writing convention and the development process
agreed by NQA for qualification endorsement.
5. REFERENCES
5.1 National Qualifications Authority UAE, Qualifications Framework Emirates Handbook, February
2012
5.2 National Qualifications Authority UAE, Vocational Education and Training Awards Council
VETAC Q +NOSS System Guidelines June 2014
6. DEFINITIONS
Term Definition
Awarding Body
An entity, entitled through legislation or other formal mandate from a
regulatory authority, to approve under its remit, the development and issuing
of qualifications formally recognising the achievements of a given parcel of
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endorsed learning outcomes.
Component
Award
The smallest parcel of cohesive learning outcomes that can be achieved for
formal recognition within the NQF. It may encompass all or only some of the
five strands of learning outcomes defining the level.
Composite Award
An award for formal recognition of learners who achieve a cohesive set of
learning outcomes encompassing, in varying combinations, all five strands of
learning outcomes, but not the full combination of learning outcomes required
for a Principal Qualification.
Credit
A measure of the volume of learning required for a qualification or part
qualification, quantified as the number of notional hours required for
achieving the specified learning outcomes. In the NQA VET system one credit is
equated to 15 notional hours of learning.
Credit
Accumulation
The total number credits towards the completion of a qualification or a part
qualification.
Credit Matrix
A table indicating the total credit value assigned to a qualification at the
prescribed level in QFEmirates. Refer also to QF Handbook Annexure E –
Indicative Qualifications and Awards Credit Matrix.
Credit Value
The numerical value relating to notional learning hours. The credit hours
scheme as used in QFEmirates with a value of 15 hours of learning equating
to one [1] credit. Equivalent international schemes may be deployed by
learning providers.
See also QF Handbook Annexure E – Indicative Qualifications and Awards
Credit Matrix.
Continuous Improvement
The planned and ongoing process that enables an organisation to
systematically review and improve its policies, procedures, products and
services to generate better outcomes for clients and to meet changing
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needs. Continuous improvement involves collecting, analysing and acting
on relevant information from clients, staff and other interested parties.
Endorsement The formal process of the recognition/accreditation of the UAE’s Q+NOSS
(National Occupational Skills Standards)-based qualifications and their
components by the National Qualifications Authority (NQA). The
requirements include evidence of nation-wide stakeholder support, and
that their content meets the awarding bodies technical and validation
requirements.
Grid of Level
Descriptors
The structural representation of ten [10] levels and five [5] ‘strands’ of
learning outcome statements that total fifty [50] outcome statements
within QFEmirates.
See also QF Handbook Annexure C – Grid of Level Descriptors.
Level An indication of the relative complexity and/or depth of achievement and the
autonomy required to demonstrate that achievement by the learner. There
are ten [10] levels in the QFEmirates; they differ from one level to another
with the greatest complexity at Level 10.
Learning Outcomes
Statements of what the learner is expected to know, understand and be able
to do after completing the learning process. In QFEmirates, learning outcomes
are defined in terms of knowledge, skills and aspects of competence.
Progression
The process by which learners can be allowed to move through NQF levels
either horizontally at the same level or vertically to a higher level when
accumulating an appropriate combination of credits.
QASR
The criteria developed by VETAC to quality assure and register Education and
Training Providers (ETPs) as Registered Training Providers (RTPs).
Q+NOSS
Industry-determined and authority-endorsed and industry sector-based
National Occupational Skills Standards (NOSS) with associated qualifications
comprised of unit standards.
Qualification
A coherent and cohesive set of learning outcomes obtained, in a form of a
certificate, diploma or a degree, only when an awarding/ regulatory body
determines, following established standards, that an individual has achieved
such learning outcomes related to a complete qualification.
Qualification An indication of the relative complexity and/or depth of expected knowledge,
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Level skills, and aspects of competence to be achieved by the learner.
Recognised National Development Committee
A VETAC approved and formally recognized committee representing an
Industry Sector across the United Arab Emirates
Skills Standards
The benchmark for competency required in a given occupation within an
industry sector. They form the basis upon which specific national vocational
education and training qualifications are designed and developed and can also
be used to help define job roles, measure staff performance, and identify and
develop routes for progression and professional development.
Regulatory Body
In the context of education and training, a regulatory body is an external public
or government entity that has been empowered by legislation to oversee and
control the educational/training process, standards and outputs germane to it.
Stakeholder
An organisation, establishment, body, agency or individuals with a recognised interest in the QFEmirates and/or is affected by the QFEmirates, such as education and training providers, industry representatives and professional groups, Government, quasi- Government, regulators, employers, employees/workers/volunteers, education and training practitioners and professionals, learners and the community.
Technical skills committee
A sub-committee from the RNDC focused on developing the occupational
profile, National Occupational Skills Standards and qualifications for
industry review and consensus
Testamur
A document (parchment/diploma/deed) issued by an authoritative body
that testifies that the recipient has successfully met a specified set of
learning outcomes.
Unit Standard
The smallest part of a qualification that can be assessed, validated and
certified. It is a set of knowledge, skills and competences which constitute a
part of a qualification or even can stand alone. It can be specific to a single
qualification or common to several qualifications.
Validation The confirmation through the provision of objective evidence that an
education and/or training course or program is appropriate for the
attainment of knowledge, skill and/or aspects of competence.
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Validation Committee
A subcommittee from the RNDC that examines the occupational profile,
NOSS and Qualification developed by the Technical Skills Committee to
ensure industry have reviewed and that objective evidence demonstrates
the work to be ‘fit for purpose’ for the UAE.
VETAC
Vocational Education and Training Awards Council: A federal regulatory and
supervisory body which reports to the NQA and is responsible for setting
VET strategies, approving VET awarding bodies, managing and quality
assuring the process of awarding VET qualifications based on standards,
criteria, procedures, and policies developed by the Council and approved by
the NQA.
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
The continuum of technical knowledge, skills, and competencies required to
effectively perform a particular occupation. It covers a wide range of
careers and industries such as technology, hospitality, office work, retail,
marketing etc. VET qualifications are placed at Levels 1-9 of the NQF.
Vocational Education and Training Awarding Bodies
Entities approved by VETAC that are responsible for registering and
assessing VET providers which come under their jurisdiction. They manage,
based on the standards, criteria, procedures, and policies developed by
VETAC, the process of issuing NOSS-based qualifications and the
implementation of these the standards, criteria, procedures, and policies by
the relevant VET providers.
7. RESPONSIBILITY
7.1 The responsibility of RNDC is to:
7.1.1 Develop qualifications in line with the QFEmirates
7.1.2 Develop the qualification using the VETAC Q+NOSS System Guidelines.
7.1.3 Consult industry and educationalists to ensure qualifications are fit for industrial
purpose and educationslaist develop programmes to meet industry needs.
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Position Responsibility
ACTVET
Qualification
Development Unit
ACTVET Qualification Development Unit are responsible for the quality
assurance of the qualification development process, the tracking and
monitoring of the development progress and the formal submission to
Vocational Education and Training Awards Council (VETAC).
VETAC VETAC are responsible for the approval or refusal of Part A Application to
form a Recognised National Development Committee together the
acceptance or refusal of submissions for endorsement. The storage and
safe keeping of such endorsed submissions are the responsibility of
VETAC.
7.2 The responsibility of ACTVET is for:
7.2.1 Ensuring the the RNDC’s develop qualifications inline QFEmirates and using the VETAC
Q+NOSS System Guidelines.
7.2.2 Logging receipt of the RNDC submissions on the ACTVET database
8. OPERATION
8.1 The RNDC will submit a Part A application with supporting documentation and with a letter of
submission addressed to ACTVET DG to the Qualification Development Unit (QDU).
8.2 The Qualification Department will log the date received on the ACTVET RNDC database and write
a recommendation report for the RNDC Part A submission for discussion at the VETAC ES
Technical Committee.
8.3 QDU will submit the Part A and letter of application to the NQA through the ACTVET DG office.
8.4 The ACTVET DG Office will log the date of forwarding to the NQA on the ACTVET DG Office
database.
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8.5 On successful submission NQA will issue, with a copy to ACTVET, an RNDC registration number
and a VETAC Resolution and return directly to the RNDC.
8.6 NQA will request the submission of Part B Application
(ACTVET_L3_Q_QDPRCDR001_APLCTN000).
8.6.1 The RNDC will meet and approve the submission of Part B and submit with supporting
documentation to ACTVET QDU.
8.6.2 ACTVET will log the date of receipt of submission of Part B, prepare a Report on the Part B
submission and log the date of approval given to RNDC on the QD databse.
8.6.3 ACTVET will notify the RNDC of acceptance of Part B and approval to prepare Part C
submission and log the date of approval notification on the QD database
8.6.4 RNDC will meet and approve the submission of Part C and submit to ACTVET QDU
8.6.5 On ACTVET receipt of the Part C application (ACTVET_L3_Q_QDPRCDR001_APLCTN001),
QDU will log the date of the submission, quality assure Part C and write a recommendation
Report about Part C.
8.6.6 ACTVET will recommend to RNDC approval of Part C and approval to submit Part D and log
the date of approvals to the ACTVET database.
8.6.7 RNDC will meet to approve the submission of Part D
(ACTVET_L3_Q_QDPRCDR001_APLCTN002) with supporting documentation and the
qualifications submitted on the Q+NOSS
8.6.8 RNDC will confirm that ownership of all endorsed materials, products and qualifications
transfers to the UAE Government and they become the property of the UAE government
held in trust by NQA
8.6.9 RNDC will submit Part D and supporting documentation with a covering letter to ACTVET
Director General as a formal Part D submission.
8.6.10 QDU will record the date of receipt on the ACTVET database.
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8.6.11 QDU will write a Recommendation Report about Part D to accompany the submission to
the NQA .
8.6.12 Qualification Development Unit (QDU) will track, monitor and observe the process of
Q+NOSS development and provide an observation report after each committee meeting.
The date of each observation will be recorded on the RNDC database The observation
report will form part of the RNDC portfolio of evidence.
8.6.13 At final submission stage QD will prepare an ACTVET transmittal form for formal
submission to the DG Office. ACTVET DG Office will formally submit to NQA GM a
presentation portfolio and supporting documents in hard copy and a soft copy on
submission. The QD will record the date of submission on the RNDC database
8.7 VETAC will inform ACTVET Qualification Development Unit of the outcome of the submission and
QD will record the outcome on the RNDC database
8.7.1 NQA will inform the RNDC Chair of the decision of the VETAC Board. QD will record the
outcome and date the RNDC Chair is informed on the RNDC database
9. DOCUMENTATION
9.1 RNDC Constitution and Charter(ACTVET_L3_Q_QDPRCDR001_SAMP001)
9.2 Application Part B (ACTVET_L3_Q_QDPRCDR001_APLCTN000)
9.3 Application Part C (ACTVET_L3_Q_QDPRCDR001_APLCTN001)
9.4 Application Part D (ACTVET_L3_Q_QDPRCDR001_APLCTN002)
9.5 Part B Functional Map(ACTVET_L3_Q_QDPRCDR001_TMPLT020)
9.6 Part B Functional Analysis (ACTVET_L3_Q_QDPRCDR001_TMPLT021)
9.7 Quality Checklist - Qualification Development(ACTVET_L3_Q_QDPRCDR001_TMPLT022)
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10. KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
No. MEASUREMENT UNIT OF MEASURE REPORTING
FREQUENCY
1 Process Efficiency Response within 5 days of receipt of item
Periodically
2
Process Effectiveness Qualification endorsement submission
within 9 months of receiving VETAC
Approval notice Part A
Periodically