About Next Generation Higher National Qualifications
We are now adapting our Higher National qualifications to give learners the skills they need to thrive in the modern workplace. The adapted qualifications are called Next Generation Higher National (or NextGen: HN) qualifications.
What's different about NextGen: HN?
NextGen HNCs and HNDs are stand-alone qualifications, each made up of 120 SCQF credit points. Here are some other ways they differ from existing HNs:
- Fewer and larger units - less assessment
- Opportunities to develop meta-skills
- A new approach to grading
- More use of digital technology
- A new quality assurance process
- Opportunities to develop knowledge and understanding of Learning for Sustainability
Development of NextGen: HNs
In the first phase of the project each NextGen: HN qualification was initially developed as a ‘prototype’, which was then piloted and evaluated. NextGen: HN prototypes are valid qualifications, sitting at SCQF Level 7 (HNC) and Level 8 (HND). Now that our prototype qualifications have been piloted and evaluated we are working through validating these awards and should have completed this process by the summer of 2025.
This first phase of prototype and pilot has now come to a natural conclusion and the next phase of our work will see us integrate everything good that we have learned, tested and evaluated and build that into our HN development process for all future qualifications that are reviewed.
Use the tabs below to open each section individually. Alternatively you can show all the sections.
Development cycle
The first phase of the Next Gen: HN project employed a service design development model, focusing on meeting the needs of learners and centres, with an emphasis on continuous improvement and collaboration.
This has involved prototype development in collaboration with subject matter experts and then pilot delivery and evaluation. This approach allowed us to challenge and evaluate aspects such as our design principles, grading models and approach to quality assurance.
This iterative development approach and the regular evaluation and feedback from learners, centres, deliverers, staff and other stakeholders has helped us learn lessons from pilot delivery and refine our approaches to inform the final model for NextGen: HN qualifications.
Now that we are approaching the completion of this initial phase of prototype development and pilot delivery which has included numerous colleges and other stakeholders it is time for us to apply the final NextGen: HN model to all subject areas that are developed from January 25 onwards.
This will mean that current pilot centres can deliver the newly validated Next Gen:HN qualifications from August 2025 under a restricted delivery model.
We will communicate dates for full roll-out of Next Gen: HN qualifications subject to the delivery of our new Digital Awarding system.
Pilot delivery in 2023/24
HNC Accounting
- Edinburgh College
HND Accounting
- Edinburgh College
- City of Glasgow College
HNC Acting and Performance
- Glasgow Kelvin College
- West College Scotland
HNC Agriculture
- Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
HND Agriculture
- Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
HNC Childhood Practice
- Glasgow Clyde College
- South Lanarkshire College
HNC Computing
- New College Lanarkshire
- NESCOL
HNC Engineering (Engineering Systems)
- UHI
HNC Horticulture
- Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
- UHI
HND Horticulture
- Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
- UHI
HND Networking and Cloud Infrastructure
- NESCOL
- New College Lanarkshire
HNC Physical Activity and Health
- Dundee and Angus College
- New College Lanarkshire
HND Physical Activity and Health
- Dundee and Angus College
- New College Lanarkshire
HND Radio
- City of Glasgow College
HNC Social Sciences
- Dumfries and Galloway College
- West College Scotland
HND Social Sciences
- West College Scotland
HNC Social Services
- Ayrshire College
- Dundee and Angus College
- VSA SVQ Centre
HND Software Development
- NESCOL
- New College Lanarkshire
HNC Television
- Edinburgh College
- New College Lanarkshire
- NESCOL
HND Television
- Edinburgh College
- New College Lanarkshire
- NESCOL
Pilot delivery in 2024/25
HNC Accounting
- Edinburgh College
- City of Glasgow College
- UHI Inverness
HND Accounting
- City of Glasgow College
HNC Acting and Performance
- Glasgow Kelvin College
- West College Scotland
HND Acting and Performance
- Glasgow Kelvin College
- West College Scotland
HNC Agriculture
- Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
HND Agriculture
- Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
HNC Childhood Practice
- Glasgow Clyde College
- South Lanarkshire College
HNC Computing
- New College Lanarkshire
- NESCOL
- City of Glasgow College
HNC Engineering
- UHI - Engineering Systems pathway
- City of Glasgow College - Mechanical Engineering pathway
HNC Horticulture
- Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
- UHI
HND Horticulture
- Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
- UHI
HND Networking and Cloud Infrastructure
- NESCOL
- New College Lanarkshire
HNC Physical Activity and Health
- Dundee and Angus College
- New College Lanarkshire
- Glasgow Clyde College
HND Physical Activity and Health
- Dundee and Angus College
- New College Lanarkshire
HNC Social Sciences
- Dumfries and Galloway College
- West College Scotland
HND Social Sciences
- West College Scotland
HNC Social Services
- Ayrshire College
- Dundee and Angus College
- VSA SVQ Centre
HND Software Development
- NESCOL
- New College Lanarkshire
HNC Television
- City of Glasgow College (Delivering Centre)
- West College Scotland (Delivering Centre)
- Edinburgh College (Delivering Centre)
- New College Lanarkshire (Delivering Centre)
- NESCOL (Delivering Centre)
HND Television
- City of Glasgow College (Delivering Centre)
- West College Scotland (Delivering Centre)
- Edinburgh College (Delivering Centre)
- New College Lanarkshire (Delivering Centre)
- NESCOL (Delivering Centre)
Qualifications in development
Separate to the qualifications being piloted, the following NextGen: HN qualifications developments are currently being planned:
- HNC/D Administration and Information Technology
- HNC/D Beauty Therapy
- HNC/D Complementary Therapies
- HNC/D Creative Industries: Dance
- HNC/D Creative Industries: Fashion and Textiles
- HNC Healthcare Practice
Once development plans are finalised we’ll confirm when these qualifications will become available for delivery.
Potential future developments being scoped are:
- HNC/D Built Environment Suite (4 awards)
- HNC/D Creative Industries: Art
- HNC/D Creative Industries: Music
- HND Assistant Healthcare Practitioner
Progression of these developments is not guaranteed in the short-term and is dependent on the results of scoping, available staff capacity and available development budget.
Resources
- What is NextGen: HN? - this SQA Academy module gives an overview of the programme
- SQA Academy - other learning modules on NextGen: HN are also available
- Case studies - how we worked with centres to develop and pilot the first NextGen: HNs
- Blogs - keep up to date by reading the NextGen: HN blog