NextGen: HN - Support

We have gathered information and resources to support centres delivering NextGen: HN qualifications. 

Use the tabs below to open each section individually. Alternatively you can show all the sections.

SQA Academy modules

We have a series of three SQA Academy Modules in production. These offer support on assessment fundamentals, assessment in practice and assessment innovation.

Support materials

NextGen: HN design principles require fewer and larger units, with opportunities to reduce the assessment load for learners and practitioners. We are developing materials to support centres to engage with this opportunity. Follow the links to hear how our pilot centres are responding and to read their top tips.

Digital innovation in learning, teaching and assessment takes many forms and the NextGen: HN project is working with delivering centres and others to explore and showcase what is new and effective.

In recent years there has been a renewed focus on digital learning, teaching and assessment. This accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. There’s also a need to embrace emerging technologies such as advances in generative artificial intelligence (AI).

The NextGen: HN project benefits from this digital innovation but it also benefits from efforts to upskill those with low levels of digital competence.

We will provide links to relevant blog posts and case studies, external reports and articles exploring different concepts around digital learning, teaching and innovation.

SQA blogs

Case studies

Articles and reports

Use this toolkit to promote the next generation of Higher National Qualifications to potential students and build awareness among employers. Materials are open and free to use for SQA Centres offering NextGen: HN qualifications in Scotland.

You can add your logo and web address to the assets as per the dual brand guidelines. However, the visual element must not be altered in any way.

Key messages

You might find the text below useful when referring to NextGen: HN in your prospectuses, online and in any other materials you produce.

Every year, learners across Scotland enhance their prospects by undertaking a Higher National Certificate (HNC) or a Higher National Diploma (HND). Higher National qualifications are now being adapted to give learners the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century workplace.  The new Next Generation Higher National (NextGen: HN) qualifications will provide the adaptability and flexibility required to respond to a constantly changing employment and working environment, while supporting life-long learning and multiple career options.

Brand guidelines and logo

Social media images

Twitter

Facebook

LinkedIn

Instagram

Proposed social posts

Please use our proposed posts for social media. We encourage you to share posts along with the social media images provided in this toolkit. The copy in bold is highlighted so you can adapt it to suit your centre, once updated please ensure bold is removed from the copy. 

 

SQA is developing its Higher National qualifications to give learners the skills needed to thrive in the 21st century workplace.

The updated Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Television is now available at Centre name. Find out more here: centre link

#NextGenHN

 

We’re excited to now be offering SQA’s next generation Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Television.

Find out more: centre link

#NextGenHN

 

SQA's next generation Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Television helps you to develop skills which reflect professional practices and behaviours expected in industry.

Find out more: centre link

#NextGenHN

 

The Next Generation Higher National (NextGen: HN) qualifications provide the adaptability and flexibility required to respond to a constantly changing working environment, while supporting life-long learning and multiple career options.

Find out more about the subjects available centre link

#NextGenHN

Posters

Web banners

Effective quality assurance maintains the integrity of our qualifications by ensuring assessment decisions are valid, reliable, practicable, equitable and fair.

For Next Generation Higher National (NextGen: HN) qualifications, we have introduced a supportive, ongoing and progressive process of external quality assurance, while continuing to confirm that standards are being met and maintained in assessment practice.

What's different about NextGen: HN?

To support centres, we allocate a named external quality assurer (EQA) for each NextGen: HN qualification being delivered. EQAs engage with course teams and internal quality assurance staff at the beginning of each session and regularly throughout the year to provide support with assessment design, delivery and decision-making as it happens.

We quality assure NextGen: HN qualifications on a ‘whole qualification’ basis, rather than a unit-driven basis, and we continue to measure them against our existing quality assurance criteria.

More detailed information on our quality assurance approach:

The NextGen: HN project has adopted a culture of service design, engaging in a series of iterative prototyping throughout the development and pilot delivery phases. As a result of this approach, we know that the pilot phase provides a rich source of feedback and suggestions for potential unit and Group Award framework changes. There is a change request process in place which will facilitate any changes required and capture these in one central location i.e., the NextGen: HN qualification change log. The first year of pilot activity is the main opportunity to discern requests for change. This change request process therefore applies to the first year of the Pilot Phase only.

Submitting a change request during the Pilot Phase (Year 1)

If you wish to propose any changes to a NextGen Group Award or Unit, please complete the NextGen Change Request Form. Prior to submitting the form, please ensure that the feedback you are providing has been signed off by your SQA Coordinator. You and your SQA Coordinator will be kept informed of the progress of your change request.

NextGen Change Request Form

All change requests will be reviewed by the SQA subject teams and NextGen team on a case-by-case basis. The nature and significance of the change request will inform next steps. Any subsequent actions will fall into one of the 3 categories below:

  1. Immediate action once identified (e.g., updated legislative requirements or technical error)
  2. In-year action at an agreed key point (e.g., addition/removal of optional unit(s) to the framework; changes to the guidance section of a unit)
  3. End-of-year action (e.g. changes to Outcomes, Knowledge/Skills or Evidence Requirements; addition/removal of unit(s) to the framework; changes to unit/GA title or unit SCQF level/SQA credit value)

The resulting decision or agreed action will be recorded along with the timescale for implementation, if required.  

Please note the following:

  • In-year unit updates will be limited and only actioned where necessary to minimise disruption to delivering centres.
  • No units will be re-coded during the pilot phase to maintain confidence in either the framework or unit descriptors and manage any risk of error.
  • The SQA Editorial team will maintain version control and manage the history of change table associated with each unit, where appropriate

Submitting a change request after the first year of the pilot phase/prior to validation

If you wish to propose any changes to a NextGen Group Award or Unit, after the first year of the pilot phase, you should speak to your NPDM in the first instance. At this stage in the pilot delivery process, changes will be considered by exception.Please note: no changes can be made to qualifications 2 months prior to validation. The change request process outlined above will not apply to any post validated qualifications.

If you have any queries, please get in touch with the New Product Development Manager for your subject.

For any other general queries, please contact the NextGen team.