Next Gen: HN Evaluation Research

SQA has produced four research reports which aim to provide an evidence basis for decisions on the suitability of NextGeneration: Higher National (NextGen: HN) design principles, and to inform next steps in the project. The research involved a review of evaluative activity that had already taken place in the NextGen: HN project, plus additional dedicated research looking at the views of employers, and of HNC and HND practitioners who had not previously been involved in a NextGen: HN pilot. We focused on these groups as they had not yet been sufficiently involved in NextGen: HN evaluative activity to have a good understanding of their views and the issues that they face.

Colleagues working on NextGen: HN looked at the results of the research as a whole, and considered what actions the organisation should take as a result.

SQA’s response and overall key findings

The four reports on NextGen: HN design principles are:

NextGen: HN Employer Engagement Report

This report researches the views of employers in sectors related to NextGen: HN qualifications which are being piloted. A number of semi-structured qualitative interviews took place with employers in a range of sectors.

NextGen: HN Non-Pilot Practitioner Engagement Report

This report researches the views of HNC and HND practitioners who have not been involved in a pilot project, but teach in sectors where NextGen: HN qualifications have been developed. A number of semi-structured qualitative interviews took place with practitioners in a range of sectors.

NextGen: HN Design Principles: Review of Evidence

This report collates evidence that has been gathered from various NextGen: HN evaluative activities that have already taken place. The reporting and outputs from these activities have been scrutinised to determine what information we can gather on the various design principles for NextGen: HN qualifications, and what changes, if any, should be made to the design principles.

NextGen: HN Design Principles: Transition and Context

A number of common themes relating to the transition to NextGen: HN in education and wider employability sectors emerged from the research with employers and non-pilot practitioners. Other issues relating to the transition to NextGen: HN came out of the ongoing evaluative work on the project. This report looks at all of these findings and tries to pull together the various themes and conclusions that relate to the transition to NextGen: HN and the context that the sector is operating in.