National Vocational Qualifications and Further Education

As more National Vocational Qualificatons (NVQs) come on stream, the pace of development, accreditation and dissemination of NVQs into further education and training is having a profound effect on colleges. Both within and outside further education, people recognise that colleges must become both learner-centred and achievement-led if they are to deliver the real potential of the new NVQ system. This collection of papers draws on the experiences of some of the most innovative professionals involved in shaping further education's response to the exciting opportunities offered by NVQs and examines their views on NVQ-led further education. Three broad themes emerges and NVQs are discussed in the context of managing change within further education colleges, enhancing employer's support and meeting their training needs, and implementing flexible delivery. Among the issues discussed are - college marketing implications of NVQs, FE and training and enterprise councils, occupational competence and work based learning and the emerging model of vocational education and training.