Teaching the next generation
ESTABLISHED PROVIDERS OF UK AQUACULTURE EDUCATION AND TRAINING
The Scottish university sector
• University of Stirling Institute of Aquaculture – (degree and postgraduate courses at MSc level and PhD research degrees) • St Andrews University – (online courses in sustainable aquaculture at pre-degree, degree and masters degree level) • Dundee University – (recently awarded some new postgraduate MSc places by the SFC)
• Scottish Association for Marine Science – (degree and new postgraduate course at MSc level and PhD research)
UK college based provision
• Sparsholt College Hampshire (first diploma to degree level, campus based full-time programmes)
Work based training
Opposite page, clockwise from top: Workplace training; Sparsholt College; NAFC Marine Centre, Shetland; Stirling; industry works closely with vocational training.
Company bespoke apprenticeships and training schemes • Marine Harvest (MA aquaculture plus company bespoke units) • Scottish Salmon Company (customised NPA, SVQ and MA aquaculture)
College delivered SVQs and modern apprenticeship in aquaculture • Inverness College • NAFC (Shetland)
• SRUC (Barony campus Dumfries) Private training providers
• Rocket (SVQ and MA in aquaculture delivered to Dawnfresh) • Skill Fish (NPA and SVQ in aquaculture)
Courses for schools
• Scotland’s Rural College – NPA Level 3/4 in angling and fisheries conservation
• University for the Highlands and Islands
Argyl College – NPA aquaculture for schools (in partnership with the Scottish Salmon Company)
What better way to win over government regulators, quality assurance
auditors and, perhaps most importantly of all, the ever vigilant public? Managers are provided with a reliable basis for managing their staff recruit-
ment, induction and development, and the industry can raise the compe- tence level of its workforce, thereby safeguarding the environment and fish welfare while increasing profitability and sustainability. So, as occupational standards underpin and inform national qualifications development, standards definitely do matter and must be current.
Qualifications under the microscope... There are two main categories of qualifications: those that are deliv-
ered in a centre, typically a college, university or sometimes a school, and those that are delivered in the work place. There are important differenc- es between them and what they convey. In the ‘centre delivered camp’ sit some relatively new National Progression
Awards (NPAs), National Certificates (NCs), Higher National Certificates/ diplomas (HNC/Ds) and degrees. Although often including periods of work experience, the assessment of knowledge and skills largely occurs in the centre over a nine-month to three-year duration. For some skills, such as laboratory based analysis, the facility and
working environment may differ little when comparing a centre to a work place. While for others, such as fish husbandry and processing skills, there is a gulf of difference between a demonstration scale operation and a commercial farm. Work based assessment will always be the final arbiter as to whether or not someone is occupationally competent. Unlike centre based qualifications, work based qualifications – such as the SVQs, Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) and increasingly the ‘new kid on the block’ work based National Progression Awards (NPAs) – rely on the assessment of skills in the work place. Learners keep what is known as a ‘portfolio of evidence’ for their asses-
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sor, ultimately demonstrating their competence at a defined occupational level. That is so long as the work based assessment and quality assurance process, which depends on good team work between the farm staff and the centre providing the assessors, has all been on song. That said, despite the current dearth of Scottish college based provision
at vocational level, a number of UK colleges serving the industry have delivered many valuable pre-entry qualifications over several decades, providing keen individuals with a major ‘leg up’ on their journey towards occupational competence. Some are also actively involved in the development and delivery of
work based qualifications in partnership with industry. Many leading members of industry today have progressed via these invaluable voca- tional qualification pathways which, if properly revitalised and nurtured, can continue to provide the next generation of fish farmers with similar opportunities.
A guide to qualifications and levels... To help those choosing a course, and to assist employers trying to ‘place’ a qualification that sounds unfamiliar, see the tables, below. The Scottish Qualifications Framework (SQF) levels and Qualifications and Curriculum Authority equivalent (QCF) for England and Wales has been tabulated against commonly referred to aquaculture occupations, hopefully helping to demystify levels and equivalencies. But remem- ber, a work based qualification is arguably the ultimate demonstration of competence at a defined occupational level, while a centre based qualification is a valuable, broadly based ‘pre-entry’ qualification which demonstrates that knowledge, understanding and some relevant skills have been gained. The devil is in the detail though, so don’t be afraid to ask for clarification regarding their level and content from those who should know best! FF
To go with main intro piece Scottish (SCQF) levels and qualifications correlated to aquaculture occupational levels QCF
To go with main intro piece Scottish (SCQF) levels and qualifications correlated to aquaculture occupational levels QCF
Level Equiv.’
Level Equiv.’
SCQF Level
SCQF Level
Tertiary sector Qualifications
8 12 Doctorate 7 11 Masters 6
5 4
5 4
8 12 Doctorate 7 11 Masters 6
10 Honours Degree 10 Honours Degree
8 Higher National Diploma (HND)
3 6 3 6
2 5 2 5
Entry Level
Entry Level
1 4 1 4
3 2
3 2
1 Access 1 Awards 1 Access 1 Awards
English/Welsh (QCF) levels and qualifications correlated to aquaculture occupational levels English/Welsh (QCF) levels and qualifications correlated to aquaculture occupational levels
SCQF Level Equiv.’
10 9 8
7 6
10 9 8
7 6
SCQF Level Equiv.’
QCF Level
QCF Level
Tertiary sector Qualifications
12 8 Doctorate 11 7 Masters
6
5 4
6
5 4
12 8 Doctorate 11 7 Masters
Honours Degree Ordinary Degree
3 National Diploma 3 National Diploma
Higher National Certificate (HNC)
5 2 First 5 2 First
3
2 1
2 1
3
Entry Level
Entry Level
4 1 Foundation Diploma/Certificate Entry Level
4 1 Foundation Diploma/Certificate Entry Level
Diploma/Certificate Diploma/Certificate
Higher National Certificate (HNC)
Higher National Diploma (HND)
National Certificate
Introductory Diploma
Entry Level Entry Level
Introductory Diploma
Higher Diploma
Higher Diploma
National Certificate
Higher National Diploma (HND)
Honours Degree Ordinary Degree
Tertiary sector Qualifications
Alternative Qualifications
Advanced Professional Diploma
Professional Diploma/ Certificate
Advanced Professional Diploma
Professional Diploma/ Certificate
Alternative Qualifications
Work based NVQs
Work based NVQs
NVQ 5 NVQ 5
NVQ 4 NVQ 4
NVQ 3 NVQ 3
Occupational level (Guide only)
Occupational level (Guide only)
Scientific specialist and Senior Farm Manager
Scientific specialist and Senior Farm Manager
Farm Manager Farm Manager
Site Manager Site Manager
Team leader/supervisor Team leader/supervisor
NVQ 2 Fish farm Husbandry person
NVQ 2 Fish farm Husbandry person
Senior Fish Farm Husbandry person
Senior Fish Farm Husbandry person
NVQ 1 Not recognised NVQ 1 Not recognised
8 Higher National Diploma (HND)
Tertiary sector Qualifications
Development Awards
9 Ordinary Degree 9 Ordinary Degree
7 Higher National Certificate (HNC)
7 Higher National Certificate (HNC)
National Certificates (NC)
National Certificates (NC)
Professional Development Awards (PDAs)
NPAs and PDAs
NPAs and PDAs
National Progression Awards (NAs)
National Progression Awards (NAs)
SVQ 1 SVQ 1
Development Awards
Professional Development Awards (PDAs)
Work based SVQs
Work based SVQs
SVQ 5 SVQ 5
SVQ 4 SVQ 4
SVQ 3 SVQ 3
Occupational level (Guide only)
Occupational level (Guide only)
Scientific specialist and Senior Farm Manager Farm Manager
Scientific specialist and Senior Farm Manager Farm Manager
Site Manager Site Manager
Team leader/supervisor Team leader/supervisor
SVQ 2 Fish farm Husbandry person
SVQ 2 Fish farm Husbandry person
Senior Fish Farm Husbandry person
Senior Fish Farm Husbandry person
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