1. CATS PILOT 2012-13
Building on Competence
in the workplace
AOC ANNUAL COLLEGE HE CONFERENCE
6 MARCH 2013
HOTEL RUSSELL
LONDON
Breakout 1.1
Structure: CATS – The international context and
BIS funded CATS projects
Developing a sub-regional CATS scheme
Hugh Joslin and Lindsay Perrin
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2. Reasons for undertaking project
Partner colleges recently validated by the
University of Greenwich to run flexible work-
based programmes: Applied Professional
Studies and Higher Apprenticeship in Business
To explore how to clarify the HE offer and
promote credit transfer across HE types
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3. Aims of project
To publish a Regional Higher Vocational
Education prospectus
To agree a statement about credit
To trial the ‘Building on Competence’ course as
an asset model of bridging
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4. Outcomes of project
Greater clarity of the regional higher vocational
education offer
Making credit transfer more transparent
Enhanced flexibility of delivery for work-based
learners
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5. HIGHER VOCATIONAL EDUCATION FOR PEOPLE IN WORK
REGIONAL PART-TIME HE PROSPECTUS
SOUTH EAST LONDON AND NORTH WEST KENT
Bexley College, Bromley College, Greenwich Community College, Hadlow College, North West Kent
College, University of Greenwich’s Centre for Work-Based Learning
This website is designed to provide for work-based learners information
THIS WEB about higher level programmes in all the colleges listed above and the
PROSPECTUS University of Greenwich’s Centre for Work-Based Learning
WHAT IS CREDIT It shows how you can transfer any existing credit you have into the
Applied Professional Studies Foundation Degree
CREDIT It also shows what are the financial benefits of credit transfer
COMMITMENT
It provides details about fees and the new loans for part-time students
HIGHER LEVEL Click on any of the boxes on the left for more information
COURSES by
subject
COURSE FEES
AND PART-TIME
STUDENT LOANS
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6. WHAT IS CREDIT?
Credit is way of recognising learning that has already been achieved. Most higher education
programmes consist of a number of individual modules (or units). Some programmes (normally those
which consist of more than one year of study) span a number of levels. Credit can be assigned to
individual modules and/or to whole programmes.
Credit is awarded once you have successfully completed a module in recognition of the amount and
depth of learning which you have achieved. Credits are then accumulated towards the total credit
required for a programme of study and a qualification (for example, a Level 4 NVQ Diploma, a Certificate
in Management, HNC, Foundation Degree or BA Honours Degree).
Eight credit levels are used in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Of these, levels 4 to 8 represent the
types of learning undertaken in higher education
Credit level Qualifications typical at each level
8 Doctorate (PhD)
7 Level 7 Certificate or Diploma; Level 5 NVQ; Master’s Degree
6 Level 6 Certificate or Diploma; BA/BSc Degree, Professional Apprenticeship
5 Level 5 Certificate or Diploma; Level 4 NVQ; HND; Foundation Degree, Dip HE, Higher Apprenticeship
4 Level 4 Certificate or Diploma; HNC; Cert HE, Higher Apprenticeship
3 Level 3 Certificate or Diploma; Level 3 NVQ; GCE AS and A Level, Advanced Level Apprenticeship
2 Level 2 Certificate or Diploma; Level 2 NVQ; GCSE at Grades A* - C, Intermediate Apprenticeship
1 Level 1 Certificate or Diploma; Level 1 NVQ; GCSE at grades D-G
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7. VALUING EXISTING HIGHER LEVEL STUDY
The recognition of existing higher level learning is more important than ever before given the increasing
costs of higher education qualifications. With the Applied Professional Studies programmes you do not
have to repeat but can have higher level credit subtracted from total number of credits that make up
your qualification. If for example you already have a level 4 qualification like an AAT level 4, this will
count towards your Foundation Degree.
OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU
The colleges and the Centre for Work-Based learning have jointly agreed to provide applicants to either
the Foundation Degree in Applied Professional Practice or the Higher Apprenticeship in Business and
Professional Administration with:
 Clear information about entry requirements and recognition of higher level credit acquired with
other colleges
 Clear information about costs for each stage of these qualifications
 Clear information about government loans for part-time higher education learners
 A clear process for recognising previous higher level credit you have already earned and advice on
the cost savings of having it taken into account
 Access to a high level of information, advice and guidance to help work-based learners navigate
their way to the most appropriate higher education course
 A clear and timely application process
We have put together in this prospectus a listing of part-time higher education qualifications offered by
the colleges, giving their credit value and showing how they can be combined within an overall
progression pathway through the Foundation degree at the college to an Honours degree in Applied
Professional Studies at the University of Greenwich.
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8. COLLEGE BASED PART-TIME HIGHER VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE IN WORK
IN WORK ? PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND
Options for NVQs, HNC/HNDs, FOUNDATION DEGREES and
Existing Level 3 HONOURS DEGREES
part-time and Qualifications
work-based
higher level FOUNDATION DEGREE IN APPLIED
study at college PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
Existing Level 4/5 Level
HIGHER APPRENTICESHIP IN BUSINESS
Qualifications 6
MASTERS DEGREE IN
APPLIED PROFESSIONAL
STUDIES
HONOURS DEGREE IN APPLIED PROFESSIONAL STUDIES ONE YEAR TOP-UP
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9. PART-TIME HIGHER VOCATIONAL EDUCATION COURSES OFFERED BY THE
COLLEGES
These include professional qualifications like the AAT Level 4 Diploma in Accounting and CMI Level 5 Diploma
Management and Leadership or NVQs like NVQ 4 Diploma in Management. These courses are funded through the
Skills Funding Agency and are known as “non-prescribed higher education”. For learners aged 24+, course fees can
attract advanced learning loans.
They also include HNCs, HNDs, Foundation Degrees and Degrees which are validated by Universities and known as
“prescribed higher education”. These are funded through higher education student loans.
All the higher vocational education courses that are offered part-time in the colleges for people in work are listed
under the links below:
BUSINESS & ACCOUNTING CHILD CARE COUNSELLING
CONSTRUCTION & ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC HEALTH &
BUILT ENVIRONMENT ENGINEERING SOCIAL CARE
LAND-BASED & LAW & LEGAL MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICE & LEADERSHIP
TEACHING
FOUNDATION DEGREE IN
APPLIED PROFESSIONAL HIGHER APPRENTICESHIP IN BUSINESS
STUDIES AND PROFESSIONAL ADMINISTRATION 9

10. FOUNDATION DEGREE IN APPLIED PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
WHAT IS APPLIED PROFESSIONAL STUDIES?
 A work-based Foundation Degree that allows you to create a personalised programme of learning entirely relevant to your current and
future career goals
 It combines academic recognition for previous learning with work-based projects and, if desired, taught courses from across the College
 It is made up of negotiated work-based study which means that the contents are agreed in a learning contract between you and your
tutor
 You will gain credits through projects and research based on your current or past work practice, or on topics related to your career
development
 It can be studied at your own pace, with limited attendance at the College
 It involves investigating the practical application of theories in a professional context and researching ways to contribute to new
working practices to developing the workplace knowledge base
WHAT ABOUT PROGRESSION?
A foundation degree is the equivalent of the first two years of an Honours degree. It may be studied as a stand-alone qualification or you may
choose to progress to top-up to an Honours degree. The Master’s degree is for graduates in senior roles and professionals seeking a
framework for their continuing professional development.
Case Study – Stella
Stella left college with a BTEC qualification in Business in 2003 and in a previous job had been persuaded to a NVQ level 4 in Management.
Since then she has worked in a variety of administrative jobs and now feels it is time for her to improve her career prospects and get a higher
education qualification that will help her to progress into a more senior management role. In her current job, she would not be able to get
time off, so she was looking for a course she could study flexibly. A friend had just completed the APS and had told her how it had been
completely focused on his workplace, didn’t require day release, and it had led him to do projects that had raised his profile with his manager
contributing to his recent promotion. Stella has just enrolled on the Foundation Degree in Applied Professional Studies, taking out a loan to
pay the fees. The overall fee was much less than she had thought because her NVQ 4 was given credit and this saved her £1,500.
COLLEGES OFFERING THE FOUNDATION DEGREE IN APPLIED PROFESSIONAL STUDIES IN 2013
Bexley College
Bromley College
Greenwich Community College
Hadlow College
North West Kent College
The Colleges all have reputations for delivering high quality business skills to local companies. The University of Greenwich has accredited the
Foundation Degree and will work with the colleges, employers and learners to maintain high levels of quality assurance and academic rigour.
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11. HIGHER APPRENTICESHIP IN BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL ADMINISTRATION
WHAT IS THE HIGHER APPRENTICESHIP?
The Higher Apprenticeship is a locally delivered work-based Foundation Degree in Business and Professional Administration which
is mapped to the NVQ4. It is a mix of work-based units which are based on real life projects in your work-place and taught units.
It is:
 An approved Higher Apprenticeship Framework (Council for Administration)
 A unique new combination of a Foundation Degree and NVQ4
 Available locally in SE London and North West Kent
 Part-time and achievable in under 3 years
 Designed with the ability to top up to a full honours degree
Case Study – Barnard Housing
This is a large housing association with a construction and maintenance workforce based on projects across South London and Kent. At head
office, about 35 administrative and financial staff are employed. The head of Human Resources started a business apprenticeship scheme 5
years. Sharon successfully finished her advanced apprenticeship 2 years ago, has now been given new responsibility and she is very ambitious.
She talked to her manager about the Higher Apprenticeship and the company agreed to support her. For her manager it was a no brainer as it
meant she would be able to retain Sharon for at least three more years, more if she went on to top up to an Honours degree, and she would be
increasingly effective at her job as she studied. The deal they struck meant Sharon took out a part-time student loan for half the fee and the
company paid the rest which for Sharon was a win-win.
COLLEGES OFFERING THE HIGHER APPRENTICESHIP IN 2013
Bexley College
Bromley College
Greenwich Community College
Lewisham College
North West Kent College
The Colleges all have reputations for delivering high quality business skills to local companies. The University of Greenwich has accredited the
Foundation Degree and will work with the colleges, employers and learners to maintain high levels of quality assurance and academic rigour.
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12. MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP
Credit Credit Funding
Course Title Offered by Further Details
Level Value Type
http://www.bromley.ac.uk/Course_list/Co
urse_details/Coursedetails.html?course=
FD Business and 720000010919691&code=12L4APTTL20
5 240 Prescribed Bromley College
Management 12-13&subtype=0
HNC Construction
Management and 4 150 Prescribed Bromley College
Building Surveying
http://www.gcc.ac.uk/course/2638/diplom
Greenwich Community a-in-leadership-for-health-and-social-
Diploma in care-children-and-young-people-s-
College services-city-guilds-level-
Leadership for 5/?csl=3035194&entrant=1
Health and Social Non-
5 80
Care and Children prescribed http://www.nwkcollege.ac.uk/services-for-
businesses/short-courses/1127/level-5-
and Young People’s diploma-in-leadership-for-health-and-
Services (Level 5) North West Kent College social-care-and-children-and-young-
peoples-services/
http://www.bromley.ac.uk/Course_list/Co
CMI Diploma in urse_details/Coursedetails.html?course=
Non-
Management and 5 62 Bromley College 720000010834954&code=12L5DMANL2
prescribed 012-13&subtype=0
Leadership (Level 5)
CMI Diploma in http://www.bromley.ac.uk/Course_list/Co
urse_details/Coursedetails.html?course=
Strategic Non- 720000010839856&code=12SFCSTML2
7 66 Bromley College
Management and prescribed 012-13&subtype=0
Leadership (Level 7)
http://www.gcc.ac.uk/course/2484/founda
FD Venue, Events tion-degree-in-venue-events-and-
Greenwich Community hospitality-management-level-4-
and Hospitality 5 240 Prescribed 5/?browse_subject_area_id=41&entrant=
College
Management 1
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13. HONOURS DEGREE IN APPLIED PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
On successful completion of an HND or Foundation Degree it is possible to progress onto a third year top up to an
honours degree in Applied Professional Studies at the University of Greenwich. Details can be found here:
http://www2.gre.ac.uk/study/courses/aps
MASTERS DEGREE IN APPLIED PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
Many graduates enter the labour market and find themselves in jobs where it is difficult to make the regular commitment
on a weekly basis to attend university to study for an Masters degree. The MA/MSc in Applied Professional Studies
provides the same flexibility of the undergraduate programmes and allows learners to get a postgraduate qualification
through work-based learning. Details can be found here: http://www2.gre.ac.uk/study/courses/aps
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14. COURSE FEES AND PART-TIME STUDENT LOANS
COURSE FEES
The fees for 2013 are shown against the courses listed in this prospectus. Also alongside each course is an
indication of whether the course is prescribed or non-prescribed. This refers to the fact that different types of
higher education qualifications have different funding arrangements.
Higher Education Student Loans (Prescribed Courses)
From 2013 learners studying part-time in the work-place for a Foundation Degree are eligible for a student loan
to cover the higher education fees as long as they have not studied at this level before. The following link has
further information: http://www.sfengland.slc.co.uk/part-time-study/new-students.aspx.
24+ Advanced Learning Loans (Non-Prescribed Courses)
From 2013, for learners under 24 at the start of their course there will be some government funding to cover
part of the course fee as long as they have not studied at this level before. For those aged 24+, student loans
will be available to cover the course fees for those who have not previously had a loan for study at this level.
Students wishing to apply for loans to cover the fees can apply from March 2013 and should contact the college
for advice. Further information is available at: http://www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/further-education.aspx
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