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Bespoke Qualifications and Units

National Qualification Development

Open College Network South West Region is an Awarding Organisation, licensed and regulated by Ofqual. This means we can develop national qualifications and have them listed on The Register of Regulated Qualifications, so they become eligible for government funding.

Regulated qualification development involves a range of organisations such as Ofqual, Sector Skills Councils and funding bodies, and stakeholders such as employers and voluntary organisations. There are also strict requirements on the design and development of units and qualifications.

Our National Stakeholder Development Manager, Vickie Bishop, works with a wide range of stakeholders and partners to identify opportunities to work closely with those who have an interest in new national qualification development. In addition, she will work on identifying new national qualifications with strong likely demand.

Our National Qualifications Development Manager, Peter Oakley, manages the development of OCNSWR's national qualifications, to ensure their quality and compliance with regulations, and to gain approval for new qualifications from relevant organisations, such as Ofqual.

Several organisations already have national qualifications being developed with us. It's likely to be busy in the near future, but if you're interested in developing a national qualification, please contact Vickie Bishop on 07917 712009 or by email.

Because of the time and cost involved, and because of the requirements of bodies such as Ofqual, it's important that proposals for national qualifications are well supported. Before proposals go ahead we'd be looking for, among other things:

Robust and reasoned evidence of demand for the proposed qualification

A proposal for the qualification which can form the basis of initial discussion on its size, level and proposed units

Evidence of support from potential users

Evidence of support from the Sector Skills Council or Sector Skills Body, if relevant

Developing Bespoke 'Local' Units

Many centres work with OCNSWR Development Managers to write bespoke 'local' units for their qualifications. This quick and straightforward approach to unregulated qualification development will continue to be available.

Local units are not listed on The Register of Regulated Qualifications, but are accredited and certificated by OCNSWR and meet full OCNSWR quality standards. Local qualifications are not eligible for Skills Funding Agency funding.

Visit our Learner Success Stories section to see how some of our centres have worked with us to develop regionally accredited courses to meet the specific needs of their learners.

To find out more about writing your own bespoke units please contact your Development Manager or call 01752 831500.