Training Activities for
Optical Technicians
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National Vocational Qualifications
(NVQs) in Optical Manufacturing - Approved
Click
here for Press release
·
In January 2001 City & Guilds became the first Awarding
Body to be approved to offer the National Vocational Qualifications
in Optical Manufacturing.
In addition, Foundation
and Advanced Modern Apprenticeships are also now available and
may attract government funding support.
·
These NVQs and MA's are for technicians in Spectacle Lens making,
Glazing, Contact Lenses, Eye Prosthetics and other areas.
· C and I
College (C and I) were accredited as an assessment
centre, for the NVQ's in Optical
Manufacturing, in January 2001.
· It is anticipated that City & I College will be able
to offer the Optical Manufacturing NVQ at Levels 2 and 3 in late spring.
· The National Occupational Standards (the basic building
block for the NVQ) for Optical Manufacturing at Levels 2 and 3
were formally approved by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
(QCA) in February 2000.
(They are available for download on this site - see
bottom of page)
Also see Optical Qualifications - Progression
Opportunities .
· Awarding
Bodies are the organisations that award the NVQ and ensure the
quality and consistency of the qualification. City
& Guilds were approved as an Awarding Body
in January 2001 . Other organisations
can apply to become Awarding Bodies.
· Assessment Centres are approved by the Awarding
Body to run training programmes, tutor and assess candidates. These
can be within an optical organisation or with a training provider,
such as City and Islington College.
The Future of Modern Apprenticeships
· The Government has announced that in April 2001 the titles
of Modern Apprenticeships and National Traineeships
will be changed.
· Modern Apprenticeships will in future be called
Advanced Modern Apprenticeships (AMAs)
·National Traineeships will in future be called
Foundation Modern Apprenticeships.
Modern Apprenticeships
· The Advanced
and Foundation Modern Apprenticeship Frameworks have been formally
approved by DfEE.
· The Science, Technology and Mathematics Council (ST+Ms)
approve the apprenticeships and co-ordinate the programmes with the
local TECs and Local Learning and Skill Centres.
· The FMA and AMA awards can be achieved once the NVQ Level
2 or 3 are obtained, along with certain Key Skills.
· Details of the Framework are available through SMC and ST+Ms
etc.
City and Islington College
On-line Programme
· C and I College obtained a grant from the Government Office
of London in 1999 to develop an On-line Programme for Optical NVQs.
· This programme
- on-sightlearning.com
- is now available.
It will enable candidates who register with C and I College to work
on their portfolio via the Internet and e-mail. This should significantly
reduce the paperwork involved in more typical NVQs and offer the candidates
a modern approach. Assessment of the practical skills of the candidates
will still be carried out in the work place.
· Further information on this programme can be obtained from
Tony Botten at C and I College, or by clicking on the above web address.
· For further general information please contact Gordon Jones
via the SMC office
The following documents
can be downloaded here:
National Occupational Standards
Level 2
National Occupational Standards
Level 3
Foundation Modern Apprenticeship
Framework
Advanced Modern Apprenticeship
Framework
you can also download the following guides
and notes:
NVQs
- a training opportunity
Guide
to FMA and AMA
Notes
for Trade Associations
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