Post 16 education for engineers A pathway through the maze

摘要

In this two-part article, Dr Pam Murrell aims to introduce and clarify the wide range of vocational and vocationally-related education options that are now available after the age of 16. In the first part, the main types of qualifications, including NVQs and Modern Apprenticeships are covered. The second part, which will be published in the July issue, will describe the link between some of these qualifications and professional qualifications. Post 16 education has gone through a significant number of changes during the past decade. Indeed, it is often difficult for those working within the education sector to keep up to date with the latest initiatives and qualifications. But for those who have been out of education for a period of time, and who still number their qualifications in CSEs or GCEs, the task is even harder. However, the latter group are the very 40- or 50-somethings whose task it is to shape and guide the initial and on-going professional development of their current employees, to facilitate (and pay for) the education and training of their employees, and also to recruit and develop new employees, some of whom may be today's school leavers.