CWVYS and CQFW
CWVYS and CQFW
CWVYS has received a grant from the Welsh Assembly Government to undertake a feasibility study with regard to the possibility of becoming recognised as an Awarding Body for credit through the Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales (CQFW) in the non formal sector and, in particular, for youth workers and young people.
The work is in three phases with the first phase (research with CWVYS members and the wider voluntary sector) scheduled to be completed by 30 September 2008. In this phase research will focus on:
• considering whether such a programme is required;
• whether CWVYS members (and the wider voluntary sector) would use it;
• what current experience of CQFW members have;
• the issues that members may have with regard to CQFW.
See uploaded documents below for full report
CREDITS & QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK FOR WALES (CQFW) PROJECT – PHASE 2
Summary of Interim Report
Background
In Spring 2008 CWVYS was awarded a grant from the Welsh Assembly Government entitled:
‘proposal for the Credit and Qualification Framework for Wales (CQFW) to support the Council for Wales Voluntary Youth Service (CWVYS) to explore the most appropriate way to gain the recognition of non-formal and informal learning, through training and other experiences for both young people and the wider voluntary youth sector.’
Phase 1 was completed in March 2009.
A further grant was awarded to CWVYS from the Welsh Assembly Government to undertake Phase 2.
Phase 2 concerns itself with the following evaluation to ascertain the best way forward for CWVYS to assign and/or award credit and will include:
? An identification of the resources and capacity required by CWVYS to assign and/or award credit; offer advice; consultancy and central quality assurance to the CWVYS membership and the voluntary youth work sector more widely
? An evaluation of how CWVYS could work alongside other recognised bodies to assign and/or award credit
? Development of a business plan for the next 3-5 years
? Development of a business case for a Phase 3 project – implementation of outcomes from Phase 2; dependent on satisfactory outcomes demonstrated in Phase 2 of the research and consultation with the WAG Youth Work Strategy Branch.
Steering Group
The Project has a Steering Group of CWVYS Officers and WAG representatives. The CWVYS Training Committee is updated regularly on progress, and reports to the CWVYS Executive Committee.
Project Team
A Project team comprising a Director, three researchers and a part time administrator was appointed in October 2009.
Since October 2009 the Project Team Researchers have been out in the field undertaking interviews with the Research Group. Significant progress has been made in relation to initial contact, explanation of the project, the rationale behind Phase 2 and the roles and responsibilities of the Researchers in relation to Phase 2 as advised by the Project Director. Research reports have been submitted to the Project Director detailing responses to the questions so far.
Methodology
It was decided from the outset that evidence was crucial to any system of credit both in its production and its assessment. The methods of gathering evidence are usually based upon the following norms:
• Written
• Observation plus an account or an evaluation by the person/people being observed
• Project based work
• Portfolios which could include documentary film, theatrical production, story board etc. i.e. other than in a written format.
However, it was recognised that within the voluntary youth work sector it might be possible to identify additional models of evidence gathering in which the awarding body and the participants construct an agreed manner in how evidence can be captured. It was further recognised that agreement by the awarding body to the plan would not guarantee a successful assessment and therefore the awarding of credit. In addition, it was considered that it might be possible to design group projects in which several people gain credit for the activity and for which they can provide evidence. This could then be seen as their contribution to the evidence gathering process. As an example it was suggested that a single project might be completed by various members of a single organisation. This would recognise their different experiences and roles within the organisation e.g. a senior manager might design and manage a project, a youth worker may contribute to the design of the project and delivers it and young people might also contribute to the design but then carry out the project and capture evidence of their learning from that project.
This was agreed as the methodology format for the research and it was further agreed to form categories of paid workers, volunteers and young people based upon the mode and context as outlined in the table above.
Research Group
Of the five organisations involved, three operate on a national basis, whilst the remaining two deliver services locally.
Hayley Wood
Project Director
08/12/09