IndiaCan with certifying partner Edexcel launches its first Vocational Assessors Qualification (VAQ) programme
IndiaCan centers will seek to provide vocational assessor qualification to all assessors currently assessing MES courses.In its second phase from March 2010 the qualifications would also be open to Independent Private assessors.
Tweet-- IndiaCan, a joint venture of Educomp Solutions Ltd., India's largest education company and Pearson, the world's largest education services provider has forayed into vocational assessor qualification in India with an international BTEC qualification from Edexcel, UK's largest awarding body.
With the government placing a high emphasis on skills development with the objective of having a skilled workforce of 500 million by 2022, the role of trainers and assessors has come into sharp focus. There is a need to have globally skilled trainers and assessors to deliver a globally ready workforce. There is an urgent need to bring assessors up-to-date on modern assessment practices and IndiaCan aims to bring this modernisation and standardisation into "vocational assessments" in India with the international Vocational Assessor Qualification (VAQ).
In order to build awareness of this important qualification, its efficacy and benefits, IndiaCan are launching the pilot batch for key assessors selected by most of India's premier Vocational Assessing Bodies designated in the Modular Employable Skills (MES) program. This program offers Edexcel's BTEC Level 4 VAQ qualifications delivered by IndiaCan's world-class training resources.
The 'Vocational Assessor Qualification' is an Edexcel certified programme launched globally in January'10. It is an international qualification that trains and qualifies assessors to deliver standardized evaluations across Centers, Cities and Countries. The VAQ is part of a comprehensive certification programme called the Edexcel BTEC Professional Certificate in Training and Development- An international qualification for trainers and assessors. IndiaCan will offer the flexibility of undertaking only a part of this qualification as a short-term specialist assessor or trainer programme.
The qualification has also been tailored to the Indian context and will be delivered by IndiaCan in a unique blended model including workshops, e-content and guided learning. The programme will hope to deliver high-quality assessors and standardise their practices across the country contributing to skills development initiatives.
Speaking on the launch Mr. Sharad Talwar, CEO, IndiaCan said 'IndiaCan has a huge stake in skills development in India and we specifically intend to get involved in initiatives which have long-term significance. This is one of them to globally upskill assessors and we are extremely pleased to be launching this batch. We are sure that this batch will be a predecessor to an army of high-class assessor force.'
Mr. Sami Baig, Regional Director, Edexcel added 'Edexcel has specifically developed this qualification to the needs of assessors internationally. The qualification will upskill assessors and equip them with international assessment practices. This is a high quality programme and will be delivered adhering to high-quality by IndiaCan.'
The contact days for the first batch starts from the 21st to the 23rd in New Delhi and will be attended by dignitaries on the concluding day.
Notes to Editor
About Edexcel
A Pearson company, Edexcel is a leading global education services provider offering internationally recognised academic and vocational qualifications as well as testing to schools, colleges, employers, training providers and other places of learning in over 85 countries worldwide. Offered as either off-the-shelf or customised, all Edexcel qualifications deliver consistent standards of quality, meet local and international needs and provide learners with structured progression into employment or high education worldwide. Our academic qualifications taken internationally include GCEs, GCSEs, AS and A levels, IGCSEs and O levels, which are being phased out in 2010. Exclusive to Edexcel, our unrivalled suite of BTEC vocational qualifications are offered across a wide range of industry sectors.
www.edexcel.com/subcontinent
About Pearson in India: Pearson has a longstanding and growing presence in India. Pearson Education is the country's leading publisher in the higher education and schools segment; Penguin Books India publishes the country's best-known authors including Shobhaa De, Nandan Nilekani and Amitav Ghosh; and The Financial Times has a leading position among global news organisations in its coverage of Indian economic and business affairs. More recently Pearson's professional testing business Pearson Vue established its Asia-Pacific headquarters in India, recognizing the potential of the market, and MergerMarket, a provider of high-value market intelligence for financial institutions, set up a bureau in 2005.
About Educomp Solutions Ltd: Educomp Solutions is the largest education company in India, where it has been at the forefront of pioneering initiatives in education. With an employee base of more than 8000 professionals, Educomp serves 25,000 schools and 14 million learners and educators in India as well as the US, Canada, Singapore and Sri Lanka. It operates through its various subsidiaries including authorGEN, Threebrix eServices, Learning.com, USA, AsknLearn Pte Ltd, Singapore, and via its associates such as Savvica Inc in Canada. The company works closely with schools to implement innovative models to create and deliver content to enhance student learning. Educomp's long undiluted focus on the K-12, curriculum design and teacher education space, in developing applications and products, has revolutionized leverage of information technology and Internet for education. Educomp has also embarked upon innovative IP- driven projects to set up pre-schools, high schools and professional and vocational education institutions. For more information, visit www.educomp.com