General National Vocational Qualifications and Progression to Higher Education.

Overview & Synopsis

This bulletin describes the use of new qualifications, the General National Vocational Qualifications (GNVQ), which have been developed in Great Britain to qualify students for admittance to higher education through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). The first part of the bulletin discusses the suitability of GNVQs as a route from school or college to higher education and describes ways in which GNVQ programs might be enhanced for progression. The second part of the bulletin offers some advice and guidance on establishing agreements, supporting progression to higher education from GNVQs, between centers offering GNVQs, and universities and colleges of higher education. Examples are provided, and a checklist for establishing a GNVQ progression agreement is included. The findings in this bulletin are derived from research undertaken by UCAS and the National Council for Vocational Qualifications with higher education institutions and further education colleges. (KC)