National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) are practical work-based awards in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland that are achieved through assessment and training. The regulatory framework supporting NVQs was withdrawn in 2015 and replaced by the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), although the term "NVQ" may be used in RQF qualifications if they "are based on recognised occupational standards, work-based and/or simulated work-based assessment, and where they confer occupational competence".
Higher National Diploma (HND), part of the Higher Nationals suite of qualifications, is an academic higher education qualification in the United Kingdom and various other countries. They were introduced in England and Wales in 1920 alongside the Ordinary National Diploma and the Higher National Certificate. A qualification of the same title is also offered in Argentina, Brunei, India, Malta, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and some other countries with British ties.
The Bournemouth and Poole College (BPC) is a well established educational provider which delivers further education, higher education and community based courses in Bournemouth and in Poole on the south coast of England. It is one of the larger British colleges with thousands of learners each year.
The BTECLevel 3 diploma is a Further Education qualification and vocational qualification taken in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The qualification is organised and awarded by Pearson within the BTEC brand and it is equivalent to A-Levels. It is equivalent to the GCE A Levels, more specifically to three A2 awards and the AVCE.
Caritas Bianchi College of Careers (CBCC) was established in 1971 and has been providing post-secondary education since then. At present, it mainly offers sub-degree programmes in three general disciplines: business and hospitality management, design and health sciences. It is located at Tiu Keng Leng, Tseung Kwan O, near Tiu Keng Leng station.
The European School of Economics (ESE) is a private college of higher education. It is accredited by ASIC, validated by Richmond, The American International University in London, and is an officially approved Learning Provider. ESE offers UK bachelor's degree, master's degree, MBA, and specialised short programmes at its centres in London, Rome, Milan, Florence, and Madrid.
Griffith College Limerick (GCL) is a private third level college in Limerick, Ireland. The college was established in 2006 when the Mid West Business Institute was acquired by Griffith College Dublin. The college runs full-time and part-time courses in accountancy, business, law, engineering, computing, and information technology, and has a range of part-time courses available.
Wiltshire College & University Centre is a tertiary college of education founded in 2002 by the merger of Chippenham Technical College, Lackham College and Trowbridge College. Consolidation was completed with the merger of Salisbury College, which commenced in January 2008. In 2020-21 the institution offered over 1,000 courses and had approximately 3,300 full-time and 6,000 part-time students, with over 800 enrolled on degree-level courses.
The Hong Kong College of Engineering (HKCE) was established in 1992 and is a new conceptual college that focuses on providing training for the engineering industry.
In the UK education sector, there are a wide range of qualification types offered by the United Kingdom awarding bodies. Qualifications range in size and type, can be academic, vocational or skills-related, and are grouped together into different levels of difficulty. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, qualifications are divided into Higher Education qualifications, which are on the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) and are awarded by bodies with degree awarding powers, and Regulated qualifications, which are on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) and are accredited by Ofqual in England, the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment in Northern Ireland and Qualifications Wales in Wales. In Scotland, qualifications are divided into Higher Education qualifications, Scottish Qualifications Authority qualifications and Scottish Vocational Qualifications/Modern Apprenticeships, which are on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). Scottish Higher Education Qualifications are on both the SCQF and the FHEQ.
The 3-3-4 Scheme is the academic structure for senior secondary education and higher education in Hong Kong, referring to the structure of three years of junior secondary school, three years of senior secondary school, and four years of university education.
The Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) is a provider of secondary school leaving qualifications and further education qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Whilst the T in BTEC previously stood for Technical, according to the DFE (2016) it now stands for Technology. BTECs originated in 1984 and were awarded by Edexcel from 1996. Their origins lie in the Business Education Council, formed in 1974 to "rationalise and improve the relevance of sub-degree vocational education". They are the responsibility of the Minister of State for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education in the Department for Education.
Hong Kong CyberU was a virtual school developed by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and PCCW in 2000. It later became the online arm of PolyU. HKCyberU adopts a ‘blended mode’ of study to combine the flexibility of web-based learning with personal guidance through face-to-face tutorials. It provides web-based programmes leading to academic awards offered by PolyU and other institutions in the Mainland and overseas.
Stratford-upon-Avon College is an English further education college in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire.
The Macau Business Management Educational Centre (MEC) (Chinese: 澳門商業管理教育中心) was established in 2005 and has registered with Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, Government of Macau (Registration Number: 362/2008) as an institution specializing in senior business management and professional distinction for adult learners. Since established in 2005, MEC has been providing vocational courses to working adults like entrepreneurs, managers, supervisors and people who endeavor to become leaders in the business world in the region. Besides classroom teaching and lectures; interactive discussion, seminars, and enterprise exchanges are also regularly conducted for over 3,000 graduates to enhance their knowledge outside their career scope.
ESOFT Metro Campus is a private sector educational institute or college located in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It offers academic and professional qualifications in Computing, Business & Management, Engineering, Hospitality and English. Established in the year 2000, the company today has 40 branches nationwide. It is headed by Dr. Dayan Rajapakse.
Kensington College of Business (KCB) is an independent higher education institution located in Oxford Circus, London.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club College (HKJCC), under the umbrella of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, was established in 2010 to support the career development of employees in accordance with the Club's holistic people development strategy by providing training programmes with QF and non-QF accredited programmes and certificates. Currently, two main academies are available at the College:
- Service & Hospitality Academy providing up to QF Level III accredited programmes
- Business Management Academy providing up to QF Level IV accredited programmes.
Discovery Bay International School (DBIS) is a coeducational international school located in Discovery Bay, Hong Kong.
Higher Nationals are a suite of internationally recognised higher education qualifications at level 4 (HNC) and 5 (HND) that are equivalent to the first and second years of a university bachelor's degree, providing progression to over 95% of UK universities including the University of Oxford at an advanced level.
