Now we have our South African accreditation safely under our belt (well done to all concerned). QBIT has decided, in line with our strategy of conducting business outside SA, to go for international recognition and accreditation. Due to their market presence and reputability, we selected Edexcel as our international accreditation partners.

We have completed all the required documentation and Edexcel has submitted this to London for assessment. Upon successful approval we will have Edexcel accreditation for our QBIT skills programme: Transforming HC into a Strategic Business Partner by January 2011.

The name ‘Edexcel’ is derived from ‘educational excellence’. Edexcel is part of Pearson, the world’s largest education business and the owner of the FT and Penguin. It is the UK's largest awarding body offering academic and vocational qualifications and testing to schools, colleges, employers and other places of learning in the UK and internationally.

In 2008, Edexcel delivered 8.2 million exam scripts in over 85 countries, with 4.3 million marked onscreen using the groundbreaking ePen technology. Their general qualifications taken internationally include GCSEs, AS and A Levels, IGCSEs and O Levels.

Edexcel vocational qualifications include NVQ and BTEC from entry level to Higher National Diplomas. Their entire vocational portfolio had over one million registrations across 45 countries.

They offer a wide range of learning programmes, from academic qualifications – such as the ‘gold standard’ GCEs (A levels) and GCSEs – vocational and business learning and adult literacy and numeracy qualifications.

For over 25 years, they have championed work-related learning through BTECs and other vocational qualifications. Over a million learners registered for BTECs and other vocational qualifications in 2007-08.

Through initiatives such as onscreen marking and administration, Edexcel is leading the way in using technology to modernise educational assessment, support teachers and learners.

Educational excellence is at the forefront of all their innovations in specification content and technology-driven assessment solutions, and raising student performance.

In 2009, Edexcel commissioned White Loop to prepare an independent research report (a full copy can be obtain from Bonnie if you are interested) entitled Effective Education for Employment (EEE). The report delved into critical issues facing governments across the world today; and assessed how well the employment and training needs of employers, individuals and governments are being met by education and training systems.

EEE findings were based on a 12-month integrated research report. Initial research was

conducted in 25 countries with in-depth follow-up activity in Brazil, China, India, South Africa

and United Arab Emirates.

Feedback from this research data revealed that every country was facing one key issue – that

there is a significant disconnection between education systems and the needs of 21st century

employers for both public and private sectors. The match between what employers, individuals

and governments seek and what respective education and training systems provide appears illfitting

in many countries.

To gain a better perspective on the trends within the EU, three European countries were

identified to participate in the next phase of the research. Currently, research interviews are

being conducted in the Netherlands, Poland and Spain, with the findings due to be released

shortly. Once released, it will be interesting to assess if the same key trends will be highlighted

within these growing and culturally different economies.