a2c scomis eo network conference 18 th november 2015 chris wiltshire a2c programme director
TRANSCRIPT
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A2CScomis EO Network Conference
18th November 2015
Chris WiltshireA2C Programme Director
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Why A2C?
EDI (Electronic Data Interchange)• been in use for over 20 years• unable to support broad range of
qualifications currently on offer• relies on outdated technology and processes• has become inefficient and difficult to useis no longer fit for purpose
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A2C will replace
• JCQ’s system for General Qualifications• Edexcel’s Edifact• City & Guilds Walled Garden file upload
Awarding Organisations’ extranets will continue to be supported
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History
2004 and 2006 abortive attempts to restructure
2008 MIS and colleges/schools petition for modernisationJCQ AOs recognise need to replace existing systems
2010 A2C proposed
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A2C Vision
to agree and embed a common set of best practice standards, including new data structures, business processes and messaging that will transform the way in which our customers are able to select and utilise general and vocational qualification products and services, allowing them to make informed choices on a cost effective and fit for purpose basis.
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Benefits
• realised by MIS suppliers by incorporating A2C standards into the design and implementation of their updated systems.
• will bring quality, consistency and ease of use to Examinations Officers.
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Benefits
• similar look and feel• greater consistency in process • use of harmonised lists• standardise terminology and naming
conventions
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Benefits – Product Catalogue
• include both general and vocational qualifications
• across all participating awarding organisations• additional Awarding Organisations plan to
become A2C compliant
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Benefits - Validation
MIS will be able to provide immediate feedback based on the validation rules within the relevant product catalogue. • eg provision of the appropriate learner
identifiers• defined by individual Awarding Organisations
for individual products, but the validation process will operate consistently for all.
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Benefits – Event Schedule
The event schedule will provide details such as system deadlines and fee discounts allowing EOs to obtain best value for money.
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Benefits - Results
Results outcome data will be harmonised and significantly enriched to include:• contributing outcomes• certification detail • raw mark grade boundaries
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Terminology
• Product Catalogue (static and instance)• Orders (registrations and entries)• Results• Schemes, Learning Units, Assessables,
Pathways• Centre Assessed Outcomes• Parties (learners, centres, etc)
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Who is Involved?The A2C programme is being delivered by JCQ Awarding Organisations and MIS Suppliers. We are also working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders across the education sector. The key stakeholders in the A2C Programme are:• JCQ (Joint Council for Qualifications)• ISB (Information Standards Board )• Commercial MIS Suppliers• Homegrowns (centres with an MIS developed in-house)• FAB (Federation of Awarding Bodies)• Avco• AoC (Association of Colleges)• EOA (Examination Officers Association)• The Exams Office
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JCQ
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Other Awarding Organisations
We are working with the Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB) and many are actively considering implementing A2C
The standards are open source which means that everyone can use them and other Awarding Organisations can adopt them at a time that suits them.
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MIS Suppliers• Advanced Learning (Facility, Progresso)• Arbor Education (Arbor)• Behaviour Watch (SchoolPod)• Bromcom Computers (Bromcom MIS)• Capita FHE (UNIT-e)• Capita SIMS (Examinations Organiser)• Civica (REMS)• Compass Computer Consultants (Prosolution)• Double First (Engage)• Furlong Business Solutions (SchoolBase)• iSAMS• Learning Platforms• Monterpoint Technologies• Pellcomp Software (PICS)• RM Education (Integris)• Software Solutions (Warwick) Ltd• Tribal (ebs4, Maytas, eTrack, SITS:Vision, Synergy in Schools)• Unit 4 (Agresso, Citrix QL)• vsware• WCBS (Pass 3Sys)• West March Systems Ltd (TERMS Evolution)
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Phase 1: A2C Transport
• The first phase was completed in Sept 2012. • Focused on updating the way in which data was
transmitted• EDI relied on the use of carriers (VANs)• Achieved cost savings for our customers at the
earliest opportunity.• The JCQ Migration Application is a temporary
transport solution which will be replaced during phase two.
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Phase 2: A2C Message Structures
The second phase will:• streamline data transfer between Awarding
Organisations and Centres• MIS suppliers will embed the migration
application functionality within their systems• Automated polling• Feedback messages
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Phase 2: A2C Business Processes
Developing best practice businesses processes to ensure a consistent approach for centres. The new MIS and AO systems will focus on the following:• Product Catalogues• Orders - Registrations & Entries• Centre Assessed Outcomes • Awards• Outcomes
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Messaging Tranche(from Sept 2015)
Centres
XMLviaSecure Internet
AwardingOrganisations
Data Transfer Before A2C
Centres
MIS Interface
EDI Files
Van Carrier
EDI Files
AwardingOrganisations
Transport Tranche(Complete June 2012)
Centres
MIS Interface
EDI Files viaSecure Internet
AwardingOrganisations
XML
Programme Overview
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Achievements to date
September 2011• All JCQ centres using an MIS in conjunction with a VAN carrier can
download the JCQ migration applicationSeptember 2012• All centres using the migration application and stopped using their
VAN carriers; carrier contracts could be terminated at this point. May 2013• Decision to align A2C with DfE/BIS data model (ISB).Jan 2015• Version 2 of the A2C specification published.
This is the baseline version which MIS Suppliers and Awarding Organisations are using to develop their systems.
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When?
September 2014 – August 2015• Development of AO and MIS systems• Integration testing• Testing with a small subset of centres• Planning the rollout
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Autumn 2015
Capita SIMS Pilots• 8 centres in Northern Ireland working with
CCEA, OCR and WJEC. • 4 centres in Gwynedd and Cardiff working
with WJEC.• November resits, Functional Skills, January
entries, Welsh Bacc registrations processed• November exam results in January
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Spring/Summer 2016
Pearson to go-live in time for summer entriesAQA to go-live September 2016C&G and NCFE ready but SIMS functionality hadn’t been developedTesting with all suppliers ready to start rollouts in September 2016Pilots with colleges
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EDI Switchoff
• The last date for new entries in EDI format will be 31st December 2018
• Existing EDI orders will be completed in EDI.• Awarding Organisations expect to be able to
switch off EDI completely in 2019.