The HSC Professional

Qualification (HSC Pro)

The Details

Dr Shalena Fokeera-Wahedally

Mauritius Examinations Syndicate

17 October 2013

Guiding Principles

• HSC Pro at par with the traditional HSC

• Recognition of the qualification by

universities and employers

• Provide the opportunity for Higher

Studies

• Provide opportunities to experience

relevant work placement

• Be directly employable

• Develop critical and analytical skills

through the syllabuses offered

Project background

Structure of the HSC Pro

The HSC Pro Curriculum will comprise

three main components

Work Placement

Year 1

&

Year 2

Main Subjects

1or 2

complementary

Cambridge A-level

+

Cambridge

International

Technical in ICT

Subsidiary Subjects

1 or 2 complementary

Cambridge

AS-Level subjects

+

Global

Perspectives

The Cambridge International

Technical in ICT

Equivalent to an A-level course

Comprises units of competencies

Both school- and workplace-based

No textbook required

Portfolio-based assessment

No end of year written examination

OCR

Unit

No

Unit title

Specialist pathways

Creative Business Technical

1 Communication and employabilityskills for IT M M M

2 Information systems M M M

6 e-Commerce X X X

9 Project Planning with IT X X X

12 Website production X X X

20 Impact of the Use of ITon Business Systems X X

22 IT Systems Troubleshooting and Repair X

30 The Business Environment X

15Computer game platforms and

Technologies

X X

The Cambridge Technical in ICT

Choice of units

8 – 9 units for contextualisation for piloting

Requirements of the Industry - updating

Choice of the three pathways offered to students

OCR

Unit

No

Unit title

Specialist pathways

Creative Business Technical

1 Communication and employabilityskills for IT M M M

2 Information systems M M M

6 e-Commerce X X X

9 Project Planning with IT X X X

12 Website production X X X

20 Impact of the Use of ITon Business Systems X X

22 IT Systems Troubleshooting and Repair X

30 The Business Environment X

15Computer game platforms and

Technologies

X X

Recognition of CTUniversities and College Admission Services (UCAS)

Level 3 on the NQF – UK

Grades A Level

UCAS Points

Grades Cambridge

Technical

UCAS Points

A* 140 D* 140

A 120 D 120

B 100 - -

C 80 M 80

D 60 - -

E 40 P 40

Global Perspectives to replace

General Paper

• Offered at AS Level

• Assesses English competency

• Link with workplace

• Develop lifelong learning and

transferable skills

• Communicate effectively

Global Perspectives

– Paper 1- Global issues (Written exam)

Analysis, evaluation

– Paper 2 – Essay – (Project based)

Issue linked to the sector in which

the workplace lie

– Paper 3 – Presentation (Oral)

Communication skills

Critical thinking

Structure of HSC Pro

The HSC and the HSC Pro

HSC Academic HSC Pro

Number of subjects 5 5

Main Subjects4 or 3 or 2 A-Level

subjects

1 or 2 A-Level

subject/s

+1 Cambridge

Technical

Compulsory

Subsidiary Subject AS General Paper Global Perspectives

Subsidiary Subjects 1 or 2 AS-Level

subjects

1 or 2 AS-Level

Subjects

Work Placement During holidays

• To allow students to integrate their

work placement with the normal

school time table;

• To provide extra time during normal

school time for students to work on

their portfolio;

• To provide work placement for

relatively extended periods allowing

students to maximise on learning

Work Placement

PERIODDURATION OF

PLACEMENT

YEAR 1

April Easter Holidays2 weeks

Winter August Holidays3 weeks

End of year Holidays

5 weeks

Last week of October to

first week of December

YEAR 2

April Easter Holidays2 weeks

Winter Holidays3 weeks

Term 3Portfolio submitted at

start of Term 6

December Holidays No Placement

Time tabling at school

HSC Academic HSC Pro *

Periods

per Week

glh Per

Trimester

3 A-Level 9 x 3 = 27 52.5 x 3 =

158

2 AS-

Level5 x 2 = 10 29 x 2 = 58

Total 37 216 glh

Periods

per Week

glh Per

Trimester

2 A-Level 9 x 2 = 18 52.5 x 2 =

105

CT 7 41 glh

2 AS-

Level5 x 2 = 10 29 x 2 = 58

Work-

placement

Total 35 204 glh

Piloting

Proposals for piloting

• A cohort of 250 students

• 10 classes of 25 students

• 5 schools with 50 students or

• 10 schools with 25 students each

• All categories of schools

• Access to all eligible students

• Easy access to workplace

Benefits to the student

Acquisition of employability skills

Chance of immediate employment

Flexibility in assessment

Potential for upgrading qualification

Possibility for sponsorship for HE

Benefits to employers

Provide opportunities for involvement

in the education and development of

their future workforce

Enable potential recruitment of new

employees who can be immediately

productive

Benefits to schools

Catering for a diverse range of learning

needs;

Providing a relevant curriculum which

develops skills appropriate for lifelong

learning;

Provide opportunity for ongoing

professional development of teachers

who have a direct link with the reality of

the industry

Way Forward

• Select Educators for Cambridge Technical

and Global Perspectives

• Upgrading of facilities in pilot schools

• Finalisation of time table

• Training of educators in the new

syllabuses

• Training or workplace supervisors

• New Strand for 2015 or 2016

Thank You