VCC partners with Scottish Qualifications Authority
Representatives from VCC visit SQA in Glasgow, Scotland. Pictured from left to right: Martin Hannah, SQA Project Officer, Lucy Griffiths, VCC Acting Dean, School of Trades, Technology & Design; Claire Sauvé, VCC Associate Director Continuing Studies; John McMorris, SQA Director of Business Development; Ian Humphreys, VCC Vice President, Administration and International Development; Mark Hill, SQA International Regional Manager; Adrian Lipsett, Dean, Continuing Studies.
Vancouver Community College (VCC) is pleased to announce the signing of an agreement with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) that establishes exciting new opportunities for learners looking to access international college degree programs.
SQA is the national accreditation and awarding body for Scotland. It sets, maintains, and monitors qualifications and assessment standards. SQA partners with educational institutions throughout the world including in Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America. VCC is one of a small handful of Canadian post-secondary institutions to partner with SQA.
This partnership with SQA allows VCC to access high-quality, internationally-recognized curriculum, and provides students with expanded transfer opportunities to learn abroad.
"We are delighted to announce VCC as an accredited SQA delivery centre and to be working with such a diverse and innovative college within the Province of British Columbia,” says Mark Hill, International Regional Manager (Americas) at SQA. “It was evident from our first meeting that VCC and SQA shared a desire to give their learners not only the best experience, but to offer them as many opportunities and pathways as possible. The SQA Advanced Diploma is a world renowned, international qualification that can provide advanced entry into college degree programmes whilst also providing learners with the relevant skills for their chosen vocation. We envisage a strong, long-standing relationship with VCC."
VCC’s Vice President of Administration and International Development, Ian Humphreys and Dean of Continuing Studies Adrian Lipsett spearheaded the partnership with SQA.
“One of the academic priorities in VCC’s Strategic Innovation Plan is to deliver sustainable programming and student services that align with the college’s institutional values, community, and the labour market demands,” says Humphreys. “This partnership with SQA aims to do exactly that: fast-track students into the labour market while also exposing them to job opportunities in Canada and abroad.”
Adds Lipsett: “SQA provides a set of accreditations, qualifications and curriculum standards that qualify people for further study and employment opportunities all over the world. In addition to providing a complimentary academic pathway for our learners, the organization has a strong history in apprenticeships and work-integrated learning research, making them an ideal partner for VCC. We are excited to explore how this partnership will directly benefit our students and community in the years ahead.”
Members of VCC recently visited SQA in Glasgow, Scotland to explore opportunities to collaborate including implementing SQA curriculum standards in Supply Chain Management.