National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ)
An insight on National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)
Whether you are a professional or a student who had just completed your secondary education, on numerous occasions you might have heard about National Vocational Qualifications - commonly known as NVQs. Even though you might have an idea of what they are, there is more to them than what meets the eye! So, forget what you already know and read on to get a meaningful insight into this profound and essential qualification framework.
What is a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ)?
Formulated with the objective of standardizing qualifications and certifications of tertiary education to a nationally recognized framework, the National Vocational Qualification or NVQ is a seven-level qualification system. Each level signifies the achievement of a certain standard of competency and skills that would suit the requirements of a particular position in the job market.
Why do you need a qualification that is at a higher NVQ level?
As the NVQ system has been deeply integrated with our country’s qualification framework, recruiters seek out individuals who possess credentials that are high on the spectrum of the NVQ levels. So, an individual who possesses a qualification that is at a higher NVQ level obtains a clear advantage when it comes to recruitment. Moreover, the higher the NVQ level you are at, the more skillset and knowledge you would possess pertaining to the area of study you have chosen. Thus, you will have more exposure and the right problem-solving skills that you would require to perform tasks flawlessly in your preferred work environment.
The added benefits of having an NVQ certificate as an individual
NVQ certifications help you to discover and pursue sustainable avenues in terms of career progression.
Certifies your abilities and knowledge and it vouches for your credibility and competencies.
NVQ Certifications act as a stable and reliable bridge to foreign migration and finding work abroad.
The progression system (levels) help you stay grounded and they aid you to stay in sync with your long term educational and professional goals.
Benefits of hiring NVQ certified employees – from an employer’s perspective
NVQ certified individuals need less training and are more likely to be efficient and effective in performing tasks flawlessly in multiple work environments.
NVQ levels can be used as a reliable metric when recruiting individuals and it could drastically reduce the time and resources spent on recruitment. Furthermore, NVQ certified individuals are more likely to be a good fit for organizations since they are usually trained on work ethics and professional etiquette.
NVQ – and in-depth analysis
The University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka (UGC) offers guidelines and regulates academic qualifications in the country. Its purpose is to maintain uniformity and order regardless of the institute which offers the qualification. Hence, bachelor’s degrees pertaining to academic streams such as Arts, Science and commerce all come under the purview of this commission. Despite having a well-acclaimed higher education system, tertiary academic education is only accessible to 10% - 15% of students who successfully complete their A/L exams. Unfortunately many of those who do not, retort to the job market with menial salaries. In order to address this issue, the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) has implemented the NVQ qualification system with the objective of providing equal opportunities for those who did not gain access to suitable academic pathways. Each of the NVQ levels measures up to a certain academic qualification and a person with a particular NVQ qualification could easily pursue their academic goals (Find below a chart indicating the equivalent educational qualification for each NVQ level.
