VQ Day
A day of celebration for people who gain vocational qualifications and the people who help them achieve this success
Myself and three other successful students who took or are taking a vocational course were lucky enough to be invited by the examination board Edexcel to attend the launch of the VQ Day. It took place at a parliamentary reception at the House of Commons on 23rd April 2008. Amongst the guest speakers were Garry Hawkes, Chairman of Edge, Bill Rammell, Minister for Further Education and Marjorie Scardino, Chief Executive of Pearson (a company who owns Edexcel). They unveiled the plans for the actual VQ day which will take place on the 23rd July 2008. There will also be a roll call of vocational success being established online, with learners invited to add their name to the list of people across the UK who have gained a vocational qualification.
Edge is a charitable educational foundation promoting practical and vocational learning. It campaigns to change the way practical and vocational learning is viewed. It is leading a day of celebration in conjunction with the vocational qualifications community including exam boards, the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Association of Colleges. The VQ DAY was launched at a parliamentary reception at the House of Commons on 23rd April 2008 with the inaugural day taking place nationwide on 23rd July 2008.
The VQ Day will aim to raise the profile of vocational qualifications, celebrate the achievements of the students, and recognise the work done by the teachers and instructors who deliver the courses. In addition, July 23 will see honorary vocational qualifications awarded to “VQ Heroes” for individuals who embody vocational success.
On the day itself, a national celebration event will be held in London to mark the occasion, and it is hoped that a number of regional events will also be staged.
According to Edge, “millions of people take a vocational qualification every year leading them on to further vocational study or university, better jobs and/or enhanced skills. For too long, this success has gone without the recognition and celebration it deserves”.
Other guests included representatives from OCR, Edexcel, Federation of Awarding Bodies, Department for Innovation, University and Skills (DIUS), City & Guilds, Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM), QCA, Association of Colleges, EDI and WLC.
For further information about Edge and the VQ day please visit:
www.vqday.org and www.edge.co.uk
If you have done or are doing a vocational course such as BTEC, City and Guilds, ASA/UKCC, NVQ, AVCE, VTCT, Apprenticeship, then you are all invited to ADD your name to the list on:
http://www.vqday.org/roll.aspx?menuid=3
You can also read all the successful stories including mine on:
http://www.vqday.org/case-studies.aspx
