The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is responsible for the regulation of NVQs in Northern Ireland. This work involves ongoing monitoring and provision of advice and guidance, working with individuals, centre providers, Awarding Bodies, Sector Skills Councils and other government departments.

QCA believes that e-assessment and e-learning plays an important role in the future of education and training and wants to ensure that technology is embedded in the learning and assessment systems of the future.

Twelve months ago QCA NI was asked by the Department of Employment and Learning (DEL) to lead on a project looking at the extent and uptake of e-assessment in Northern Ireland, focusing on vocational qualifications to contribute to their-learning strategy.

The first phase of the project has reviewed the current range of developments in e-assessment, in order to ascertain the readiness of the FE and training provider sectors to embrace the benefits to learners of the use of e-assessment. Our recent findings have shown that a number of Awarding Bodies and individual providers are more proactive than others in the use of e-assessment.

The second phase of this project is now underway. QCA is committed to working with awarding bodies and others to ensure that the delivery and assessment of qualifications is equally flexible and meets the needs of learners. A substantial review of awarding body perceptions has also been carried out and as a follow up to this work QCA will be undertaking further research and providing support and guidance for organisations wishing to develop their e-assessment capabilities.

It is important that we capture the views of centre providers and those directly involved in the delivery of qualifications. We would therefore ask you to assist our research by completing the attached survey questionnaire and returning it before 21/10/2005.

If you would like to highlight any e-assessment developments in your centre which you think would benefit our work, please can you post your details on this site for the attention of Francesca Dowler.