Respected research
The Baker Dearing Educational Trust and Edge commissioned the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) to identify qualifications in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) that would be respected by the STEM community.
The main aim was to identify qualifications which could be taught alongside GCSEs as the technical component of the University Technical College curriculum. RAEng worked with awarding bodies and others to decide which qualifications should e considered. Robust criteria were developed to assess each qualification, including:
The approach developed by RAEng could easily be adapted to provide a rigorous framework for appraising vocational qualifications in other subjects and disciplines - a point made by Edge and Baker Dearing in a submission to the Department for Education in September.