Unit Library Review (ULR) Update

June 2010

• To date 30 subject areas have passed through the ULR to the ‘Results’ stage.  Statistics relating to these have been refined as more reliance has been placed on data held on Agored’s QUARTZ database, rather than the previous use of manually generated spreadsheets.  The current details of units that are in the ‘Results’ stage are:

The introduction of QUARTZ, as a system, has greatly facilitated the ULR process, particularly in its ease of use and in the ability to interact with and edit unit related data.  The system is under continual development and more sophisticated uses and interrogation methods of the database are being introduced on a regular basis.

• As can be seen from the accompanying list 4 subject areas, Land Based, Animal Care and husbandry, First Aid, and Supporting Learners with Special Educational Needs, comprising approximately 550 units will be moved into the ‘Consultation’ stage before the end of the month.  Due to the summer break these will remain there for longer than the normal two month period. Click here to view the list
• Currently 12 subject areas are either ‘Under Review’ or in the ‘Post Review / Pre Consultation’ stage.
• In future, wherever possible, we will work towards undertaking reviews and providing statistics based on sectors rather than subject areas selected on Learn Direct coding.  This will enable us to meet the regulatory authority’s preferred format of statistical reporting.  Work is being carried out to correct wrongly coded units so that they are allocated to the correct sector in the QUARTZ database.
• The review of Language units up to and including level 2 has now been completed by an external consultant.  A new generic suite of 40 units (coded separately for each language) has been created, and all centres are urged to use these from August 2010.  The new units have been developed to CILT language standards and where appropriate incorporate reference to both ESDGC and comparisons with social, economic and cultural issues in Wales.  The new units include skills needed to use language in a work situation.  Last learner registration for existing/old sets of language units will be end August 2011.  Full consultation with the major users of language units was undertaken during this process.  The same consultant is at present working on a review of the level 3 language units.  The creation of this generic suite of units is likely to result in the deletion of some 800 – 1000 current units.
• Following on the success of the format used for the language review, in future it is intended to make more use of specialist / user groups with specific expertise. As an example Mediation units are currently being reviewed by the Mediation Steering Group. 
• Units on each Centre Framework are now colour coded with respect to the ULR. 

Green –   for units that have successfully been through the review process

Red -       for units that have been scheduled for deletion (these show a date for the last registration of learners)

Orange– for units that are currently going through the consultation process.

A ‘pop-up’ is now available on screen that gives an explanation of the colour coding to users.