There are persistent rumours that Higher Nationals are on the way out. Of course, awareness of Higher Nationals in many centres has been reduced by all the hype and financial support for Foundation Degrees since 2001. So, what is happening with Higher Nationals? Are they declining or dying? The answer is a resounding NO!

Let's start with an overview. If we take both Edexcel and SQA Higher Nationals together and look across the UK and Ireland, there are around 110,000 students on HN programmes. Even excluding Scotland, there are currently some 60,000 to 70,000 students on Higher National programmes in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. That doesn’t sound like a qualification on its way out!

This short update is intended to give no more than a flavour of the Edexcel Higher National position, so here are some key points to consider:

• A major revision of the Higher National model is underway, with the aim of making new QCA-accredited Higher National titles available for centres to deliver from 2009/10
• The work-related features of Higher Nationals will be stressed, in distinct contrast to the work-based learning expectation of Foundation Degrees
• Systematic awareness-raising, marketing and promotion of the qualification is to be undertaken
• The Edexcel Licence Agreement, by which universities can validate HNs as institutional awards, has been completely revised and simplified
• A better and more coherent relationship is being developed between HNs and NQF Specialised and Short Courses at Levels 4 to 7
• The credit value of the HNC is under review
• Edexcel is celebrating four successful years of its rigorous and supportive HE quality assurance system and, following the IQER pilot, is undertaking some developments that will make the process even more fit for purpose when the IQER method rolls out in 2008.
  

For more information on Edexcel’s Higher Nationals, visit www.edexcel.org.uk/clearing

For further information please contact ian.fleming@edexcel.org.uk