NextGen: HN - Qualification information
Developing NextGen: HN qualifications
The development of SQA’s Next Generation Higher National (NextGen: HN) qualifications follows a service design model, focusing on meeting the needs of learners and centres, with an emphasis on continuous improvement and collaboration.
All NextGen qualifications are initially developed as a ‘prototype’, which is then piloted and evaluated. NextGen: HN prototypes are valid qualifications, sitting at SCQF Level 7 (HNC) and Level 8 (HND), carrying 120 SCQF credit points.
This approach allows us to challenge and evaluate aspects such as our design principles, grading models and approach to quality assurance.
Ongoing evaluation and feedback from learners, centres, deliverers, staff and other stakeholders helps us learn lessons and refine our approaches to inform the final model for NextGen: HN qualifications.
This iterative development approach provides ongoing opportunities for reflection, review and change, but also means that some details – such as knowledge, skills and learning outcomes of draft Units; grading models and rubrics – can only be confirmed after these processes have been worked through.
We will provide all stakeholders with as much clarity as possible as the pilots develop and details are confirmed.
NextGen: HN development cycle (294 KB)
Qualification Information Documents
We have published Qualification Information Documents for each subject, drawing on the course aims, the knowledge and skills from the units, approaches to meta-skills and approaches to whole qualification grading. These documents will be of interest to stakeholders across the further and higher education sectors. They are for reference and valid only during the year of pilot delivery 2022-2023.
- Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Accounting (SCQF level 7) (196 KB)
- Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Agriculture (SCQF level 7) (220 KB)
- Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Agricultural Technology (SCQF level 7) (228 KB)
- Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Childhood Practice (SCQF level 7) (213 KB)
- Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Computing (SCQF level 7) (325 KB)
- Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Engineering (SCQF level 7) (273 KB)
- Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Horticulture (SCQF level 7) (185 KB)
- Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Physical Activity and Health (SCQF level 7) (522 KB)
- Higher National Diploma (HND) in Radio (SCQF level 8) (211 KB)
- Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Social Services (SCQF level 7) (233 KB)
- Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Social Sciences (SCQF level 7) (201 KB)
- Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Television (SCQF level 7) (270 KB)
- Higher National Diploma (HND) in Television (SCQF level 8) (221 KB)
Use the tabs below to open each section individually. Alternatively you can show all the sections.
Pilot Delivery in 2022/23
HNC Accounting
- Edinburgh College
HNC Agricultural Technology
- Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
HNC Agriculture
- Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
HNC Childhood Practice
- Glasgow Clyde College
- South Lanarkshire College
HNC Computing
- South Lanarkshire College
- NESCOL
HNC Engineering (Electrical & Mechanical hybrid)
- West College Scotland
HNC Engineering (Engineering Systems)
- UHI
HNC Horticulture
- Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
- UHI
HNC Physical Activity and Health
- Dundee and Angus College
- New College Lanarkshire
HND Radio
- City of Glasgow College
HNC Social Sciences
- Dumfries and Galloway College
- West College Scotland
HNC Social Services
- Ayrshire College
- Dundee and Angus College
- VSA SVQ Centre
HNC Television
- Edinburgh College
- New College Lanarkshire
- NESCOL
HND Television
- Edinburgh College
- New College Lanarkshire
Pilot Delivery in 2023/24
HNC Accounting
- Edinburgh College
HND Accounting
- Edinburgh College
- City of Glasgow College
HNC Acting and Performance
- Glasgow Kelvin College
- West College Scotland
HNC Agricultural Technology
- Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
HND Agricultural Technology
- Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
HNC Agriculture
- Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
HND Agriculture
- Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
HNC Childhood Practice
- Glasgow Clyde College
- South Lanarkshire College
HNC Computing
- New College Lanarkshire
- NESCOL
HNC Engineering (Engineering Systems)
- UHI
- NESCOL
HNC Horticulture
- Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
- UHI
HND Horticulture
- Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
- UHI
HND Networking and Infrastructure
- NESCOL
- New College Lanarkshire
HNC Physical Activity and Health
- Dundee and Angus College
- New College Lanarkshire
HND Physical Activity and Health
- Dundee and Angus College
- New College Lanarkshire
HND Radio
- City of Glasgow College
HNC Social Sciences
- Dumfries and Galloway College
- West College Scotland
HND Social Sciences
- West College Scotland
HNC Social Services
- Ayrshire College
- Dundee and Angus College
- VSA SVQ Centre
HND Software Development
- NESCOL
- New College Lanarkshire
HNC Television
- Edinburgh College
- New College Lanarkshire
- NESCOL
HND Television
- Edinburgh College
- New College Lanarkshire
- NESCOL
Qualification timeline
The qualification timeline (40 KB) shows the plan for the development and pilot delivery of NextGen: HN qualifications.
There are no plans to expand or add additional qualifications to the pilot during session 2023-24 and we look forward to continuing work with our pilot centres.
We remain committed to progressing NextGen: HN while giving centres time to reflect and plan.
Continued success of the NextGen: HN programme is critical in providing qualifications fit for the future and we are grateful to everyone who is participating in the NextGen: HN programme review.
Programme review
Our review of the NextGen: HN programme – announced in June 2022 – focusses on the prototype qualifications currently in the pilot. The first round of review activity is expected to complete as planned at the end of 2022-23.
Our review activity involves carrying out project level and prototype evaluation. This includes focus groups with a broad range of learners and practitioners who are delivering the pilot and will help us evaluate how it is functioning. Discussions include areas such as Assessment, Meta-skills, Articulation and Progression, Grading and Digital Assessment.
The review will also enable us to identify positive impacts on learners and practitioners and make recommendations for future developments. Outcomes will be used to refine the materials and processes for delivering NextGen: HN qualifications that have been piloted.
We are taking this opportunity to address feedback from the college sector. We are also working to support future rollout and expansion of NextGen: HN by ensuring robust business and technology solutions are in place.
Progress updates will be added to our quarterly update – NextGen: HN News. This will include any anticipated impact on Scotland’s colleges, higher education institutions, training providers and employers.
If you have any questions about the review of the NextGen: HN pilot phase please email nextgen@sqa.org.uk.