Building internal capability through qualification development
Awarding organisations are often required to deliver high-quality qualifications to demanding timescales while ensuring assessment approaches are robust, defensible and supported by clear assessment strategies. At the same time, many are looking to strengthen internal capability and establish sustainable approaches to qualification development.
Find out how we helped a UK awarding organisation address these challenges through a collaborative qualification development programme that combined expert support with long-term capability building.
The challenge
The organisation needed to develop a suite of four Technical Level Foundation Qualifications across a variety of subjects within a six-week timeframe. As well as developing qualification specifications, assessment strategies, and supporting assessment materials, the goal of this organisation was to:
- Develop robust and valid assessment approaches.
- Establish governance processes and clear decision-making frameworks.
- Create practical qualification development methodologies.
- Strengthen internal assessment and development capability.
- Improve organisational understanding of emerging regulatory requirements.
- Build confidence for future qualification development projects.
Our approach
We worked collaboratively with the organisation to implement a model that combined consultancy, facilitation, quality assurance and capability building.
We began with a series of project initiation and governance workshops designed to establish shared objectives, clarify roles and responsibilities, introduce assessment design principles and create effective oversight arrangements.
We then supported the organisation through a phased qualification development process that included:
Assessment design and development
Working collaboratively with qualification leads and subject matter experts, we helped shape a clear and practical approach to assessment, from interpreting qualification requirements through to assessment development.
Quality assurance and review
As materials were developed, we conducted detailed reviews of qualification specifications, assessment strategies and assessment materials to ensure consistency, validity and readiness for submission.
Capability building
By embedding knowledge transfer throughout the project, we helped client teams build the skills and confidence to develop assessments, make evidence-based decisions and support quality assurance.
The outcome
While this project focused on Technical Level Foundation Qualifications, the approach is equally applicable across a wide range of qualification and assessment programmes.
Awarding organisations often need support with qualification design, assessment strategy development, governance, quality assurance and regulatory readiness, particularly when operating with limited internal resource or specialist assessment expertise
Our collaborative approach helps organisations to:
- Accelerate qualification development.
- Strengthen assessment validity and defensibility.
- Establish effective governance and decision-making frameworks.
- Improve consistency across qualification portfolios.
- Develop internal expertise and confidence.
- Create sustainable processes that support future growth and change.
By combining practical delivery support with capability building, AQA Global helps awarding organisations achieve immediate project objectives while creating lasting organisational value.
Qualification and assessment support
Awarding organisations often need specialist support to develop qualifications, strengthen assessment approaches and build internal capability.
AQA Global supports awarding with:
- Bespoke qualification and assessment development
- Practical and vocational assessments
- Formative and summative assessment design
- Technology Enabled Formative Assessment
- Standard setting, calibration, and psychometric assessment design