What is the QCTO
What is the QCTO
The QCTO will manage and coordinate the qualifications in the occupational qualifications framework in terms of their development, provision, assessment and impact. Its scope will be the development and quality assurance of fit-for-purpose occupational qualifications and unit standards as required by the labour market for work and employment purposes.
The QCTO will develop fit-for-purpose occupational qualifications that will be certificated as National Occupational Awards or National Skills Certificates. The awards will name the relevant occupation that the learner is now competent to practice. The focus of occupational qualifications will be the development of occupational competence which, in turn, contributes to increased employment rates and productivity.
The envisaged structure and functions of the QCTO reflect a new approach to quality assurance, in which quality assurance permeates all activities and is not seen as a separate function. This model was developed in response to appeals to bring qualifications development and quality assurance ‘under one roof’.
The quality assurance of the learning process for the QCTO’s qualifications can be visualised as a structure in which the roof is supported by two pillars: design and development on the one side, and the assessment of occupational competence on the other. The system is quality managed from the overarching ‘roof’, representing monitoring and evaluation through data analysis and research. This entire structure illustrates the quality-assurance model.
