EBME Forums Forums Management Training Foundation Degree at EWP and access to the VRCT

I have just had confirmation from Jim Methven (VRCT Registrar) that the Foundation Degree at Eastwood Park (2 year work based qualification) is a suitable qualification for access to the VRCT via the Grand Parenting Provision.

The Foundation Degree also extends to a third year with Kingston University to offer a full honours degree and we are currently seeking approval by the VRCT for this level of qualification to be acceptable for access to the VRCT via the primary criterion.

Further information regarding the guidance of VRCT access can be viewed by foillowing this link VRCT Guidance

Steve

Hi Steve,

Can that degree be done online? a person like me am much interested in it but i cant make it to UK for it, first of all you know how expensive it is for international students.

Regards
Roman

Thing to bear in mind is it's not just overseas students who will find difficulty in getting the training they apparently need. How will a small hospital in say the Grampian region or Northern Ireland cope if they have to send all of their guys to Bristol (area) then London just to be grandparented on to a VOLUNTARY list?

By the way Roman I don't think that the VRCT extends beyond the UK. You might be better off looking for an Internationally approved qualification.

Reagrds,
Bill

See this earlier thread.

In response to Roman's and biomedbill's question. The Foundation Degree is a work based degree. This means that the study is predominantly done in the work place and at home. For this reason we encourage delegates signing up for the qualification to seek the support from their line manager.

The only attendance at Eastwood Park is a couple of weekends a year for assessment and that's it.

The reason why we have re-itterated the access onto the VRCT is because we have had enquiries from interested parties stating that the trust will only help fund the delegate/staff member if the qualification provides a path to the VRCT.

Also in response to Roman's and Bill's posts ... why not configure an on-line version?

Two weekends at Falfield each year is a big deal if you live in Uganda!

Geoff

In the UK we currently have the NVQ level 3 qualification in Servicing medical equipment. It contains a number of option units to which a delegate wishing to obtain the NVQ should choose atleast 3 + mandatory units. The option units are:

Servicing anaesthetic and ventilation equipment
Servicing cardiovascular equipment
Servicing physiological monitoring and infusion devices
Servicing operating theatre and surgical equipment
Servicing Laboratory equipment
Servicing Dental equipment
Servicing medical imaging equipment
Servicing medical and therapeutic equipment
servicing assistive technologies

These do not have exams but are again work based qualifications where the delegate will be assessed on competency, after all isn't that what the job is about?

Eastwood Park are trying to follow a EMBC technicians career by offering the 'biomedical equipment maintence practice' for new entrants, then moving onto the 'level 3 NVQ Servicing medical equipment' and finally 'The Foundation Degree in Medical Technologies'.

Further details can be viewed here

Hope this helps.

Steve

It's a nice website (thanks for that). But, can you answer me one thing (as I notice that you don't have exams) ... does anyone ever fail?

Essentially the Foundation Degree is a distant learning course and Kingston University employ the use of the Blackboard system. Which allows delegates to access modules and other resources online.

However, because it is a work based qualification then the delegate must be assessed and this means visiting Eastwood Park twice a year. I'm afraid it is stipulated by Kingston University and out of our hands.

Besides, perhaps we should ask the person living in Uganda whether it's a big deal to come to the UK and not assume that it is a problem.

Steve

It is possible to fail the NVQ level 3. Once registered the delegate has two years in which to complete the qualification. The delegate must collate eveidence throughout the two years which must all be rigoursly verified by the awarding body (in this case EAL (formally SEMTA). In addition to this the delegates must be assessed 3 times for each module must eveidence competency.

Did you have a concern about the validitity of the qualification?

Steve