The HSC Professional
Qualification (HSC Pro)
The Details
Dr Shalena Fokeera-Wahedally
Mauritius Examinations Syndicate
17 October 2013
Guiding Principles
• HSC Pro at par with the traditional HSC
• Recognition of the qualification by
universities and employers
• Provide the opportunity for Higher
Studies
• Provide opportunities to experience
relevant work placement
• Be directly employable
• Develop critical and analytical skills
through the syllabuses offered
Structure of the HSC Pro
The HSC Pro Curriculum will comprise
three main components
Work Placement
Year 1
&
Year 2
Main Subjects
1or 2
complementary
Cambridge A-level
+
Cambridge
International
Technical in ICT
Subsidiary Subjects
1 or 2 complementary
Cambridge
AS-Level subjects
+
Global
Perspectives
The Cambridge International
Technical in ICT
Equivalent to an A-level course
Comprises units of competencies
Both school- and workplace-based
No textbook required
Portfolio-based assessment
No end of year written examination
OCR
Unit
No
Unit title
Specialist pathways
Creative Business Technical
1 Communication and employabilityskills for IT M M M
2 Information systems M M M
6 e-Commerce X X X
9 Project Planning with IT X X X
12 Website production X X X
20 Impact of the Use of ITon Business Systems X X
22 IT Systems Troubleshooting and Repair X
30 The Business Environment X
15Computer game platforms and
Technologies
X X
The Cambridge Technical in ICT
Choice of units
8 – 9 units for contextualisation for piloting
Requirements of the Industry - updating
Choice of the three pathways offered to students
OCR
Unit
No
Unit title
Specialist pathways
Creative Business Technical
1 Communication and employabilityskills for IT M M M
2 Information systems M M M
6 e-Commerce X X X
9 Project Planning with IT X X X
12 Website production X X X
20 Impact of the Use of ITon Business Systems X X
22 IT Systems Troubleshooting and Repair X
30 The Business Environment X
15Computer game platforms and
Technologies
X X
Recognition of CTUniversities and College Admission Services (UCAS)
Level 3 on the NQF – UK
Grades A Level
UCAS Points
Grades Cambridge
Technical
UCAS Points
A* 140 D* 140
A 120 D 120
B 100 - -
C 80 M 80
D 60 - -
E 40 P 40
Global Perspectives to replace
General Paper
• Offered at AS Level
• Assesses English competency
• Link with workplace
• Develop lifelong learning and
transferable skills
• Communicate effectively
Global Perspectives
– Paper 1- Global issues (Written exam)
Analysis, evaluation
– Paper 2 – Essay – (Project based)
Issue linked to the sector in which
the workplace lie
– Paper 3 – Presentation (Oral)
Communication skills
Critical thinking
The HSC and the HSC Pro
HSC Academic HSC Pro
Number of subjects 5 5
Main Subjects4 or 3 or 2 A-Level
subjects
1 or 2 A-Level
subject/s
+1 Cambridge
Technical
Compulsory
Subsidiary Subject AS General Paper Global Perspectives
Subsidiary Subjects 1 or 2 AS-Level
subjects
1 or 2 AS-Level
Subjects
Work Placement During holidays
• To allow students to integrate their
work placement with the normal
school time table;
• To provide extra time during normal
school time for students to work on
their portfolio;
• To provide work placement for
relatively extended periods allowing
students to maximise on learning
Work Placement
PERIODDURATION OF
PLACEMENT
YEAR 1
April Easter Holidays2 weeks
Winter August Holidays3 weeks
End of year Holidays
5 weeks
Last week of October to
first week of December
YEAR 2
April Easter Holidays2 weeks
Winter Holidays3 weeks
Term 3Portfolio submitted at
start of Term 6
December Holidays No Placement
Time tabling at school
HSC Academic HSC Pro *
Periods
per Week
glh Per
Trimester
3 A-Level 9 x 3 = 27 52.5 x 3 =
158
2 AS-
Level5 x 2 = 10 29 x 2 = 58
Total 37 216 glh
Periods
per Week
glh Per
Trimester
2 A-Level 9 x 2 = 18 52.5 x 2 =
105
CT 7 41 glh
2 AS-
Level5 x 2 = 10 29 x 2 = 58
Work-
placement
Total 35 204 glh
Proposals for piloting
• A cohort of 250 students
• 10 classes of 25 students
• 5 schools with 50 students or
• 10 schools with 25 students each
• All categories of schools
• Access to all eligible students
• Easy access to workplace
Benefits to the student
Acquisition of employability skills
Chance of immediate employment
Flexibility in assessment
Potential for upgrading qualification
Possibility for sponsorship for HE
Benefits to employers
Provide opportunities for involvement
in the education and development of
their future workforce
Enable potential recruitment of new
employees who can be immediately
productive
Benefits to schools
Catering for a diverse range of learning
needs;
Providing a relevant curriculum which
develops skills appropriate for lifelong
learning;
Provide opportunity for ongoing
professional development of teachers
who have a direct link with the reality of
the industry
Way Forward
• Select Educators for Cambridge Technical
and Global Perspectives
• Upgrading of facilities in pilot schools
• Finalisation of time table
• Training of educators in the new
syllabuses
• Training or workplace supervisors
• New Strand for 2015 or 2016