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| Food giant to award 'McDiplomas' | Food giant to award 'McDiplomas' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| McDonald's has won approval to offer courses which could form part of an A-level standard qualification. | McDonald's has won approval to offer courses which could form part of an A-level standard qualification. |
| The fast-food giant, airline FlyBe and Network Rail, are the three firms to be approved to offer courses equal to units of the new diplomas. | |
| It means students could combine units from in-house courses with others to obtain the government's flagship new vocational and academic qualification. | It means students could combine units from in-house courses with others to obtain the government's flagship new vocational and academic qualification. |
| Ministers are keen to involve business in attempts to boost workforce skills. | Ministers are keen to involve business in attempts to boost workforce skills. |
| McDonald's have achieved the standards for awarding accredited qualifications at Level 3 QCA spokesman | McDonald's have achieved the standards for awarding accredited qualifications at Level 3 QCA spokesman |
| It follows concerns raised by business leaders that schools, colleges and even universities are failing to equip youngsters for the world of work. | It follows concerns raised by business leaders that schools, colleges and even universities are failing to equip youngsters for the world of work. |
| But critics complain that the diplomas they see as the answer to the issue are not sufficiently academically rigorous. | But critics complain that the diplomas they see as the answer to the issue are not sufficiently academically rigorous. |
| Just last week, four out of 10 university admissions tutors said they would not accept students who had taken the new diplomas which are being introduced next autumn. | Just last week, four out of 10 university admissions tutors said they would not accept students who had taken the new diplomas which are being introduced next autumn. |
| Exams watchdog, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, said all three firms had been given awarding body status to Level 3 - which is equivalent to A Levels or the specialised diploma. | Exams watchdog, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, said all three firms had been given awarding body status to Level 3 - which is equivalent to A Levels or the specialised diploma. |
| And FlyBe has won accreditation to offer qualifications that could theoretically form part of degree - Level 4. | And FlyBe has won accreditation to offer qualifications that could theoretically form part of degree - Level 4. |
| To achieve this status all three firms had to meet a set of standards set out by the QCA in its Qualifications Credit Framework (QCF). | To achieve this status all three firms had to meet a set of standards set out by the QCA in its Qualifications Credit Framework (QCF). |
| Cabin crew courses | Cabin crew courses |
| This QCF is a new system by which learners can bank up credits for workplace learning and take them with them to future courses. | This QCF is a new system by which learners can bank up credits for workplace learning and take them with them to future courses. |
| A QCA spokesman said: "The Qualifications Credit Framework is a new framework that allows nationally recognised courses to be broken down into units. | A QCA spokesman said: "The Qualifications Credit Framework is a new framework that allows nationally recognised courses to be broken down into units. |
| "It is componentised so if a learner drops out of a course or can't manage to complete they can take those units with them." | "It is componentised so if a learner drops out of a course or can't manage to complete they can take those units with them." |
| He added: "McDonald's have achieved the standards for awarding accredited qualifications at Level 3. | He added: "McDonald's have achieved the standards for awarding accredited qualifications at Level 3. |
| "This will enable them to assess, track and recognise learning that otherwise would be lost." | "This will enable them to assess, track and recognise learning that otherwise would be lost." |
| From this month, McDonald's will be piloting their basic shifts manager course. | From this month, McDonald's will be piloting their basic shifts manager course. |
| McDonald's chief people officer David Fairhurst said the accreditation was a natural extension of the qualifications the firm already offered. | McDonald's chief people officer David Fairhurst said the accreditation was a natural extension of the qualifications the firm already offered. |
| He said: "Our employees tell us they want the chance to do more formal learning and we're responding to that. From this January, we are proud to be piloting our own externally recognised qualifications for our management training." | He said: "Our employees tell us they want the chance to do more formal learning and we're responding to that. From this January, we are proud to be piloting our own externally recognised qualifications for our management training." |
| Meanwhile, from this summer FlyBe will offer courses covering the work of cabin crews, engineers, call centre staff, some of which will reach Level 4 - degree level. | Meanwhile, from this summer FlyBe will offer courses covering the work of cabin crews, engineers, call centre staff, some of which will reach Level 4 - degree level. |
| Network Rail will offer courses up to A-level or Diploma standard mainly to their track engineers at first. | Network Rail will offer courses up to A-level or Diploma standard mainly to their track engineers at first. |