Edexcel, British Council jt efforts to create skilled HR

Special Correspondent Bangladesh is one of the top priority countries for Edexcel, having a growing demand for International GCSE and A level qualifications since 1972 through the British Council. "Bangladeshi students are desperately trying to go abroad for higher studies or job and BTEC qualifications can make them skilled and pave the way for getting jobs abroad or higher study abroad for one or two years after BTEC HND at a reasonable cost," Isabel Sutcliffe, Director of Edexcel UK told The FE in an interview recently. She visited Bangladesh to attend the two-day 'Edexcel's BTEC Education UK Fair' that ended Sunday on city's British Council premises and also to attend a number of seminars organized for the launching of Edexcel's primary and middle year curriculum. The fair is an annual flagship event since 2010 to facilitate Bangladeshi youngsters to reap maximum benefit from the international qualifications available at their door steps. At present Edexcel has 16 approved centres in Bangladesh offering BTEC qualifications in different subject areas such as Business, IT, Hospitality, Travel and Tourism, Law, Accounting, Art and Design, Fashion and Textile, Apparel Merchandising, Aerospace Engineering; Marine Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering at National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) level. As per the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) in the UK, NDs are considered equivalent to 3 A levels while HNDs are broadly considered equivalent to the second year of undergraduate programme. Ms Isabel Sutcliffe said in the backdrop of growing demand for internationally recognised qualifications, Edexcel, UK's largest awarding organisation for academic and vocational qualifications and a part of Pearson Plc, the world's leading learning company introduced globally recognised BTEC qualifications in Bangladesh in 2005. She said BTECs are standalone qualifications and recognised by employers internationally while also providing academic progression at every level. For example, after completing HND, students can get admission into the final year of any undergraduate programme in many British universities. It also ensures advanced entry into many universities worldwide. "Edexcel is part of Pearson, the world's leading learning company. We believe education is for everyone, and we provide the tools for people to learn: whatever their age, wherever they are, in whatever fashion they choose. Our textbooks, qualifications and resources ensure that students develop their skills and knowledge to the full, and are equipped to contribute positively in their chosen learning pathways and careers all over the world," Ms Isabel Sutcliffe added. Replying to a question, she said Edexcel stopped offering O levels since last year because of its old qualification which have been stopped in the UK in 1987. "The replaced exam of O levels-GCSE- is not too different from the O levels but it is more uptodate and interesting for students," she pointed out. Talking to the FE, Murray Keeler, country examinations manager of British Council-Bangladesh said Bangladeshi students are enthusiastic on developing their skills to get a proper job in the competitive market. He said that British Council is making a valuable contribution on honing the skills of Bangladesh's future human resources over the years.