Foundation degrees for building services engineering
Employers want education that offers flexibility for their staff to participate with minimal disruption to their work and that delivers knowledge and skills that are relevant and up-to-date. Qualifications and recognition through membership of an appropriate professional institution are important to some employers and individuals. Foundation Degrees (FDs) can offer all these things.
FDs are vocationally related qualifications with work-based elements that are broadly equivalent to the first two years of a degree (slightly higher than HND) and recognised as qualifications in their own right. For those who want an honours degree and/or professional institution membership it may be possible to ‘top up’ from appropriate FDs to achieve a full honours degree or incorporated engineer status.
Foundation degree framework specification
SummitSkills has developed the framework specification to help universities and colleges to design and deliver FDs that meet the needs of employers in building services engineering (which includes the electrotechnical, plumbing, heating and ventilating, refrigeration and air conditioning industries).
Guide to SummitSkills' framework specification
SummitSkills has produced a handy guide to the FD framework specification for building services engineering.
The guide aims to help education providers, employers and employees gain a better understanding of FDs and the framework specification developed by SummitSkills.
You can download a copy of the FD guide here or telephone SummitSkills on 01908 303960 to order printed copies by post.
Framework specification update - December 2009
Earlier this year, we published a Foundation degree (Fd) Framework Specification on the SummitSkills website.
Work has now taken place to review this specification in consultation with members of the steering group responsible for overseeing its original development.
More information about the implementation update are detailed in the Implementation Bulletin. This outlines plans to:
- Conduct a small review of the Framework Specification
- Develop an endorsement scheme for Fds that are in line with employers’ needs, as articulated in the Framework Specification
- Set up a building services engineering Fd network
If you have general queries about this activity, please email Catherine Elliott or get in touch with your local SummitSkills operations manager for guidance and support in your region (contact details are included in the Implementation Bulletin).
Want to know more?
If you have any questions about the framework specification, please email Catherine Elliott at SummitSkills.
If you are involved in developing, or looking to develop, a building services engineering FD please contact the SummitSkills operations manager with responsibility for your area.
