What’s the purpose of an Internal Quality Assurer?
All training providers need to have an internal Quality Assurer in their staff. Quality Assurance takes place to make sure that the training company is performing at the highest standard they can.
Each centre’s IQA will be accountable for quality-checking decisions made by the centre’s Assessors. This is to ensure that the decisions and the Assessors’ practices, are in compliance with the standards set by the centre. Some of the responsibilities that an IQA will be able to accomplish include:
ensuring that all Assessors are competently trained, skilled, and carrying out their duties efficiently.
Monitoring the center’s assessment practice and procedures through the execution of sampling activities, such as;
Examining learners at various stages of the delivery process and assessment process
Evaluation of the effectiveness of assessment and planning
Making sure that assessment decisions are consistent and standardised
Making sure that the centre’s equality and diversity policy is implemented;
Two regularisation meetings each year.
If quality assurance isn’t happening, then there are risks to the quality, consistency, and fairness of training and assessment methods. Therefore, this can cause serious disadvantages for learners.
What is An IQA?
An IQA carries out a very important part of the learning or assessment procedure. They are the ones who are accountable for ensuring that the process runs smoothly. This covers everything from study and learning that the apprentice is required to do up to the final exam (and everything between!). An IQA helps with the process of standardisation, making sure that assessments carried out are fair and consistent between learners.
The “internal” aspect of an IQA implies the Quality Assurance is being taken in the training center itself, by an employee within the training centre. The responsibility of an IQA usually falls to the Manager or Supervisor of the training centre. In the event that they’re not quality-assuring their own assessment decisions, an IQA can also still work as an Assessor and perform both duties.
Requirements of An IQA
The day-to-day duties of an IQA will differ, particularly in the event that they continue to examine simultaneously. Here are a few basic tasks that an IQA will be accountable for:
Checking that Assessors are fully trained in the role they are performing.
Plan and prepare activities that facilitate the assessment monitoring
Ensuring the standardisation of assessment procedures (working in conjunction with Assessors, trainers and employers)
Monitoring both Assessor and trainer the performance of both and giving constructive feedback
Sampling assessment records and decisions / grades given
The learners will be able to meet with the students themselves.
Implementing best practices and identifying them within the organization
The existence of an IQA in an organization is very important when it comes to assessments as well as ensuring that good practices are observed. It’s quite typical whenever there is a problem when it comes to the delivery of the qualification, it could be traced back to an insufficient quality assurance within the organisation.
Benefits of Become An IQA
So now that we have discussed in detail the job of An IQA and the qualifications you must meet to become one, let’s take brief look at some of the benefits when you become an IQA.
Let’s begin with the most significant one first: the financial gain! On average, IQAs earn around PS23,000 – PS35,000 per year. This is an increase for Assessors with experience, since becoming an IQA will bring added value to the company. It eliminates the requirement for organisations to hire an outside IQA to carry out their quality assurance as an employee can perform the task instead.
Continued Professional Education (CPD) is another reason to be an IQA. As an Assessor, you’ll already be aware of the importance of keeping your CPD record up to date, and taking an IQA qualification will assist with this. Even if your goal isn’t to become a lead IQA taking the course, just finishing the qualification for knowledge will allow you to improve your performance as an Assessor in your current role.
There are at present 3 IQA Qualifications that are available; However, only two of them can be used to earn Qualitative Assure.
Level 4 Award for Understanding the Internal Assessment Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice
In the beginning, by starting with the most basic of all IQA Qualifications, this course does not really qualify you to be assessed internally for quality assurance. However, it does equip you with the knowledge behind IQA. This makes this award an ideal option for CPD (Continuing Professional Development) specifically for Managers. By completing this qualification you will be able to:
The background and the principles of Internal Quality Assurance;
How to plan the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment;
Techniques for monitoring, maintaining and improving the quality of assessment internally;
How to manage information according to lawful and ethical requirements to ensure an Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment.
Level 4 Award for the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice
Moving on to the second qualification, it is the equivalent to the old Internal Verifiers certification. It lets you make quality assurance of assessments and decision-making regarding assessments, but it isn’t a qualification as the Lead IQA of your school or training company. If you pass this exam you will learn and be able to:
Plan to implement the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment;
Keep in mind legal and good practice standards when monitoring internal processes and maintaining the quality of assessment;
Control information that is relevant to the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment;
Internally evaluate, maintain and enhance the quality of assessment.
Level 4 Certificate for Conducting the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice
In the end, the most highly regarded IQA qualification, that of the Lead IQA. This is the perfect qualification for you if are looking to become the Lead IQA at your training provider, as it gives you all the knowledge required to not only hold Quality Assure qualifications, but also lead and manage the whole IQA process of quality control. After completing this certification you will be able to be competent to:
Quality Assure accreditation;
Oversee the Internal Quality Assurance processes for a training centre;
Manage other IQAs;
Write and develop Internal Quality Assurance policies and procedures;
Manage External Quality Assurance (EQA) visits.
What are these qualifications?
The majority of those who take the course for the IQA are experienced and qualified assessors. Most people find that the IQA program is the most logical progression direction from their previous profession as an assessment.
However, the job the role of an Internal Quality Assurer’s role is quite different from that one of an Assessor. So , it is crucial to be aware of what the responsibilities of an IQA include.
If you are already V1 or IV certified It could be the case that wish to be updated to the most up-to-date knowledge based component in IQA. IQA suite. If this is the situation, then the Level 4 Award that only covers unit 1 will be the qualification you need.
This Level 4 Award that incorporates the units 1 and 2 is the certification you need if in the process of or will be internally ensuring the accuracy of assessments.
Effectively, you’re evaluating the assessor! Every NVQ candidate needs to have an assessor. Every assessor should have an Internal Quality Assuring.
You’ll need the Level 4 Certification in Leading in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice in the event that you intend to become the head of IQA within your organisation.
This course can prepare you to be able to manage the process to ensure that all standards are met during the training process and within the training organisation as a whole.
What are the functions of an IQA?
If you’re contemplating getting certified as an Internal Quality Assurer, then you can expect the following responsibilities to be part of your job as an IQA:
Establish, operate, and evaluate internal assessment and quality control systems
Assist and develop tutors, and/or assessors
Monitor and improve the quality of assessment practice
Apply policies, procedures and legislation to meet external/regulatory requirements
What is the IQA course include?
Obviously, it depends on which certification you’re taking in regards to the course your course would involve. Below are the titles of the three units and brief descriptions of what they cover.
So , whether you’re doing unit one or the entire three-unit qualification, this quick overview of the unit will give you an idea on exactly what you’ll cover in your class.
Unit 1 – Understanding The Principle and Procedures for Internally Assuring quality of assessment
This is the knowledge-based module. The students will acquire the knowledge and understanding required in order to assure the quality of assessment.
The course’s theory covers the following areas in Internal Quality Assurance:
The Principles
The Techniques and
The Plan
The method of delivery for this course can be online or classroom based sessions.
Unit 2 – Internally Assure the quality of assessment
This is a unit that requires you to put the concepts into practice. In this course you will be expected to supervise two assessors each of whom must have at least the two students they have.
It is a competency-based unit, which means that you’ll need to be observed working with the two assessors.
Unit 3 – Plan, Allocate and Observe work in the area of Responsibility
This is yet another competency-based unit. As part of unit 3, you would learn to plan, allocate and monitor work in your area of responsibility. Not only this, but you would learn how to make any necessary adjustments to original work plans.
The evidence from this unit would come from you working with real learners/staff/customers.
I hope this article has assisted you gain an knowledge of what an internal Quality Assurer is, and more importantly in determining if it’s something you think would be ideal for you.
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