Vocational Structure
Overview
Structure
The apprenticeship combines academic learning and vocational training to develop practitioner level systems
engineers. The academic and vocational elements complement each other and provide a base from which
each apprentice can develop, refine and apply their knowledge, skills and behaviours.
At the beginning of the apprenticeship, the apprentice, in conjunction with their Employer Mentor, will
develop a personalised practitioner level competency profile, mapped against the Standard and the
underpinning Systems Engineering Competency framework.
This profile will be used to define what the apprentice must achieve to complete the apprenticeship and
meet the standard. Each apprentice will be able to tailor their profile to reflect their own areas
of interest and the type of work their employer conducts.
Each apprentice will undertake a tailored programme of level 7 academic tuition and vocational training
in their workplace. This programme will reflect the aspirations of the apprentice and the needs of
the employer, around the relative emphasis given to different systems engineering competencies and
any specialist learning required, for example in particular domains.
Competence and Evidence Building
Vocational based activities will provide the mechanism for an apprentice to build on the underpinning
knowledge and skills and develop and refine them through applying them on real work problems and
projects. It is this experience and application that will develop the practitioner level skills required.
It is expected that reflective and progressive learning is captured and recorded throughout the apprenticeship
in a logbook style document or portfolio. Within this record, each apprentice will collate evidence
of activities undertaken, what they have learnt and what skills and a reflection of the knowledge
and competencies they have gained.
This cumulative evidence will form one aspect of assessment at the end of the apprenticeship.
Synoptic End Point Assessment
The Synoptic End Point Assessment will be a convergent assessment of the whole apprenticeship. It is
designed to assess the apprentice against their competency profile and thus the standard. The apprentice
will undertake the assessment as and when they are ready.
The Synoptic End Point Assessment will comprise:
- A review of the apprentices evidence portfolio
- A VIVA Presentation
- An Interview
More details of this assessment process can be found in the assessment plan document.
This assessment forms the final phase of the apprenticeship and successful completion results in
the award of apprenticeship and the practitioner level.