Meaningful Employer Engagement for the new BTEC National in Engineering
Find out more about the requirements for Meaningful Employer Engagement in the Technical Level BTEC National Engineering qualifications (RQF).
There are twelve Technical Level qualifications in the new BTEC National Engineering Suite.
- BTEC National Diploma in Engineering (720 GLH) - 601/7580/1
- BTEC National Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (720 GLH) - 601/7579/5
- BTEC National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (720 GLH) - 601/7583/7
- BTEC National Diploma in Computer Engineering (720 GLH) - 601/7578/3
- BTEC National Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering (720 GLH) - 601/7582/5
- BTEC National Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering (720 GLH) - 601/7577/1
- BTEC National Extended Diploma in Engineering (1080 GLH) - 601/7588/6
- BTEC National Extended Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering - (1080 GLH) 601/7587/4
- BTEC National Extended Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (1080 GLH) - 601/7590/4
- BTEC National Extended Diploma in Computer Engineering (1080 GLH) - 601/7586/2
- BTEC National Extended Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering (1080 GLH) - 601/7589/8
- BTEC National Extended Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering (1080 GLH) - 601/7585/0
For the twelve Technical Level qualifications, centres are required to ensure that during their programme of study every learner has access to meaningful activity involving employers.
Involvement should be with employers from the engineering sector and should form a significant part of the delivery or assessment of the qualification.
It will be monitored at programme level as part of the standards verification process to confirm that plans for employer involvement meet the requirements of the specification. These approaches are designed to ensure additional activities can be scheduled where necessary so learners are not disadvantaged.
We know that the vast majority of programmes already have established links with employers. In order to give you maximum flexibility in creating and strengthening employer involvement, we have not specified a particular level of input from employers.
Meaningful Employer Involvement
Activities that are eligible to be counted as meaningful engagement are:
- structured work experience or work placements that develop skills and knowledge relevant to the qualification
- projects or assessments set with input from industry practitioners
- master classes or guest lectures from industry practitioners
- ‘expert witness’ reports from practitioners that contribute to the assessment of a learner’s work.
| Size | GLH | units for employer engagement |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma | 720 | at least 2 units (1 must be mandatory) |
| Extended Diploma | 1080 | at least 3 units (1 must be mandatory) |
At the end of each unit in the specification document, you will find suggestions for the types of employer involvement. Please see examples below.
Unit 5, “A Specialist Engineering Project”
This unit would benefit from employer involvement in the form of:
- guest speakers
- technical workshops involving staff from local engineering organisations with expertise in a range of specialist areas
- contribution of ideas to unit assignment, for individual learner projects and project materials.
Unit 9, “Work Experience in the Engineering Sector”
- this unit would benefit from employer involvement in the form of opportunities for observation during the work experience and assessment of any project work.
- learners must have access to a ten working-day equivalent work experience placement in an engineering setting.
In addition, the delivery guide provides some examples of meaningful employer involvement.
Requirements for Standards Verification
As part of the standards verification process for the new Technical Level BTEC Nationals in Engineering (2016) you must submit, along with your assessment plan, an ‘Employer Involvement Plan’, to your allocated Standards Verifier.
There is an Employer Involvement Plan template on our website for you to use.
Get employer involvement plan template
Employer involvement is subject to verification as part of the standards verification process.
