Institution news
The approval, which followed a rigorous application process, will help IMechE support apprentice engineers by assessing their apprenticeships to ensure the skills, knowledge, and behaviours they have gained meet industry standards.
Recognition by Ofqual is a mark of quality and the decision means IMechE is able to operate as an approved End Point Assessment Organisation.
IMechE Chief Executive Dr Alice Bunn OBE said:
“Apprenticeships are an important vocational route into engineering. Our mission is to improve the world through engineering, and we recognise that the challenges facing society today will need engineers with skills at all levels so it is very important that at IMechE we are inclusive in our approach to supporting all engineers. IMechE has been involved with End Point Assessment and its development since 2013, and to see the Institution achieve Ofqual recognition is a fantastic achievement.”
End Point Assessment (EPA) is an independent evaluation of the knowledge, skills and behaviours which have been learnt throughout the apprenticeship and includes a test of the apprentice’s ability to apply them in the workplace.
IMechE has provided EPA since 2018 but 18 months ago responsibility for regulating the assessment moved to Ofqual, the qualifications regulator in England.
End Point Assessment providers are now required to be recognised by Ofqual and the approval received by IMechE is part of a phased programme of approval applications which began in 2020.
The Institution will now be able to offer EPA for the following standards:
Engineering Technician Standard (ST0457) and Railway Engineering Design Technician Standard (ST0315) with other standards due to transfer later in the year.
For further information on how IMechE can support your organisation with End Point Assessment please email our Head of End Point Assessment claire.maycock@imeche.org
https://www.imeche.org/end-point-assessment