We recently attended the annual CABWI Forum in Coventry. The meeting focused on the changes that will be happening in the sector and to CABWI itself, some of these changes will affect the assessment of qualifications directly and provide an improved and more accurate representation of the candidates competency.
End Point Assessment
A popular topic was the new End Point Assessments (EPA) for the Water Process Technician qualification. CABWI are now an approved End Point Assessment Organisation and will develop their offering for EPA of the Water Process Technician Level 3 standard. The purpose of the assessment is to make sure the apprentice meets the standard set by employers and are fully competent in the occupation. It will be taken at the end of the programme and will be carried out by an independent End Point Assessment provider, only once this assessment is completed and passed the certificate can be awarded.
Street Works Assessment
The forum discussed the proposed changed to New Road and Street Works assessment. The current proposal is to lengthen the assessment papers used on the reassessment to 20 questions and introduce the multiple choice papers to the full initial street works course. The use of technology may also be introduced to the assessment process.
Regulated Qualifications
All qualifications have now moved from the Qualification Credit Framework (QCF) to the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). There are plans to update the Water Engineering qualifications as well as Monitoring the Water Environment.