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CIPS - MCG Centre Number - 005031578 |
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For Non-UK Students International Advanced Certificate For Non-UK Students For UK Students only
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New Qualifications from September 2006 The new CIPS ‘ladder’ of qualifications provides an exciting insight in to the future of education in the purchasing and supply profession. However, changes such as these can be confusing and therefore CIPS are providing as much information as possible to help all those affected. Below CIPS provided answers to some of the most asked questions covering the new qualifications. The International Certificate and Advanced Certificate in Purchasing and Supply will be an appropriate starting point for non-UK based students, while the Level 3 Certificate in Purchasing and Supply will appeal to those who are new to the profession in the UK. The CIPS Level 4 Foundation Diploma, Level 5 Advanced Diploma and Level 6 Graduate Diploma provide a progressive suite, up to degree level, and advanced understanding of purchasing and supply management as well as those essential issues which affect the business. All CIPS qualifications are Qualifications Curriculum Authority QCA approved, click here [New window, External Link] for more information Q. Why are CIPS making changes? A. CIPS currently has a record membership of nearly 40,000 individuals around the world – CIPS also seeing record numbers of people entering for CIPS exams year on year. However, nothing stands still for long and CIPS has to recognise that and adapt accordingly. During the past five years there have been some incremental changes within the CIPS qualifications to reflect some aspects of external changes in practice. However the changes CIPS announcing now are a more fundamental recognition that the business world is fast evolving and the nature of the purchasing and supply profession must evolve with it. It’s also important to understand that the changes CIPS announcing do not stand alone, they are part of a constant review of the content and structure of CIPS education provision. Q. What changes are CIPS actually making? A. CIPS is announcing a new ‘ladder’ of qualifications, designed to be more relevant, wide ranging, innovative and indeed flexible, to meet the needs of a variety of learners. CIPSwill now have six qualification levels, stretching from those just entering the profession through to those operating at a strategic level. The ladder will offer something for everyone, whether in a junior role, a part-time role or whether an individual is striving to reach the very top of their profession. CIPS qualifications are currently regulated by the Qualifications Curriculum Authority (QCA) and sit on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). The new ladder will stretch from NQF level 2 to NQF level 7. Levels 2 and 7 are the completely new levels in the CIPS qualifications and will be phased in. CIPS has designed each level to equate to specific job roles and to match the skills and core competencies at that level of responsibility in the work place. CIPS also ensured that generic business essentials will run through each qualification level. These will include business essentials such as personal effectiveness, analytical skills and governance and compliance. Q. How will I know what the changes are? A. CIPS is undertaking a major communications programme to ensure all those affected in any way by the introduction of the new qualifications will be aware of what the changes are and how they affect them. Over the coming year CIPS will be communicating the detail of the changes in a number of ways including special editions of CIPS education newsletter Qualifications Update which will start from this Autumn. In February 06, each student will also receive a personalised statement of their transitional arrangements detailing how they will be transferred from the existing qualification to the new. This section of the website will be updated as and when appropriate, any further questions can be answered by contacting CIPS directly – either via email futurequals@cips.org or by telephone 01780 761494. Q. What changes are CIPS making to the Graduate Diploma? A. To obtain what is now the CIPS Graduate Diploma, students will have to study (or be exempt from) levels 4 and 5 and then complete level
6 (the new Graduate Diploma Award). Together with three year’s
relevant work experience, this will lead to full membership and
the designatory letters MCIPS. •
Level 4 – Five compulsory units The detailed unit content for levels 4,5 and 6 is available as a download to the right of this page Q. What changes are CIPS making to the Certificate and Advanced Certificate? A. For international students, the Certificate and Advanced Certificate will continue to be offered and will be known as the International Certificate and the International Advanced Certificate in Purchasing and Supply. In the UK CIPS will be offering CIPS new Level 3 award, which is the Certificate in Purchasing and Supply. The detailed unit content for level 3 is available as a download to the right of this page Q. How will these changes impact existing students – studying now? A. This doesn’t have any immediate impact on students currently studying and there is no need for students to do anything different at the moment. Over the coming year CIPS will be communicating the detail of the changes with further information available on the website and special editions of CIPS education newsletter Qualifications Update will also be issued starting from this Autumn. Each student will also receive a personalised statement of their transitional arrangements detailing how they will be transferred from the existing qualification to the new in February 2006. No student will be asked to undertake more modules than they originally signed up for. CIPS will be providing help and guidance during this time so there is no need for students to stop what they are already doing as everything already achieved or in progress is still 100% valid. Q. I’m an international student, what does this mean for me? A.If you are an international student, you can continue to study for the CIPS Certificate and Advanced Certificate for the time being until the new qualifications ladder is firmly established in the UK. These qualifications will be known as the International Certificate and International Advanced Certificate in Purchasing and Supply. On completion of the International Advanced Certificate you can then progress onto Level 5 of the new qualifications ladder if you wish. The new level 3 Certificate in Purchasing and Supply will be available in the UK only. Q. Can you explain what National Occupational Standards are? A. During the past year CIPS has been involved in a programme of developing best practise within ‘supply chain management’ of which purchasing and supply is an inherent part. These standards are innovative, creative and reflect ‘good practice’ within purchasing and supply. The standards were developed with input from a variety of key stakeholders, including a variety of senior practitioners, employers, educationalists, and other professional bodies. These standards are government funded and part of an initiative by the DFES to improve professional standards of practice within the work place. CIPS are keen to align with these standards and to promote ‘good practice’ alongside the standards in the future. A copy of these standards can be downloaded from the right-hand side of this page. Q. What’s the timing of any changes? A. The new qualifications will be ready for study in September 2006. The timetable below details the plan for the coming year: Autumn 2005 - New Qualifications announced along with transitional arrangement plan February 2006 - Each student member will be informed of how their current/ pending qualifications translate into the new qualifications framework June 2006 - New study materials will be published September 2006 - Study centres start to deliver new qualifications November 2006 - Last opportunity to sit exams for the existing qualifications May 2007 - Last opportunity to resit exams for existing qualifications at foundation and professional stage for those candidates unsuccessful in November ’06 May 2007 - First opportunity to sit examinations for new qualifications For more FAQs, please follow the link ---here--- or in the left-hand menu. CIPS FutureQuals Transition Explained.
CIPS - MCG Centre Number - 005031578 |
