ASDAN award in volunteering

ASDAN Employability Award or AEA

What are the ASDAN Employability Qualifications (AEA)?
These qualifications provide a framework for developing and recognising general employability skills. Currently ASDAN Employability Awards have been accredited by QCA, DELLS and CCEA. (They are part of the Qualifications and Credit Framework pilot in 2007-2008.)
ASDAN Level 1 Award in Employability (QCF) 500/1727/5
ASDAN Entry 3 Award in Employability (QCF) 500/1728/7
The Level 1 will contribute 12.5 points towards School/College Performance Tables, 10% of the Level 1 threshold. Entry Award is worth 3.5 points.

Who is the ASDAN Employability Award for?
It is primarily intended for young people and adults who are not yet ready for employment but for whom a job is a realistic aim within a reasonable timescale.

Structure of the Award
* There are 9 units at each level, 4 units are mandatory, 5 units are optional
The units are credit rated (a credit is broadly equivalent to 10 learning hours)
To achieve the full award, candidates must gain at least 8 credits including all of the mandatory units
Unit awards are available

AEQ Entry 3 and Level 1

Mandatory units	Credit rating
1 Planning and reviewing learning	2
2 Maintaining work standards	2
3 Communicating with others at work	1
4 Introduction to working with others	2
Optional units
5 Applying for a job	1
6 Tackling problems	1 (Entry 3) 2 (Level 1)
7 Tackling number problems	2
8 Exploring job opportunities	1
9 Rights and responsibilities at work	1

How is the AEA delivered?
The AEA will normally be delivered through a combination of training centre/classroom based activities and work placement learning. The qualification is being used to accredit employability skills within the Employability Skills Programme trials taking place in England across the nine Government Office regions. Within this programme training providers are using employability related contexts as a focus for developing literacy and numeracy skills.

How is the AEA assessed and moderated?
Learners produce a portfolio of evidence. The evidence is internally assessed and moderated, and then externally moderated by ASDAN. It is expected that most external moderation will take place by post. If requested, ASDAN can provide a pre-moderation check before first submissions.

What is the value of the AEA?
The AEA is an approved qualification at Entry 3 and Level 1. Learners who achieve the AEA should be in a better position to ‘sell themselves’ to potential employers by demonstrating and owning a range of skills and qualities that employers look for.

What are the progression opportunities?
The AEA provides a baseline of employability skills from which learners can progress to further education, NVQ training at levels 1 and 2, work and employment.
Can Employability Award credits count towards the ASDAN CoPE, and Bronze and Silver Awards?
Any learner completing the Employability Award is able to count 6 of their credits towards the ASDAN Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE) and the ASDAN Silver Award. Up to 3 credits can count towards the ASDAN Bronze Award.