1. Annual Professional Development Conference – August 2017
SQA Update
Sharon McDowall

2. SQA Update - 2017 Updates to qualifications - quarterly news letter:
Personal and Business Lending (HF2H 35)
Financial Services – 6 new CASPs published
Marketing Research Theory (FK8M 34) and new ASP
Interim communications:
SQA references to Financial
Services Authority
Financial Reporting and Analysis
(HC43 35) – minor changes to ASP
Quarterly news letter – March, June, September and December. Updates include: framework changes, units, changes, revisited/new CASPs
Personal and Business Lending H0C0 35 (now finished 31/7/16) replaced by HF2H 35 – part of the Financial Services framework
Financial Services – 6 new CASPs Financial Sector: An Introduction
Financing International Trade
Financial Services Regulatory Framework
Investment
Pension Provision
Principles of Insurance
Remind centres of the importance of security of assessments
Marketing Research Theory FK8M 34 (finishes 31/7/20) being replaced by HH9T 34, so you can choose to offer either unit as part of the Business with Marketing framework. New unit has a greater focus on online and digital marketing research tools
s – where changes are notified that do not ‘fit’ within the quarterly newsletter timings:
Financial Services CTG – updated to reflect organisational name change from Financial Services Authority (FSA) to Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Any reference to this in units will be updated through our normal maintenance programme (e.g. Financial Services Regulatory Framework)
Minor changes to ASP for Financial Reporting and Analysis – terminology and figures – to improve the assessment and provide greater clarity

3. SQA Update
Reminder: it is the centre’s responsibility to ensure that all unit specifications and ASPs being used are the current version
In addition, you must also ensure that all content is up to date, such as:
tax requirements and rates
legalisation
products and services
Reminder: it is the centre’s responsibility to ensure that all unit specifications and ASPs being used are the current version. This must be done as part of you Course Management programme within your centre
Appropriate subject specialists must also update all teaching and assessment to reflect up to date content e.g.
Income Tax – this unit is part of the Financial Services framework. In 2016 the Scottish Government was given the power to set the rates and bands of income tax but not the rates for personal tax allowance. Scottish income tax remains part of the UK income tax system and HMRC continues to be responsible for collecting this. When delivering or assessing units with tax content you can choose to use either Scottish or UK taxation legislation. Current income tax legislation is available from the HMRC website.

4. SQA Update - 2017 Administration and Information Technology framework
New framework G2MW 16 effective from 1 August 2017
Existing framework GE7W 16 will finish 31 July 2019
Content revised to more accurately reflect industry and technological developments
Updated units that sit within other frameworks:
Presentation Skills (HH85 35)
IT in Business: Spreadsheets (HH83 34)
ICT in Business (HH87 35)
Digital Technologies for Administrators (HH82 34)
Give reasons why Admin review took place and conclusions reached
Two frameworks will run concurrently for 2 years
Therefore units will run concurrently – including those that sit within other frameworks.

5. SQA Update 2017 – Good News!
Professional recognition from CIMA for some units:
Economic Issues: An Introduction (F7J8 34)
Business Accounting (F43M 34)
Management Accounting for Decision Making (F82J 35)
IT in Business: Spreadsheets (F84V 34/HH83 34)
Financial Reporting and Analysis (F7R4 35/HC43 35)
Business Law: An Introduction (F84P 34)
Business Contractual Relationships (F84N 34)
Exemptions allowed from CIMA examinations

6. SQA Update – Understanding Standards: coming to China
Watch out for a new section in the secure area of the SQA website – Understanding Standards. Content will include the units:
Management Accounting for Decision Making
Recording Financial Information
Managing People and Organisations
Financial Sector: An Introduction
Personal and Business Lending
Investment

7. Any questions? Post conference – utilising the learning Body text:
Arial 24