In 2014, the National Qualifications Authority (NQA) and the Vocational Education and Training Awards Council (VETAC) of the UAE have authorized Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ACTVET) as the first Awarding Body in the United Arab Emirates.
ACTVET Awarding Body oversees the quality assurance of qualification development and delivery processes for Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates. The Awarding Body for Dubai is the Knowledge and Human Development Authority.
ACTVET Qualification Department comprises two sections:
•Qualification Development.
•Qualification Management.
Qualifications Development:
The purpose of the Qualification Department Section is to oversee quality assurance of the development of national qualifications.
National Qualifications are developed from National Occupational Skills Standards and are mechanisms to support industry and commerce with skills development. Qualification development is the intention of the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through the National Qualifications Authority and the Awarding Bodies as a mechanism for standards development and competency based qualifications. The writing and validation of qualifications through Recognised National Development Committees (RNDC) made up from business, industry and educational specialists ensuring they are written to meet NQA requirements.
In order to provide business and commerce with custom-made culturally appropriate competency-based national qualifications, their development will be determined and driven by industry. Business and commerce are at centre of qualification development so that the practices, processes and products used by industry in the UAE are internationally benchmarked and embedded within the National Qualifications.
A report prepared by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) (2008) revealed that countries that have properly aligned the development of competencies with key occupational sectors have achieved higher levels of productivity and higher levels of employment growth.
Qualifications Management:
The Awarding Body approves Registered Training Providers (RTPs( to deliver credit-bearing Technical and Vocational Education and Training Qualifications endorsed by the National Qualifications authority (NQA).
The Qualification Management Section oversees the quality of the delivery, assessment and internal verification of National Qualifications and ensures standards are met.
NQA Qualifications:
•NQA Endorsed national Qualificataions.
