VQ Day: 22 June 2011
Vocational Qualifications (VQ) Day is a UK-wide celebration of vocational qualifications for students, teachers and employers. This year, VQ Day will be celebrated on Wednesday 22 June.
In Wales, there were two key events:
The VQ Learner of the Year 2011 Ceremony took place at the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff. The finalists and winners are in the photograph above. L to R:
- Benjamin Morgan (Deeside College) finalist
- Melissa Jenkins (Bridgend College) joint winner
- Deputy Minister for Skills Jeff Cuthbert
- Awards Ceremony host Lowri Morgan
- David Bowen (Coleg Sir Gâr) finalist
- Christopher Lewis (Bridgend College) finalist
- Eleri Evans (Neath Port Talbot College) finalist .
- NOT PICTURED: joint winner Luke Thomas (Connah’s Quay High School / Yale College).
Also at the National Museum of Wales as well as at Northop College in north Wales, there were demonstrations of vocational skills by a host of colleges and training providers, with a number of schools attending to have-a-go at new skills.
More information on the finalists is available from here and details of the two winners here.
Purpose of VQ Day
There are many paths to success, and vocational qualifications are one of them. Millions of people gain a vocational qualification every year as a stepping stone to further study, better jobs and enhanced skills. We think this is something worth celebrating.
VQ Day:
- gives national-level recognition to individuals who achieve great success through a vocational route. Academic achievements such as GCSE and A level results have always been celebrated, but it is equally important that the achievements of those who choose to study through a vocational route are recognised and celebrated on the national stage.
- provides opportunities to explain and demonstrate vocational skills and engage more people in understanding more about the range of learning pathways and vocational qualifications that are available.
Further information
- www.vqday.org.uk has more information on the VQ Day celebrations from all over the UK
- Edge, the independent educational foundation, coordinates VQ Day on the UK-level with the support of the vocational community
VQ Day 2010
The achievements of the VQ Award winners, runners-up and other noteworthy individuals are published in the VQ Day 2010 e-book "Talents at Work" (click on the e-book picture on the right).