Revised matrix Standard launched
The revised matrix Standard was launched on 12 October 2011. The launch event was opened by Ian Greenaway, Chair of EMQC Ltd, and Dave Allan, Managing Director of EMQC Ltd, culminating with an address by John Hayes MP, Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning. AGCAS was represented by Lucy Madahar, Assistant Director of Student Services at Birmingham City University and AGCAS Director of Quality and Membership.
Key elements
The revised Standard offers a simple process for addressing key elements, with a focus on client outcomes and business improvement. The revised Standard now offers four elements, rather than the original eight overlapping elements:
• Element 1: Leadership and Management - way in which the organisation is led and managed to develop an effective service
• Element 2: Resources - assets invested and applied in providing an effective service
• Element 3: Service Delivery - way in which the service is delivered effectively
• Element 4: Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) - way in which the service provided is reviewed and improved on an ongoing basis
The revised guide to the matrix Standard (available below) provides clearer guidance on the four elements, what each element means and what this means in practice with reference to the type of evidence required.
The four-element model has the flexibility to meet a wide range of service delivery, whether that's via face-to-face, online, at a distance, via curriculum or into the workplace. It's a Standard that recognises that not all CEIAG is the same and that one size does not fit all. The emphasis is now on you, the service provider, to make matrix work for you (and not vice versa).
The matrix Standard website has been updated and includes a wealth of information about:
• the revised Standard
• the assessment process
• the benefits of matrix
• costs - including a new costs calculator, which is about to be launched soon
For those careers services who are preparing for assessment under the old Standard (of eight elements), you can continue to be assessed against these until 30 November 2011. You will need to ensure your assessor knows that you are being assessed against the old Standard. After that date, all matrix Standard assessments will be conducted under the revised Standard.
Lucy Madahar, AGCAS Director of Quality and Membership, will be meeting with EMQC Ltd in December to discuss the ongoing support and resources that HE careers services require in order to sustain and develop the matrix Standard for the HE sector. This will include costs and payment methods, assessor training for assessing in the HE sector, and support materials for HE careers services.
AGCAS endorsement
The AGCAS Board continues to endorse the matrix Standard as the preferred quality assurance standard for the promotion and delivery of CEIAG in the HE sector. The matrix Standard remains the criteria for service membership to AGCAS, with services seeking accreditation every six years.
The matrix Standard is more relevant in today's HE careers service than ever before. At a time when we are being asked to deliver value for money services, which are fit for purpose and their impact measured and evaluated, the revised matrix Standard enables us to objectively assess client outcomes against strategic key performance indicators. The revised Standard now provides us with a powerful tool to demonstrate our response to the student experience, to graduate employability and to employment outcomes.
Further information about quality assurance in careers services
Further questions and queries about matrix should be sent to Lucy Madahar, AGCAS Director of Quality and Membership.