One Awards was licensed as an Access Validating Agency (AVA) working mainly with colleges in the North East of England until 30 August 2022. One Awards was also previously known as Open College Network North East Region (OCNNER) and OCN (TROCN).
As regulator of the Access to HE Diploma QAA took the decision to withdraw the AVA licence for One Awards with effect from 5pm on Tuesday 30 August 2022 as One Awards was no longer able to meet QAA’s conditions of licensing as the company was starting the process of insolvency.
QAA worked closely with One Awards to oversee the assignment to QAA of all intellectual property rights for the Access to HE Diplomas awarded and/or certified by One Awards until 30 August 2022. QAA also received from One Awards information on students who had successfully completed their Access to HE qualification since 1996.
QAA worked with worked with all affected providers to support them to transition to another AVA or AVAs.
TRANSITIONS ARRANGEMENTS
Throughout the transition process, QAA will:
- provide one-to-one meetings with each provider to discuss how QAA can support them in selecting an AVA (or AVAs) and guiding them through the transition process
- liaise between providers and AVAs
- monitor the transition process and beyond to ensure the protection of student and provider interests.
Our primary concern is ensuring that students’ interests are protected, and that no student is disadvantaged by these events. We have well-established procedures in place to ensure that the delivery, assessment and award of the Diploma continues uninterrupted, and that each provider recognised by One Awards to deliver the Access to HE Diploma, is supported in transitioning to another AVA (or AVAs).
QAA officers will be in touch with lead contacts at each affected provider to discuss arrangements for the transition to another AVA or AVAs. For students who enrolled on an Access to HE Diploma prior to 30 August 2022, QAA will work with those providers to ensure outstanding assessments are quality assured and awarded by the alternative AVA (or AVAs) selected by each individual provider.
If affected providers have any specific concerns or questions, they can contact a member of the Access to HE team on AHE@qaa.ac.uk
Throughout the transition process, our primary concern is ensuring that students' interests are protected, and that no student is disadvantaged by these events. We have well-established procedures in place to ensure that the delivery, assessment and award of the Diploma continues uninterrupted, and that every student is able to continue on a QAA-recognised Access to HE Diploma with their chosen college or provider.
QAA have also introduced additional regulatory AVA guidance on transitional arrangements for One Awards Access to HE provision to receiving AVA(s) to:
- protect the interests of students and providers
- safeguard the security of arrangements for the recognition and effective quality assurance of Access to HE provision during the transition process
- support a smooth and effective transition of responsibility of provision to a licensed AVA (or AVAs) through a secure and managed process.
- maintain academic standards achieved by students awarded the Access to HE Diploma
- ensure the process and expectations are clear and transparent to all parties.
New students (due to enrol on an Access to HE Diploma after 1 September 2022):
Students due to enrol on an Access to HE Diploma in the forthcoming academic year (2022-23) will see no changes to the delivery of their programme due to the withdrawal of the AVA licence. The Diploma will continue to be delivered by the college or provider of their choice, with the quality assurance and awarding of the Diploma being carried out by an alternative AVA (or AVAs), selected by their college or provider.
Continuing students (students who enrolled on an Access to HE Diploma before 31 August 2022):
Students who enrolled prior to 31 August 2022 will see no changes to the delivery of their programme due to the withdrawal of the AVA licence. The Diploma will continue to be delivered by the college or provider of their choice, with the quality assurance and awarding of the Diploma being carried out by an alternative AVA (or AVAs), selected by their college or provider.
The award of the Diploma will be certificated by the alternative AVA selected by their provider.
Previous students (students who completed an Access to HE Diploma before 31 August 2022):
As the organisation responsible for the recognition and quality assurance of the Access to HE Diploma, QAA can assure all students holding an Access to HE qualification issued by One Awards that these awards will continue to be recognised as legitimate qualifications. Any previous students wishing to secure information about their award should contact QAA on ahe@qaa.ac.uk.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. WHAT IS AN AVA?
A. An AVA is an Access Validating Agency. They are licensed by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) to act as awarding bodies and award the Access to HE Diplomas to successful students.
AVAs develop, approve and award Access to HE courses.
Q. HOW DO I KNOW WHO AWARDED MY QUALIFICATION?
A. If you completed your Access to HE studies between 1 July 1996 and 30 August 2022 your qualification would have been awarded by One Awards or its predecessor organisations (Open College Network North East Region (OCNNER) and OCN (TROCN)).
Students who successfully complete their Access to Diploma studies between 31 August 2022 and 31 July 2023 will be awarded their Diploma by the AVA selected by their college or course provider following the withdrawal of the AVA licence from One Awards. Your course provider can let you know the name of the AVA that will award your Diploma.
Q. I HAVE LOST MY CERTIFICATE, WHERE DO I GET A COPY?
A. If you completed your Access to HE studies between 1 July 1996 and 30 August 2022 your qualification would have been awarded by One Awards or its predecessor organisations (Open College Network North East Region (OCNNER) and OCN (TROCN)) and information about Access to HE qualifications certificated by One Awards was transferred to QAA.
If your details are included in this information QAA can provide you with a letter of achievement to confirm the units you studied and any grades you achieved. This letter of achievement can be used to support your application to higher level studies or employment.
Please contact QAA directly either via our website, email (ahe@qaa.ac.uk) or by phone (01452 557060).
Q. WHO CAN I CONTACT IF QAA DOES DO NOT HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT MY QUALIFICATION?
A. If your query is about an Access to HE qualification awarded by One Awards (or its predecessor organisations) and the information is not held by QAA, there is no-one else you can contact.
It is possible colleges or training providers may have a record of your attendance, but they would not be able to provide confirmation of achievement of an Access to HE qualification.
Q. I DID MY QUALIFICATION BEFORE 2014 AND HAVE BEEN ASKED TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF GCSE EQUIVALENCE, WHERE CAN I GET THIS?
A. GCSE equivalence was not certificated by One Awards as part of the Access to HE qualifications they awarded. Therefore, it is not possible for evidence of GCSE equivalence to be provided.
Please contact QAA directly either via our website, email (ahe@qaa.ac.uk) or by phone (01452 557060) if you wish to request a copy of the units of study that were awarded as part of the Access to HE qualification.
Q. I HAVE ADVANCED LEARNER LOAN FUNDING FOR AN ACCESS TO HE DIPLOMA, APPROVED BY ONE AWARDS. WILL I STILL BE ABLE TO GET THE BALANCE OF MY LOAN WRITTEN OFF?
A. If you meet the eligibility criteria for the loan, then yes. All courses which are eligible for Advanced Learner Loan funding will remain eligible following the transition to an alternative AVA or AVAs.
If you have any specific questions about Advanced Learner Loans, please contact Student Finance England.
Q. I HAVEN’T YET APPLIED FOR ADVANCED LEARNER LOAN FUNDING FOR AN ACCESS TO HE DIPLOMA, APPROVED BY ONE AWARDS BUT PLAN TO DO SO. WILL I STILL BE ABLE TO GET THIS LOAN?
A. If you meet the eligibility criteria for the loan, then yes. Students due to enroll on an Access to HE Diploma awarded by One Awards which is eligible for the Advanced Learner Loan may continue to apply for this loan. If you have any specific questions about Advanced Learner Loans, please contact Student Finance England.