the role of the scottish credit and qualifications framework in
TRANSCRIPT
QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORKS AS INSTRUMENTS OF PUBLIC POLICY
FOR LIFELONG LEARNING
Warsaw, November 8-9, 2012
Panel 1: Qualifications Frameworks as tools for
personal and labour market development
The role of the Scottish Credit
and Qualifications Framework
in the labour market
Assists people of all ages and circumstances to access
appropriate education and training over their lifetime to
fulfil their personal, social and economic potential
Enables employers, learners and the public in general
to understand the full range of Scottish qualifications,
how they relate to each other and how different types
of qualifications can contribute to improving the skills of
the workforce
SCQF aims
How does learning get onto the SCQF?
A process of credit rating A consistent process
One set of guidance used
by all credit rating bodies
Four criteria:
Based on Learning Outcomes
Quality Assured
Formally assessed
10 notional hours of learning
Credit Rating Bodies:
Universities
SQA
Colleges
City & Guilds
Chartered Institute of
Bankers Scotland
Institute of Leadership and
Management
Scottish Police College
Course title
and codes
Course grade
achieved
Date of
certification
SCQF Level
SCQF Credit Points
Points are only given to the
Units and the External
Assessments that make up
a Course or Group Award
SCQF Level
Cumulative SCQF
Credit Points
Case study 1
Staff can utilise the Recognition of prior learning
(RPL) toolkit to help them to recognise and
articulate their skills and experience when
preparing to work.
The agency are incorporating SCQF rating and
leveling guidelines as being integral to their own
tools and resources and future employability
developments- this helps employers and
individuals entering the labour market to
understand the level of skills they have
The agency is working to raise awareness of the
SCQF through their on-line advice and guidance
system which helps individuals identify progression
opportunities and to benchmark their skills against
entry requirements for future learning and for job
opportunities
How the SCQF
supports the national
skills agency to
deliver services to
individuals entering
the labour market
How the national skills agency are incorporating the
SCQF into their services for employers
National Skills Agency teams promote, review and evaluate use of
SCQF by employers/industry sectors
They link employers to the SCQF employer toolkit and other resources
through their own web service
Working with the Further Education sector to develop a sectoral career
route map tool for employers and individuals which links Scottish
qualifications to SCQF and sectoral jobs
Using SCQF as part of role definition;
Using SCQF to develop employee competency frameworks;
Using SCQF to support performance/career management processes
Case Study 2: Scottish Police College SCQF
LEVEL
ACPOS
BUSINESS AREA
QUALIFICATION
TITLE
NATURE OF AWARD /
AWARDING BODY
DELIVERY
STYLE
12
11 Personnel & Training PG Certificate in International Policing
(Peace Support Operations)
PG Cert from
University of Stirling On-line
10 Crime Initial Detective
Training Course Credit rated with SQA
Blended, ODL &
Taught
9 Personnel & Training
(Probationer sub)
Investigative Interview
Techniques Training Credit rated with SQA Taught
8 Personnel & Training
(Probationer sub)
Open and Distance Learning
Authors Course Credit rated with SQA Taught
8 Road Policing Tachograph & Records
Analysis Credit rated with SQA Taught
8 Personnel & Training
(Leadership & Management Sub)
Diploma in Police Service
Leadership & Management PDA, SQA Distance & On-line
8 Crime Diploma in Community
Safety & Crime Reduction PDA, SQA Taught
8 Crime Diploma in Crime &
Intelligence Analysis PDA, SQA Taught
8 Road Policing Diploma in Road
Policing Operations PDA,SQA Taught
8 Personnel & Training
(Probationer sub)
DipHE in Training &
Development
Diploma in Higher Education
from Napier University Distance
7 Personnel & Training
(Probationer sub) Transferee Course Credit rated with SQA Taught
7 Personnel & Training
(Probationer sub)
CertHE in
Training Development
Certificate in higher Education
from Napier University Taught
7 Personnel & Training
(Probationer sub)
CertHE
in Policing
Certificate in Higher Education
from University of Stirling Taught
6 General Purposes Advanced Certificate in
Police Call Handling
Professional Development
Award (PDA) from SQA
Taught/Workplace
assessed
5 Information Management PC Passport (MS based training packages
at Intermediate and Beginner level)
Scottish Progression
Award by SQA
Taught/Workplace
assessed
Industry specific training and National
Qualifications Frameworks
“Flexibility is vital for food and drink
companies when it comes to training. Every
company, every job role is different and
employers need to know the training they
invest in delivers the skills they need.
The credit rating adds value to the training
by offering an easy transfer of credit gained
towards higher level learning.”
Kelvin Thomson
National Manager, Improve, Scotland
“The SFMTA has the responsibility for preserving the
craft skills of our industry and giving butchery
businesses a competitive advantage because of those
skills. It is satisfying to see the Craftsman Certificate
gaining credence in the wider educational world.”
Douglas Scott
Scottish Federation of Meat Traders Association
Qualifications Frameworks helping to develop the
labour market
Helps to widen the scope for recruitment
Can be used in job descriptions to aid effective recruitment
and identify employees’ skills
Can be used to develop competency frameworks and
skills and learning strategies
Helps to identify workforce development opportunities
Helps to map learning pathways to jobs and avoid
costly training/recruitment mistakes
Can gain recognition for in-house training
The SCQF employer offer: Tools for labour market development
Qualifications Frameworks as tools for
personal development
In summary
Qualifications Frameworks: The benefits
Making it
easier for
employees
and
employers to
identify the
most
beneficial
progression
routes
between
qualifications
or learning
programmes
Can raise the
profile of the
organisation
and help to
safeguard
traditional
skills and
make it easier
to recognise
the skills of
experienced
workers
Offering
employees
the chance to
gain a credit
rated award
through
training at
work can
boost morale,
inspire loyalty
and increase
productivity
NQF’s make
it easier to
make
comparisons
and transfer
skills. They
can
contribute to
workforce
mobility and
allow for
qualifications
to cross
boundaries
The conference is being organised together by the Educational
Research Institute and the Foundation for the Development of the
Education System. The Educational Research Institute is implementing
a systemic project entitled „The development of terms of reference for
the implementation of the National Qualifications Framework and the
National Qualifications Register for lifelong learning”. The team of
Bologna Experts working under the Foundation for the Development of
the Education System is a group supporting the implementation of
qualifications frameworks for Polish higher education as part of the
“Lifelong Learning Project”.