Alistair ShawHead of InternationalScottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)

Employability and Employer Engagement

• Trusted and Valued Qualifications• Qualification Framework• Employer Engagement at qualification design

stage• Employer Representatives on Strategic

Committees – Qualifications and Framework• Trusted Certification Process• Need for Framework

Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework

SCQF Partnership

In 2006 the SCQF Partnership was established as a company to manage the Framework.

•Ministers of the Scottish Government;•the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)•the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education;•Scotland's Colleges;•Universities Scotland;•Currently there is one co-opted Director representing the interests of employers.

Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework

The Aims of the SCQF Partnership

•maintain the quality and integrity of the Framework

•promote and develop the Framework as a way of supporting lifelong learning

•develop and maintain relationships with frameworks in the rest of the UK, Europe and the rest of the world.

Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework

• The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) promotes and classifies all lifelong learning in Scotland.

• Through the Framework you can find out about all mainstream qualifications in Scotland and plan future learning for all.

• The Framework supports everyone in Scotland, including learning providers, learners and employers, by:

Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework

• helping learners to get access to appropriate education and training so they can meet their full potential

• helping employers, learners and the general public to understand the full range and level of Scottish qualifications

• how qualifications relate to each other and to other forms of learning, and how different types of qualification can contribute to improving the skills of the workforce

Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework

What are the benefits?

•The Framework helps learners and employers better understand the courses and programmes that lead to qualifications

•It helps plan learning and develop 'progression routes' to follow

•It enables you to make the most of the opportunities to transfer credit points between qualifications thus avoiding repetition of learning

•The Framework also provides an extremely important way of recognising different types of learning in a wide range of settings - for example, learning in the workplace or in the community

 

Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework

How does it work….

•By using 2 measures, the level of a qualification or learning programme and the number of Credit Points awarded•The Framework helps you understand and compare all qualifications across the country•The level of a qualification indicates the level of difficulty and the number of credit points indicates the length of time it takes to complete. One SCQF credit point represents an average of 10 hours of learning time

SCQF Levels

•They provide a basis for broad comparisons between learning programmes and qualifications achieved in different contexts, such as the workplace and formal classroom study

•Over a lifetime, individuals can move between and across SCQF Levels as they undertake new learning and acquire new skills

•It should not be assumed that all learners undertaking new studies would start at SCQF Level 1

Scottish Credit and QualificationsFramework

SCQF Forum

•To help support the Framework, we have set up the SCQF Forum. The Forum is made up of representatives from the fields of education, employers and communities in Scotland

•The Forum provides stakeholder feedback and input to help us ensure that the Framework continues to meet the needs of all learners, employers and other users of Scottish qualifications, within Scotland and in Europe and the rest of the world

Scottish Credit and Qualifications FrameworkSCQF Quality Committee

•Maintaining the quality and integrity of the Framework is vital for it to be successful

•The SCQF Partnership Board established the SCQF Quality Committee to support the quality of the Framework and to provide clear, accurate technical information to all stakeholders

•The Committee is composed of experts in quality assurance from a number of educational environments. The Quality Committee advises the SCQF Partnership Board on matters relating to the quality and integrity of the Framework

Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework

Communications

•The Framework provides the language used to describe all learning in Scotland•Effective communication is at the heart of the Framework •Employers need to understand and trust•Learners need to understand and trust

National Occupational Standards and SCQFNOSS, as nationally recognised standards, can be used in a number of ways. •inform the content of vocational and professional qualifications•inform the content of training programmes•form the basis of company/organisation competency frameworks •form the basis of a range of vocational qualifications •inform licences to practice with industries•raise skills levels and improve business productivity•form the basis of all types of human resource management and development including: ·

– workforce planning– performance appraisal and development systems– job descriptions– mapping job vacancies and skills shortages/gaps– workplace coaching– reflective practice and continuing professional development 

Employer Engagement

• Use knowledge and skills of employers to ensure qualifications are fit for purpose

• Use employers to agree content and levels of skills

• Make use of student placement during learning process

• Ensure framework is robust • Engage with employers on your taskforce

SQA

SQA – Legislative Context

• SQA established by Education (Scotland) Act 1996

• Act sets out two main functions

– Awarding & Accreditation (regulation)

• Accountable to Ministers & Scottish Government with respect

to both of its functions

Accountability

SQA – Awarding Body

• Directly responsible to Ministers • No requirement for an additional layer of regulation with respect to

National Qualifications• Regulation - Measures taken in the public interest to assure standard &

quality of qualifications & assessments– Openness, transparency and accountability– Strong governance – Collegiate approach– Engagement & involvement– External accountability– Advice & guidance on strategic & operational issues

Remit - AwardingRemit - Awarding

Remit - AccreditationRemit - Accreditation

Contact Information

• Scottish Credit Qualification Framework www.scqf.org.uk

• Scottish Qualification Authority www.sqa.org.uk

• Alistair Shaw alistair.shaw@sqa.org.uk