The Future of Qualifications
– are you up to date?
Article by Eric Linin, Associate Consultant,
Epic
Despite the
fact that the existing National Qualifications Framework contains
more than 4000 qualifications it is widely criticised for not meeting
the needs of employers and learners. So much so that industry in the
UK spends around £23 billion p.a. on training provision or in
developing in-house awards that are outside the framework.
Employers are calling out for flexibility in qualifications and
learners want something that makes it easier for them to follow
the path through to a qualification. The existing framework does
not enable this.
That is why the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) have
worked with the Learning and Skills Council and the Sector Skills
Development Agency to develop the new credit and qualifications
framework – a new approach to the qualifications process designed
to make it easier for everyone to understand the value of their
achievements.
In particular the new framework will offer:
- A clear structure for recognising learning and qualifications
- Smaller packages of learning units that can be accumulated and
transferred easily between awarding bodies
- A distinctive suite of qualifications which denote competence
in specific occupations
- Levels and ‘credits’ which define the volume and
standard of learning
- Standardisation of definitions of terms such as ‘award’,
‘certificate’ and ‘diploma’
And, most interestingly for the world of corporate learning…
- The potential for employers to gain recognition for ‘in
house’ training programmes
As QCA’s Chief Executive, Ken Boston said in launching the
framework in 2005 ‘people feel that training at work would
be much more valuable if it were recognised outside their organisation’.
That is music to the ears of those of us that have been commissioning
and designing high quality learning within corporates for many years.
With the new credit and qualifications framework we will be able
to give the message to our learners that the learning that they
are receiving is being externally validated and is contributing
to their own ‘career long learning’ aspirations.
Don’t expect it to happen overnight though – the QCA
don’t plan to have the framework fully operational by the
end of 2010, but building of the framework begins this year and
the new standards, qualifications and systems will be introduced
into each sector in line with timetables agreed with that sector
– probably via the Sector Skills Councils.
So now is the time to begin to take notice of the new credit and
qualifications framework, as the build continues so keep an eye
on developments, through your Sector Skills Council, via the QCA’s
own website www.qca.org.uk,
or sign up for the free credit and qualifications framework email
updates by contacting qsdcommunications@qca.org.uk
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