Transcript Centre Briefing (Pilot Event) St Ives, Cambridge 27

QCF implementation seminars
Bringing
clarity
to the
QCF
What is the
QCF?
What is the QCF?
Recognises
achievement,
through the award
of credit for units
and qualifications.
It provides more
flexible routes to
full qualifications,
achievable in
smaller steps.
New standardised
titles will make it
easier to
understand and
compare.
Greater
commonality
through shared
units and a
standard unit
template.
A new centralised
database, due in
late 2010, will help
to track credit and
provide learners
with an online
record of their
achievements.
The
implementation of
the QCF is already
well underway in
some sectors.
Qualification
purposes will
replace ‘types’ for
categorising
qualifications.
Still some
uncertainty on
funding and
development
timelines in some
sectors.
More flexibility under the QCF
Qualification
Provider
w credit
unit
x credit
unit
y credit
unit
z credit
unit
Awarding
organisation (AO)
w+x+y+z credits
Credit accumulation - Greater choice and flexibility can support the
provider in delivering more tailored courses to meet needs of wider
group of learners and employers.
Credit transfer and progression
Level 3 Qualification
Providers
Level 2
credit
Level 2
credit
Level 2
credit
Level 3
credit
Level 3
credit
Level 3
credit
Awarding
organisations
Level 3
credit
Credit transfer - Progression supported by credit being used across
levels, sizes (Award, Certificate and Diploma) and sometimes sector
areas. Reduces repetition of learning.
Credit and
qualifications
The building blocks
Standard unit template
• Title
• Learning outcomes
• Assessment criteria
• Level
• Credit value
• GLH (if applicable)
• The credit value is a measure of
average learning time
• one credit = 10 hours of
notional learning
• Many units will still include guided
learning hours (GLH)
• requirement to evidence GLH for
funding purposes only.
Units
and
credit
in the
QCF
• Some units will appear in
more than one qualification
• Credit can be transferred
between qualifications
• Rules of combination
outline what credit and which
units can be used.
• Many units shared across awarding
organisations (AO)
• Learners can gain credit towards a
qualification from more than one AO
• Many shared units developed in
collaboration.
What makes up a qualification?
1
2
3
Rules of combination
set out the combination
of credit that must be
achieved
Designed by AOs with
*SSCs/SSBs and only
go on QCF when
approved by the
relevant SSC/SSB
States credit
required from
mandatory and
optional units
4
5
6
Credit can come from
more than one level
Exemptions and
equivalents can also be
identified
Opportunities for
Recognition of
Prior Learning
(RPL)
* Sector Skills Council (SSC) / Standard Setting Bodies (SSB)
QCF qualifications
1 credit = 10 hours of learning. The learning time is notional and is taken as the estimated
number of hours it takes the average learner to complete all the learning outcomes of that unit.
New titles and terminology
1.Difficulty
2.Size
3.Content
Purpose?
Entry to
level 8
Award
Certificate
Diploma
Used to
describe
subject area
Additional terminology
used to describe its use
eg prove occupational
competence or CPD
We already have over 500 qualifications on the QCF with titles including:
• City & Guilds Level 3 (NVQ) Diploma in Hairdressing
• City & Guilds Level 3 Certificate in Retail Skills
• City & Guilds Level 1 Diploma in Retail Skills
• City & Guilds Level 3/4 Award in Preparing to Teach in the Life Long Learning Sector
• City & Guilds Entry 3 Certificate in Personal Progression through Employment
Key differences
NQF
QCF
All qualification content defined in terms of units
Many
All
Same units used by different awarding organisations
Only NVQs
Yes (unless
restricted)
Qualifications and units have credit (based on notional
learning time)
No
Yes
All units and content defined in the same template
Only NVQs
Yes
Unit assigned a level
Not always
Yes
Credit accumulation
No
Yes
The credit awarded (or equivalent) is accepted by
another Awarding Organisation
Only NVQs
Yes
Qualification types/categories
Yes
Now purpose
Qualification purposes
No
Yes
Qualification title indicates size
No
Yes
Meeting the needs of the industry - the role of the
SSCs/SSBs
There are 25 SSCs that are led by the UK Commission for
Employment and Skills (UKCES).
The SSC’s roles includes:
• Identifying skills needs
• Proposing/developing standards, units and qualifications
• Approving all qualifications in their sector alongside Ofqual
• Prioritising qualifications for public funding.
The Sector Qualification Strategy (SQS) sets the direction and the
Action Plan sets out what they would like to be publicly funded.
Find your SSC at
www.sscalliance.org/SSCs/LinksoSSCs.aspx
Learner records and Unique Learner Numbers
A major element of the centralised IT system for the QCF is the introduction of
online learner records. This system will also manage the accumulation and transfer
of credit (CAT) across awarding organisations and providers.
1
2
3
4
Each new QCF
learner is set to
have a centralised
online learner
record by the end of
2010.
ULNs are the
identifier required to
facilitate learner
and funding records
moving forward.
Many funding
streams already
have ULNs as a
learner requirement.
We have already
successfully
collected and
authenticated nearly
200,000 ULNs from
centres.
For more information and guidance check out www.cityandguilds.com/uln
What does it
really mean
for you?
What it really means for you
Now
•
•
•
•
•
•
Mixed economy of delivery under new and old regulations
Lots of redeveloped qualifications delivered in short period
New titles and terminology
Increased funding volatility
Very short turnaround times
Need to develop employer and learner understanding
In the long run
• Further funding volatility and uncertainty over funding by
credit/units
• More demand-led system
• Managing flexible delivery to meet more individual needs
• Individual unit take-up
Your
questions
answered