Background

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (the Framework) promotes lifelong learning in Scotland. Through the Framework you can find out about all mainstream qualifications in Scotland and plan your future learning. The Framework supports everyone in Scotland, including learning providers and employers, by:

• helping people of all ages and circumstances 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 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.

By using two measures, the level of a qualification and the number of credit points awarded for that qualification, the Framework helps you understand and compare qualifications. (The level of a qualification increases with the complexity of the course. The number of credit points for a qualification is based on the amount of time that an ‘average’ learner studying at the appropriate level might take to achieve the outcome of that course. One credit point represents 10 hours of learning time.)

The Framework

• describes the courses and programmes that lead to qualifications;
• helps you develop ‘progression routes’ for you to follow; and
• allows you to make the most of the opportunities to transfer credit points between qualifications.

The Framework also provides an extremely important way of recognising ‘outcome-based learning’ (learning that is related to things that you can do) and ‘quality-assured learning’ (learning that has been assessed and checked by someone else) in a wide range of settings (for example, learning in the workplace or in the community).

The above text (under the headings ‘Background’ and ‘The Framework’) is taken from the SCQF Partnership leaflet “A Guide to the Role of the SCQF in Lifelong Learning”. The full text of the leaflet can be found on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework website.

Useful Links:

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework

This site includes information, further links and downloads about the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework and how it relates to Learners, Employers and Learning Providers in all sectors.

Learning Connections

On the Scottish Government website you will find further information about Learning Connections and how the SCQF can help the development and implementation of Community Learning and Development Action Plans and the programmes of learning that are delivered by a range of partners.