Transforming Skills Delivery in Wales

National Training Federation Wales

11th November 2010

Trevor Clark Head Credit and Qualifications Framework for WalesWelsh Assembly Government

Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales

• Background • The Credit and Qualifications Framework

for Wales • Quality Assured Lifelong Learning• European Qualifications Framework• European Quality Assurance Reference

Framework for VET• Questions

CQFW - Commonality ofTransferability and Progression

• Long and historic links with England• However we also have unique issues facing

Wales – low Gross National Product compared with rest of UK

• Important to focus on the learners and benefits to Wales

• Important policy drivers: One Wales, The Learning Country, Vision into Action, Skills that Work for Wales, 14-19 Agenda

Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales

CQFW - Commonality ofTransferability and Progression

Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales

• Average gross weekly wage for FTE in Wales was £506.40 in 2009 - 86% of the UK average

• 1 in 4 jobs in Wales (24%) is in the public sector- higher than the UK which is 1 in 5 (20%)

• 450,000 adults (25% of working age) are at entry level or below in literacy

• 980,000 (50% of working age) have entry level or below numeracy

• 14% of working age adult population have no qualifications (2008)

Credit and Qualification Framework for WalesUK Vocational Qualification Reform

• Raising interest and commitment to skills• Increasing the stature of vocational learningUltimately:• Making the UK more productive economically • More competitive globallyQCF progress: • 137 Awarding Organisations fully recognised to

operate in the QCF (Figures July 2010)• 12444 qualifications in the Framework• 50,000 plus Units submitted to QCF Databank

CQFW - Commonality ofTransferability and Progression

Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales

The Iceberg of Learning

The vision in Wales is that a system which only recognises formal learning seems to be totally inappropriate and is seriously undervaluing the worth of that society and unrecognised assets will not be used.

This can and does shut out an important part of society and actually discourage too many too enter into active learning.

Credit and Qualifications Framework for WalesQuality Assured Lifelong Learning

Lifelong Learning

Lifelong Learning

The Iceberg of Learning

Formal Learning

Important pillar within the CQFW

• Quality Assured Lifelong Learning - company training, in house training, continuous and professional development, informal and non formal learning

• Greater flexibility credit based system based on credit accumulation, transfer and accreditation of prior learning

Credit and Qualifications Framework for WalesQuality Assured Lifelong Learning

Developing a more inclusive employers framework –• NILAH • Care Council for Wales • SEMTA Engineering• Working with public sector across Wales exploring

accreditation of existing management and leadership training.

• Exemplar project with the National Offender Management Service to enable national recognition of learning for offenders in Wales

Credit and Qualifications Framework for WalesQuality Assured Lifelong Learning

EQF a common European Reference System which will link different countries national qualifications systems to act as a translation device to enable greater understanding and mobility.

EQF based on learning outcomes and level descriptors

UK Frameworks have articulated their respective frameworks to EQF in January 2010.

Credit and Qualifications Framework for WalesEuropean Qualifications Framework

UK Frameworks have articulated their respective frameworks to EQF in January 2010.

• CQFW – Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales

• SCQF – Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework

• QCF – Qualifications Credit Framework

The EQF exists alongside the meta-framework for higher education - the Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area also known as the Bologna Framework.

Credit and Qualifications Framework for WalesEuropean Qualifications Framework

CQFW Referencing Outcome

The UK Frameworks and the EQF

European Quality Assurance Reference Framework (EQARF) is designed to promote better vocational education and training by providing authorities and VET providers with common tools for the management of quality in VET.

Review and report for Wales to be completed by February 2011

UK Report to the commission by June 2011

Credit and Qualifications Framework for WalesEuropean Quality Assurance

Reference Framework

Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales European Quality Assurance Reference Framework

Planning

Implementation

Review

Evaluation

Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales

Thank you for your attention

Any questions?