Transforming Skills Delivery in Wales National Training Federation Wales 11th November 2010 Trevor Clark Head Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales Welsh Assembly Government 1

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 2

Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales 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 CQFW - Commonality of Transferability and Progression 3

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) CQFW - Commonality of Transferability and Progression 4

Raising interest and commitment to skills Credit and Qualification Framework for Wales UK Vocational Qualification Reform Raising interest and commitment to skills Increasing the stature of vocational learning Ultimately: Making the UK more productive economically More competitive globally QCF 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

The Iceberg of Learning 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. CQFW - Commonality of Transferability and Progression

Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales Quality Assured Lifelong Learning Formal Learning Lifelong Learning Lifelong Learning The Iceberg of Learning

Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales Quality Assured Lifelong 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 The Vocational Qualification Reform Programme (VQRP) is a UK wide initiative taking forward a range of critical developments to address skills needs in the UK economy Relates to England, Northern Ireland and Wales. Scotland has a watching brief QCF approved by Ministers in all 3 Countries in Nov 08 The QCF is… jointly regulated credit and qualifications framework for England, Wales and Northern Ireland A simple and rational organising structure for units and qualifications that reforms the current three country National Qualifications Framework (NQF) capable of supporting the accumulation and transfer of credit achievement over time. Within Wales the QCF is one of the pillars of the Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales For learners the QCF will: Offer more freedom, choice and flexibility Give easy access to information about the commitment needed for different routes to achievement, letting learners balance that commitment with family, work and other responsibilities Allow them to build up credits at their own pace and combine them in a way that will help them get where they want to be Enable them to transfer credits between qualifications to avoid having to repeat their learning Record all their achievements on an electronics learner record, encouraging them and others to value their past achievements 10

Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales Quality 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 The Vocational Qualification Reform Programme (VQRP) is a UK wide initiative taking forward a range of critical developments to address skills needs in the UK economy Relates to England, Northern Ireland and Wales. Scotland has a watching brief QCF approved by Ministers in all 3 Countries in Nov 08 The QCF is… jointly regulated credit and qualifications framework for England, Wales and Northern Ireland A simple and rational organising structure for units and qualifications that reforms the current three country National Qualifications Framework (NQF) capable of supporting the accumulation and transfer of credit achievement over time. Within Wales the QCF is one of the pillars of the Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales For learners the QCF will: Offer more freedom, choice and flexibility Give easy access to information about the commitment needed for different routes to achievement, letting learners balance that commitment with family, work and other responsibilities Allow them to build up credits at their own pace and combine them in a way that will help them get where they want to be Enable them to transfer credits between qualifications to avoid having to repeat their learning Record all their achievements on an electronics learner record, encouraging them and others to value their past achievements 11

Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales European Qualifications Framework 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. The Vocational Qualification Reform Programme (VQRP) is a UK wide initiative taking forward a range of critical developments to address skills needs in the UK economy Relates to England, Northern Ireland and Wales. Scotland has a watching brief QCF approved by Ministers in all 3 Countries in Nov 08 The QCF is… jointly regulated credit and qualifications framework for England, Wales and Northern Ireland A simple and rational organising structure for units and qualifications that reforms the current three country National Qualifications Framework (NQF) capable of supporting the accumulation and transfer of credit achievement over time. Within Wales the QCF is one of the pillars of the Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales For learners the QCF will: Offer more freedom, choice and flexibility Give easy access to information about the commitment needed for different routes to achievement, letting learners balance that commitment with family, work and other responsibilities Allow them to build up credits at their own pace and combine them in a way that will help them get where they want to be Enable them to transfer credits between qualifications to avoid having to repeat their learning Record all their achievements on an electronics learner record, encouraging them and others to value their past achievements 12

Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales European 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. The Vocational Qualification Reform Programme (VQRP) is a UK wide initiative taking forward a range of critical developments to address skills needs in the UK economy Relates to England, Northern Ireland and Wales. Scotland has a watching brief QCF approved by Ministers in all 3 Countries in Nov 08 The QCF is… jointly regulated credit and qualifications framework for England, Wales and Northern Ireland A simple and rational organising structure for units and qualifications that reforms the current three country National Qualifications Framework (NQF) capable of supporting the accumulation and transfer of credit achievement over time. Within Wales the QCF is one of the pillars of the Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales For learners the QCF will: Offer more freedom, choice and flexibility Give easy access to information about the commitment needed for different routes to achievement, letting learners balance that commitment with family, work and other responsibilities Allow them to build up credits at their own pace and combine them in a way that will help them get where they want to be Enable them to transfer credits between qualifications to avoid having to repeat their learning Record all their achievements on an electronics learner record, encouraging them and others to value their past achievements 13

CQFW Referencing Outcome 14

The UK Frameworks and the EQF 15

Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales European Quality Assurance Reference Framework 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 The Vocational Qualification Reform Programme (VQRP) is a UK wide initiative taking forward a range of critical developments to address skills needs in the UK economy Relates to England, Northern Ireland and Wales. Scotland has a watching brief QCF approved by Ministers in all 3 Countries in Nov 08 The QCF is… jointly regulated credit and qualifications framework for England, Wales and Northern Ireland A simple and rational organising structure for units and qualifications that reforms the current three country National Qualifications Framework (NQF) capable of supporting the accumulation and transfer of credit achievement over time. Within Wales the QCF is one of the pillars of the Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales For learners the QCF will: Offer more freedom, choice and flexibility Give easy access to information about the commitment needed for different routes to achievement, letting learners balance that commitment with family, work and other responsibilities Allow them to build up credits at their own pace and combine them in a way that will help them get where they want to be Enable them to transfer credits between qualifications to avoid having to repeat their learning Record all their achievements on an electronics learner record, encouraging them and others to value their past achievements 16

Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales European Quality Assurance Reference Framework Planning Implementation Review Evaluation

Thank you for your attention Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales Thank you for your attention Any questions?