The SCQF Partnership and Skills Development Scotland

Background The main objective of extreme collaborative working with the SCQF Partnership is to actively promote engagement of learners, learning providers and employers with the SCQF and to embed the Framework into everyday practices, which support better understanding of qualifications, experiences and skills The focus of the joint Skills Development Scotland/SCQF Workplans in 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 is to lead the way in enabling learners and employers to better understand qualifications and learning routes

Collaborative Working Projects undertaken during 2010/11 include: Development of a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Profiling Tool and SCQF Mapping Guide to support school pupils with few or no formal qualifications Your Skills, Your Future – Guidelines for Individuals Facing Redundancy and Guidelines for Employers SDS/SCQF Scoping study on the feasibility of credit rating within National Training Programmes The development of a toolkit to assist schools in better understanding the SCQF and how it supports Curriculum for Excellence Development of a toolkit for employers to assist them in using the SCQF as a tool for effective recruitment and workforce development Development of projects with employers in GES sectors including video case studies

Aims of the RPL Profiling tool pilot Explore the usefulness of a recognition of prior learning process within the context of career guidance services Consider how experiential learning could relate to the SCQF levels Consider how non formal and informal learning experiences can be acknowledged Raise motivation and self awareness of individual learners Support personal profiles for individuals Review the concept of benchmarking to the SCQF Levels

Successes Revised and enhanced toolkit Positive feedback from young people and SDS Advisers Interest from strategic partners in use of RPL materials to support learner engagement, further recognition of skills and how these relate to the SCQF Levels Potential further development through web-enabled approaches

Other Joint Activities Your Skills, Your Future – Guidelines for Individuals Facing redundancy and Guidelines for Employers – resources to be trialled/evaluated/further developed SDS/SCQFP Scoping Study on the Credit Rating Potential for National Training Programmes – to be completed by mid-March 2011

Other Joint Activities Employer projects in GES sectors Video clip case studies Schools toolkit Employer toolkit

Questions for Discussion What are your thoughts on the projects and resources that have been developed by SCQFP and SDS? Could any of the resources mentioned be used in your sectors? What are the best ways of promoting the toolkits for employers and schools?