1. The QCF and the HE Sector Current policy and future possibilities Peter Wilson peterwilson49@btinternet.com peterwilson49@btinternet.com SEEC Annual Conference London Dec 10 th 2010

2. The QCF A secure part of Coalition policy Still (currently) vocational qualifications Approaching 7000 qualifications 120 Awarding Organisations Transition from the NQF almost complete Delivery on expected benefits?

3. Credit in HE and FE 1980 CNAA CAT Scheme 1995 Choosing to Change 2010 Institutional Credit Schemes 1980 Local credit schemes (OCNs) 1995 National Credit Framework 2010 Regulated National Framework

4. Different kinds of credit transfer QCF Regulatory Arrangements Rules of combination An entitlement to credit transfer HEIs Institutional arrangements Admissions policy Credit transfer by discretion

5. Credit transfer within HE 1995 Very little evidence of credit transfer (Choosing to Change) 2010 No apparent change (eg SEEC web site) Credit transfer between 100 (?) HEIs and between different localities An essentially geographic concept

6. Credit transfer within FE In the control of awarding organisations, not providers 6000+ awarding organisation centres Some providers use 60 or more awarding organisations Credit transfer within a college or a within a locality

7. Credit transfer within the QCF Like HE, no evidence of current use. An unfamiliar concept to qualifications designers and developers A challenge to AO business models Disincentives in the current SFA funding arrangements Few opportunities for transfer between qualifications in QCF V0.1

8. Credit transfer between QCF and HE Still clear policy commitment to increased flexibility and progression from FE to HE Is the real transfer of credits between the QCF and HE technically possible? Dual accreditation Recognition of credits APL Exemptions and advanced standing

9. Entry to HE through credit transfer Institutional validation policies on the transfer of credits from the QCF to HE? References to QCF credits or qualifications in admissions policies? References to QCF credits or qualifications in faculty/school/course entry requirements? Individual decisions on credit transfer The role of SEEC and the UK Credit Forum?

10. Approaches to credit transfer Joint development of units shared between QCF and HEIs (eg LLUK) Embedding a QCF qualification within an HEI award (eg FDs) Curriculum matching a QCF qualification by an HEI (eg ILM Diplomas) Optional units within an HEI award (eg U of Plymouth Health Studies)

11. Barriers to transfer from QCF to HE Lack of institutional policy (cf OU) Lack of familiarity with QCF Lack of confidence in QCF Major funding disincentives Qualifications not credits Are AOs and HEIs collaborators or competitors in higher level qualifications?

12. A possible future? More credit transfer opportunities within re- accredited qualifications in QCF V0.2 Higher level QCF qualifications designed with credit transfer to HEIs in mind Removal of funding barriers in FE and HE Market segmentation between QCF and HE to maximise use of reduced public funding? Real credit transfer between HEIs and QCF V0.3?