QCF
What is the QCF and how will it work?
The Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) is a new way of recognising achievement through the award of credit for units and qualifications. It provides flexible routes to gaining full qualifications, and enables qualifications to be achieved in small steps.
A unit is the smallest part of learning in the QCF for which credit is awarded. Credits awarded for each individual unit can be put together to make a qualification.
When a unit has been developed, it is submitted into the QCF databank. Using the submitted units, awarding organisations create qualifications using rules of combination. These rules show the credits that need to be achieved, through a combination of particular units, so that the qualification can be awarded. The regulators accredit the qualifications when they are sure they are of high quality. Learners can navigate online to see what is on offer and to find the units and qualifications they are interested in.
On the QCF, each learner has a Unique Learner Number (ULN). The ULN is a national identifier, which a learner will keep for the rest of his/her life. The ULN is provided by the MIAP Learner Registration Service (LRS). The ULN is used to create a Learner Achievement Record (LAR) for each learner.
When a learner completes a unit, they are awarded the relevant credit(s) and this is recorded on their learner achievement record (LAR). The LAR is a single electronic record that lists an individual’s credit and qualification achievements. Individuals are able to access their LAR online and give permissions to others (including employers and schools, colleges and training providers) to view the information contained in it.
Each learner will receive an email with the details of the web address for his/her LAR and a password to access his/her account. QCF support is working on a recommended procedure for learners without an email address.
Text taken from the leaflet: The Qualifications and Credit Framework: an Introduction.
Download WAMITAB QCF Workshops Presentation
Download The WAMITAB Guide to the QCF
Download The QCF WAMITAB Centre Guide
Download The QCF Business Benefits
For more guides and information on the QCF please go to the Resources page of the QCDA website