News From North East August 2006

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS…

How do learners acquire SCQF credit points?

The credit points show how much work is involved in achieving that qualification - 1 credit point equates to a notional 10 hours of learning.  So for provision that awards 24 SCQF credit points, it will take on average 240 hours of learning to complete the learning outcomes associated with the qualification. 

How can individuals use their SCQF credit?

Credit points gained from previous learning may be able to count towards other learning programmes.  It is always up to the receiving institution how many credit points they are prepared to grant towards the programme of learning to which the individual applies.  This transfer of credit may help to reduce the duplication of learning and allow the learner to gain the qualification more quickly.  The way that credit can be used will depend on the requirements for each learning programme and of the provider.

How do SCQF credit points relate to UCAS tariff points?

SCQF credit points are not the same as UCAS tariff points.  UCAS tariff points relate to the grade at which a qualification has been achieved.  SCQF credit points are a measure of how much learning needs to be done to achieve a qualification, regardless of the grade passed.

How does the learner work out the number of SCQF credit points they have?

If the qualification has been credit rated against the SCQF by a Credit Rating Body (HEIs, SQA and Scotland’s Colleges), the modules or units associated with the learning will have credit points attached at a particular level on the SCQF.  As the SCQF becomes further embedded, more Learning Providers are including SCQF credit points and levels on their transcripts, prospectuses and qualification certificates.

Can credit be gained for non certificated learning?

Yes, credit points can be acquired through a process called Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).  This involves acknowledgement by a receiving institution of the skills and knowledge a person has acquired through previous training, work or life experience, which may be used to grant credit points towards a learning programme or module.   The RPL process, in which assessment against current and relevant learning outcomes/competency standards is carried out, will vary for each institution.

EXAMPLES OF HOW SCQF IS BEING USED

Using SCQF credit for advanced entry:

Liz used credits from her Diploma in Social Sciences to transfer to a Degree programme in Glasgow.  Her Diploma has 240 SCQF credit points at Level 8. 

When she applied to a university in Glasgow to do a Degree in Psychology with Sociology, the university decided that the learning she'd acquired for her HND was relevant to her Degree programme and recognised the 240 credits at Level 8 which allowed her third year entry to the BA Honours degree.

After 2 years, Liz completed her BA Honours Degree and exited with 480 SCQF credit points at Level 10. 

How SCQF helped with the recognition of prior learning:

A successful claim for the Recognition of Prior Learning was made at the University of Paisley enabling a student to gain advanced entry into the second year of a Degree programme within the School of Languages.  Through a combination of transferring credit from previous certificated learning, which had 50 SCQF credit points at level 7, and through a process called the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning the student provided evidence of having developed language skills in French and Spanish and of having gained an in depth awareness of the day to day culture and customs of both countries lived, the student was awarded a further 70 SCQF credit points at level 7.   This combination enabled the student to progress to the second year having gained the 120 credit points at SCQF Level 7 which is equivalent to a year of full time study.

The claim process consisted of:

• A series of statements of learning
• A written piece of work covering 5,000 words, with sections written in English, French and Spanish to test competence in written language skills.
• A portfolio of supporting evidence including details of a web site developed by the student
• A presentation and vice voce which was audio taped.  This presentation and viva was in three sections and was delivered in English, French and Spanish.

The above claim was supervised and assessed by Academic Staff within the languages section and included a native French and Spanish speaker.  The applicant was awarded 120 credit points at SCQF Level 7 and gained entry to year 2 as a full time student.  The student has now successfully completed year two and achieved A grade passes in 7 of the 8 modules studied.         

How SCQF helped in the development of a new BA Degree for Integrated Services

James Watt College and the Faculty of Education, University of Strathclyde have jointly developed an innovatory new degree programme; the BA Education and Social Services. The degree focuses on collaborative working and integrated service delivery.  The first cohorts of students began their studies in 2005 and expect to graduate and take up employment in the social services sector in 2007. 

By making the relationships between qualifications clearer, the SCQF facilitates articulation from Higher National Qualifications to Degrees. This joint development used the SCQF to provide a new opportunity for Further Education students to progress to Higher Education by building upon their HNC qualifications.  Students who have started out on HNC programmes in Early Education and Childcare, Health Care, Social Care or Supporting Learning Needs are now able to undertake the degree.  To assist them in making the transition to Higher Education, the Diploma of Higher Education is delivered at James Watt College before students move on to the final year of the BA at University of Strathclyde.

SCQF and recruitment opportunities:

A well known Scottish Charity who work with and for children, young people and families who need additional support, had been undertaking a job evaluation exercise and has found the SCQF to be a beneficial tool in assisting with this process.

A representative for the organisation said,