Consultation on the referencing of
the Scottish Credit and
Qualifications Framework (SCQF)
to the European Qualifications
Framework for Lifelong Learning
(EQF)
Consultation on the referencing of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications
Framework (SCQF) to the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong
Learning
What are we consulting on?
We are asking for your views on the methodology and findings of an initial report on how
the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) relates to the European
Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning (EQF). For further details of the SCQF
please see www.scqf.org.uk. For the EQF please see
http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelon-learning-policy/doc44_en.htm
What is the initial report?
The initial report, entitled Report on the Referencing of the Scottish Credit and
Qualifications Framework (SCQF) to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF),
was conducted by a consultant, commissioned by, but independent of, the SCQF
Partnership, to see how the SCQF relates to the EQF. The Executive Summary of the
report can be found on pages 4 – 5 of this document, and a diagram representing the
proposed referencing can be found on page 6. A full version of the initial report and
appendices can be found at http://www.scqf.org.uk/consultation/consult1.aspx
Why are we consulting?
We are asking for your views to ensure, through broad consensus, that the methodology
used in the initial report to reference the SCQF to the EQF is clear and robust and that
its findings are valid and reliable.
What are we asking you?
We invite you to review the initial report and comment on:
i.the methodology it uses to reference the SCQF to the EQF;
ii.the findings and recommendations it puts forward.
In particular we would like you to consider the following questions:




Do you think the methodology adopted to conduct the referencing is clear and
robust?
Do you think the initial report’s findings are valid and reliable?
Do you agree with the recommendations regarding referencing?
Are there any particular issues in regard to the referencing that you can identify
for your sector?
A template on which you can provide your answers to these questions and any further
comment you may have can be found on page 7 of this document.
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Why are we relating the SCQF to the EQF?
This consultation follows a recommendation made by the European Parliament and
Council that member states of the European Union show how their national qualification
systems relate to the EQF by the year 2010. Relating the SCQF to the EQF can bring
benefits to individuals, employers, sectors, social partners and education and training
systems across Europe through making relationships between national systems and the
EQF stronger, clearer and easier to understand. This provides opportunity for greater
understanding and clearer recognition of Scottish qualifications. In Scotland we are well
placed to be one of the first countries to relate our national qualification systems to the
EQF thanks to the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF), which has
been in place for some years, is fully integrated and provides us with a strong evidence
base on which to move forward,
There are some important points to note regarding relating national systems to the EQF:



It is a completely voluntary process;
the EQF has no regulatory function;
it is not the intention that individual qualifications be referenced to the EQF.
For more details of the Recommendation of the European Parliament and Council
please see: http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2008:111:0001:0007:EN:PDF
What are the benefits of the EQF?
The EQF can add value by broadening the recognition of learning which takes place
across European countries. It can help individuals, employers and education and training
providers compare individual qualifications from different countries and education and
training systems. This common understanding helps to increase the status of both the
learning itself and the qualifications completed
For more detail on the benefits that the EQF can bring as set out by the European
Commission, please see Annex 4.
Will relating to the EQF have any impact on the SCQF?
No, it is important to note that the structure and integrity of the SCQF will in no way be
compromised or affected by relating it to the EQF.
What is the relationship between the EQF and the framework for the European
Higher Education Area (F-EHEA)?
The EQF's four highest levels correspond to higher education levels as defined within
the European Higher Education Area. EQF level 5 corresponds to the descriptor
developed for the higher education short cycle, EQF level 6 to the descriptor developed
for the first cycle (Bachelor level), EQF level 7 to the descriptor developed for the second
cycle (Masters level) and EQF level 8 to the descriptor developed for the third cycle
(PhD level).
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Will relating to the EQF have any impact on how the SCQF relates to other UK
frameworks?
At this moment in time we do not envisage that relating to the EQF will raise any major
issues with regard to the SCQF’s relationship to other UK frameworks. However, we are
working closely with other UK partners to carefully manage any possible implications
which arise and may impact on the relationships between the individual frameworks as
they relate to the EQF.
How long have you got to respond?
The consultation period will run from 9 September to 28 November 2008. Responses
should be sent electronically to eqfconsultation@scqf.org.uk or by post to:
Mike Hewett
European and International Officer
SCQF Partnership
39 St Vincent Place
Glasgow
G1 2ER
The results of the consultation will be disseminated between February and March 2009
on our website www.scqf.org.uk. A final decision will made by the SCQFP Board at the
end of March 2009.
Structure of this Consultation Document
This consultation document contains the Executive Summary of the initial report plus a
template for your comments and a diagram to represent the proposed referencing.
Supporting Information
There is a range of supporting annexes to this document which is available to download
on our website at http://www.scqf.org.uk/consultation/consult1.aspx. For ease we have
numbered these as follows:
Annex 1
Annex 2
Annex 3
Annex 4
Annex 5
Annex 6
Why we are relating the SCQF to the EQF and how we will do it
SCQF – EQF Steering Group Terms of Reference and Membership
The consultation process and how we will manage it
The European Commission’s overview of the EQF and its aims
The European Commission’s frequently asked questions about the EQF
The template for responding
A full version of the initial report and appendices can also be found on the same page.
The SCQF Partnership would like to thank respondents in advance for taking the time to
consider and contribute to this consultation.
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Executive Summary of the Report on the Referencing of the Scottish Credit and
Qualifications Framework (SCQF) to the European Qualifications Framework
(EQF)
This report was commissioned by the SCQF Partnership which wanted an initial exercise
undertaken to “reference” the SCQF to the EQF. Currently no agreed methodology
exists for referencing national frameworks or systems to the EQF. However a number of
potential sources of a methodology were explored and drawn on where possible.
The methodology which was developed for the project started with developing an initial
model of comparison based on a broad comparison of the two frameworks. It went on to
establish the nature of the progression between levels in each of the frameworks and
test the initial model by making detailed comparisons of the level descriptors in a number
of ways and then bringing the findings together.
Each Framework has a number of levels and each level has a descriptor which is made
up of typical outcomes at that level. The descriptors are set out in different ways, but are
actually broadly similar – each concerned with knowledge, skills and other kinds of
competence associated with working and learning. However as the work progressed
issues arose from differences in the origins and aims of the two frameworks, differences
of conceptualisation and language between the frameworks and about the completeness
of descriptors in representing progression in the frameworks and issues arising where
referencing was not straightforward SCQF level to EQF level.
The ways in which the SCQF, the EQF and the Framework for Qualifications of the
European Higher Education Area (FQEHEA) – to which both the SCQF and the EQF are
related - were developed was investigated. From this the ways in which the different
levels of these frameworks might compare, given their origins and intentions was
explored and the initial comparison – referred to as the projected referencing – was
developed and used to guide a series of comparative exercises.
In the course of this work, a number of factors common to both frameworks emerged.
These are knowledge, intellectual skills, practical skills, tasks/activities & contexts,
problem-solving, autonomy and managing work. These made it easier to manage the
comparisons and were used to structure the detailed work which took the form of factorby-factor and level-by-level comparisons of the descriptors of the two frameworks. Then
a comparison of the frameworks was carried out using information about the levels, their
intentions and contents, drawn from SCQF and EQF documents, but additional to the
descriptors.
The summary conclusion of the investigation is that, using the principle of “best fit”,
SCQF levels can be referenced to EQF levels in terms of aims, descriptors and contents
as follows:

There are no grounds for referencing SCQF level 1 to the EQF.

SCQF level 2 can be referenced to EQF level 1 in some domains, but not in
others. This partial matching was not typical of other levels and it was not
possible to use a range-finding approach or to use indicative information to
establish “best fit”. Considering the intention of the SCQF level and the extent to
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which referencing is not possible, it is recommended that SCQF level 2 should
not be referenced to the EQF.

SCQF levels 3-6 can be confidently referenced to EQF levels 1-4.

For SCQF level 7 it is difficult to employ “best fit” on the basis of an analysis of
the descriptors alone. However, it is re commended that SCQF level 7 should be
referenced to EQF level 5 on the basis of external factors, notably the alignment
of both SCQF level 7 and EQF level 5 with the FQEHEA short cycle and a
reference to the intentions of the SCQF level.

SCQF level 8 can be confidently referenced to EQF level 5.

While SCQF level 9 is intended to be more demanding than EQF level 5, it may
not reference fully to EQF level 6 in terms of the language if the descriptors. It is
recommended, however, that SCQF level 9 should be referenced to EQF level 6
on the basis of the alignment of both SCQF level 9 and EQF level 6 with the
FQEHEA first cycle and by taking account of the intentions of the SCQF level.

SCQF level 10 can be confidently referenced to EQF level 6.

SCQF levels 11 and 12 can be confidently referenced to EQF levels 7 and 8.
Please refer to section 6 of the initial report for further details of the principles and
analysis which underpin these conclusions.
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Findings of the initial report
The diagram below shows the initial report’s findings on how the SCQF references to the
EQF.
SCQF Level 12
EQF Level 8
SCQF Level 11
EQF Level 7
SCQF Level 10
EQF Level 6
SCQF Level 9
SCQF Level 8
EQF Level 5
SCQF Level 7
SCQF Level 6
EQF Level 4
SCQF Level 5
EQF Level 3
SCQF Level 4
EQF Level 2
SCQF Level 3
EQF Level 1
SCQF Level 2
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SCQF Level 1
Template for answers to consultation on the Report on the Referencing of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications
Framework (SCQF) to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF)
Question
1 – Is the methodology
adopted to conduct the
referencing clear and robust?
2 – Do you think the initial
report’s findings are valid and
reliable?
3 Do you agree with the
recommendations regarding
referencing?
Yes (please comment)
No (please comment)
Other (please comment)
4 – Are there any particular
issues you can identify for your
sector?
5 – Do you have any further
comment?
Deadline for response: 28 November 2008
Respond to: m.hewett@scqf.org.uk; Mike Hewett, SCQFP 39 St Vincent Place, Glasgow, G12ER
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