Explaining qualifications

"A qualification is intended to show employers, teachers and learners what someone has learnt and can do as a result of that achievement. There are a large number of qualifications and the way they are described and marketed can be confusing. This document explains the key characteristics of recognised qualifications and how these can best be understood." - introduction

Managing the transition from Funding Qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) to Funding Qualifications on the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF)

"Offers an update on the process for the transition from funding qualifications on the NQF to funding qualifications on the QCF for learners aged 19 and over in England. It further clarifies the timescales for focussing funding on the QCF which were first set out in the ‘Managing Transition’ paper produced by the Learning and Skills Council on 3 March 2010. This document is solely focussed on the public funding of provision for post 19 learners in England. It reflects the wish of the Skills Funding Agency (Agency) to focus public funding of provision on the QCF from August 2010." - introduction

Assessment in vocational programmes in the further education sector in England: report from the Inspectorate (National survey report, January 1995)

This national survey report is concerned with the assessment of students attending all types of vocational education and training programmes offered by further education sector colleges in England. The impact of National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) and General National Vocational Qualifications (GNVQs) on assessment practices in colleges is also examined. Previous reports from the inspectorate include two national survey reports: National Vocational Qualifications in the Further Education Sector in England, September 1994, and General National Vocational Qualifications in the Further Education Sector in England, November 1994

The likelihood of completing a VET qualification 2008-11

In order to fill a gap in performance measures for the vocational education and training (VET) sector, this publication estimates the course completion rates of publicly funded VET courses in Australia. Completion rates for qualifications commenced in 2008-11 are given for various groups, including by qualification level, by field of education and by state. The corresponding load pass rates are also shown.HighlightsFor qualifications commencing in 2011: The national estimated completion rate for VET qualifications at certificate I and above was 35.5%, up from 33.7% for qualifications commenced in 2010.For students in full-time study aged 25 years and under with no prior post-school qualification, the national estimated completion rate for VET qualifications was 44.2%, a decline from 45.7% for qualifications commenced in 2010.VET qualifications at diploma and above (43.6%), certificate IV (41.6%), and certificate III (40.9%) had the highest national estimated completion rates.For students in full-time study aged 25 years and under with no prior post-school qualification, the national estimated completion rate for VET qualifications at certificate III was 56.2%. VET qualifications in education (58.8%), society and culture (48.5%), and natural and physical sciences (43.8%) had the highest national estimated completion rates

What determines the return to education: An extra year or hurdle cleared?

The 1973 Raising of the School Leaving Age in England and Wales has been used to identify returns to years’ schooling. However, the reform affected the proportion with qualifications, as well as schooling length. To shed light on whether the returns reflect extra schooling or qualifications, we exploit another institutional rule – the Easter Leaving Rule – to obtain unbiased estimates of the effect of qualifications. We find sizeable returns to academic qualifications – increasing the probability of employment by 40 percentage points. This is more than 70% of the estimated return based on RoSLA, suggesting that qualifications drive most – but not all – of the returns to education.Returns to education; RoSLA; qualifications