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SCQF Week 2026 graphic comparing Jon's journey over 25 years. On the left, text reads: “25 years ago, Jon was working as a joiner, a career he began after leaving school,” beside a photo of woodworking in progress on a workbench. On the right, text reads: “Now... Jon is a nurse after an injury made him rethink his future,” above a portrait of Jon wearing healthcare scrubs and a surgical cap in a hospital setting. The graphic includes the hashtags #SCQF25Years and #SCQFWeek26, along with the SCQF 25 years logo and the message “25 years of making all learning count.”

SCQF Week 2026: Where was Jon 25 years ago?

As we celebrate 25 years of the SCQF during SCQF Week 2026, we share the story of Jon, whose career …

21 Sep 2026
Then and now graphic showing the learning journey of Terry McTernan. On the left, a low-resolution photo shows Terry working at a call centre workstation 25 years ago. Text states that Terry was working in a call centre and had started a college course that was later abandoned. On the right, a recent photo shows Terry in graduation robes holding a University of Glasgow graduation programme. Text explains that the learner now has a First Class Honours degree, is planning a master's degree, and has realised that learning has been a lifelong journey. The graphic includes the hashtags #SCQF25Years and #SCQFWeek26 and a 25th anniversary SCQF logo.

SCQF Week 2026: Where was Terry 25 years ago?

As SCQF Week 2026 marks 25 years of the SCQF, discover how learning, determination and new …

21 Sep 2026
SCQF 25th anniversary graphic comparing Victoria's learning journey over the past 25 years. On the left, a childhood photo shows Victoria at the start of high school with the text: "25 years ago, Victoria was starting high school – a chapter of her life that she didn't enjoy." On the right, a recent professional headshot appears beside the text: "Now ... Victoria loves learning and has earned a qualification almost every year since leaving school." The design uses purple and blue backgrounds and includes the hashtags #SCQF25Years and #SCQFWeek26, alongside the SCQF 25 years logo.

SCQF Week 2026: Where was Victoria 25 years ago?

As we mark 25 years of the SCQF during SCQF Week 2026, Victoria shares why learning has had such a …

21 Sep 2026
Promotional graphic celebrating 25 years of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). A portrait of John Evans in a blue shirt and checked blazer appears on the left against a purple-to-pink gradient background. Large white text reads: “25 years of the SCQF: Looking back, looking forward”. A quotation box contains the text: “Where were you 25 years ago? It’s a simple question, but one that can take us back to a very different time. Whatever you were doing in 2001, it’s unlikely that you could have predicted quite how much the world of learning and work would change over the next 25 years.” Along the bottom are the hashtags #SCQFWeek26 and #SCQF25Years. The SCQF logo and “25 years of making all learning count” anniversary branding appear in the lower right corner.

25 years of the SCQF: Looking back, looking forward 

As we celebrate SCQF Week 2026 and mark 25 years of the SCQF, chair of the SCQFP Board John Evans …

21 Sep 2026
Graphic featuring a quotation from Erica Russell-Hensens of the Scottish Funding Council on a dark blue background. The quote discusses the Scottish Funding Council's support for the SCQF Partnership and helping learners understand and gain recognition for their learning journey. A professional headshot appears on the left, with Scottish Funding Council and SCQF 25th anniversary logos at the bottom.

Celebrating 25 years of the SCQF

As the SCQF celebrates 25 years, its partner, the Scottish Funding Council, reflects on its success.

18 Sep 2026
Graphic featuring a quote from 25 Tigers: “As Scotland celebrates 25 years of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF), our own 25-year journey provides a powerful example of how qualifications can transform lives when they are delivered through trusted relationships, strong partnerships and a genuine belief in people’s potential.” The 25 Tigers logo appears alongside two photos showing groups of learners receiving recognition and participating in construction training. SCQF 25th anniversary branding is displayed in the bottom right corner.

Beyond the certificate: 25 years of relationships, qualifications and opportunity

As we celebrate 25 years of the SCQF, we’re delighted to share a guest blog from Tigers, who are …

18 Sep 2026
Promotional poster for the “SCQF @25 Conference” celebrating the 25th anniversary of Scotland’s qualifications framework. The event takes place on Tuesday 22 September 2026 at Glasgow Science Centre, from 9am to 5pm, followed by networking drinks and canapés. Ticket prices are £125 early bird and £150 standard. The poster includes a short description of the conference bringing together Scotland’s learning, skills, and employer communities, a QR code for ticket booking, and a link: bit.ly/SCQFConference. The design features a pink-to-purple gradient background with an image of a modern glass building and a “25 years of making all learning count” logo.

Inspiring line-up of speakers announced for SCQF@25 conference

Find out who the speakers are at the upcoming SCQF@25 conference.

9 Sep 2026
Graphic featuring a professional portrait of Gillian Hepburn in a cream blouse against a dark blue background. Alongside the image is a quotation that reads: “The SCQF works internationally because it’s maintained as a living, credible system, and because organisations like ours keep investing in making sure our qualifications map onto it properly, year after year.” The Qualifications Scotland logo appears below the quote, with a purple corner graphic marking “25 years of making all learning count” and the SCQF logo.

Why the SCQF is one of our sharpest tools for international work

Discover how the SCQF supports the international recognition of Scottish qualifications, building …

9 Sep 2026

Glossary Term

Authority

Appears at Level 12 only where it is used in the phrase ‘demonstrate substantial authority’, reflecting a recognised high level and depth of expertise/expert knowledge and understanding, along with confidence. It does not mean ‘exercise authority over staff and resources’ etc, as that could clearly apply at earlier levels.

Glossary Term

Exercise

Used in connection with management and/or supervisory responsibility, denotes a requirement of a formal, substantive role.

Glossary Term

Directive

Applied to ‘supervision’, signifies a task or activity that is guided.

Glossary Term

Graphical Data

Encompasses maps, plans, diagrams, tables and graphs.

Glossary Term

Synthesis

Combine discrete elements into a coherent whole.

Glossary Term

Analysis

Examine in detail with a view to explanation and interpretation.

Glossary Term

Present

Set out, put forward, deliver information using a variety of mediums as appropriate.

Glossary Term

Hypothetical

Supposed, assumed for the sake of argument.

Glossary Term

Straightforward

Clear and uncomplicated activity, but not as demanding or systematic and therefore not as advanced as ‘routine’.

Glossary Term

Creativity

Often used in combination with ‘originality’. There is overlap in definition, but the defining characteristic of creativity appears to be imagination.

Glossary Term

Originality

Often used in combination with ‘creativity’. There is overlap in definition, but the defining characteristic of originality appears to be independence.

Glossary Term

Professional

Used throughout as an adjective and applied to terms including level, skills, techniques, practices, contexts, and issues where it bears broad interpretation as ‘behaving appropriately/doing things properly and well and to notions of accepted, (including externally) prescribed standards’, as well as narrow, relating to a specific occupation designated as a profession. In this latter sense, the term applies in all contexts including academic study, eg footnoting properly.

Glossary Term

Unfamiliar

New territory for an activity.

Glossary Term

Routine

Used as an adjective throughout and applied to terms including skills, tasks, elements, practices, contexts, methods and problems where it describes activity that is standard, usual, unvarying, customary, common.

Glossary Term

Everyday

Slightly more advanced and beyond personal but a known experience/activity encountered/applied regularly - less advanced than ‘familiar’.

Glossary Term

Familiar

Often encountered or experienced; common; something one has a good knowledge of - more advanced than ‘personal’ and ‘everyday’, not as advanced as ‘routine’.

Glossary Term

Personal

An experience relating only or primarily to the person – one would expect to start here then widen out into the rest of the world, so not as advanced as ‘familiar’.

Glossary Term

Critical

Fully informed, capable of supporting in-depth analysis and assessment.

Glossary Term

Discerning

Using judgement to recognise differences but not fully equipped/informed to analyse and discuss them in depth, so less advanced than critical.

Glossary Term

Awareness

Consciousness, including a background consciousness. Can be a starting point for further exploration.

Glossary Term

Appreciation

A sense, perception, a hold, fix or grasp of one or more of the various aspects of a subject/discipline/sector.

Glossary Term

Understanding

A thorough and firm grasp of a subject/discipline/sector or an element or elements of it, derived from education/study, experience and reasoning in appropriate combination. Can be defined as ‘know why’, as opposed to ‘know that’. More holistic knowledge of processes and contexts, so more advanced than appreciation and knowledge.

Glossary Term

Simple

Undemanding activity not necessarily part of a formal structure - not as advanced as ‘basic’.

Glossary Term

Knowledge

Facts, ideas, theories and concepts in a subject/discipline/sector acquired through experience and/or education – a surer grasp than appreciation so more advanced.

Glossary Term

Basic

Activity is early stepping stone on a structure or framework that can be built upon – more advanced than ‘simple’.