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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.

Tickets now on sale for SCQF@25 conference

24 Jun 2026

In 2026, Scotland celebrates a significant milestone — 25 years of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). To mark this achievement, we are delighted to host the SCQF@25 Conference, a national event bringing together voices from across Scotland’s learning, skills and employment landscape. A milestone worth celebrating For a quarter of a century, SCQF […]

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School College Partnership Event 2025

Watch the recording of our School College Partnership Event 2025.

12 Nov 2025

Careers Week: Daydream Believers is helping young people build future-ready skills

“The future belongs to those who can imagine it, design it, and execute it.” – World Economic …

12 Nov 2025
Powering Futures team holding up various banners and frames, smiling

Careers Week: Recognising the skills that shape every career

Learn how Powering Futures' SCQF level 6 qualification is equipping pupils with the meta skills …

12 Nov 2025

Creative Careers Week: Transforming creativity into careers with Kindred Clothing at SCQF level 5

Discover how Kindred Clothing at Front Lounge Dundee transforms creativity into careers with an …

7 Nov 2025

Creative Careers Week: Lifelong learning has been at the heart of hairdresser Marie’s success

As part of Creative Careers Week, discover how hairdresser Marie Hall transformed her career …

7 Nov 2025
A group of young people in room, looking at a board which features a drawing of a person. One young man is pointing at the drawing.

Take your first steps into youth work at SCQF level 4

Learn more about the First Steps to Youth Work qualification at SCQF level 4, available to people …

6 Nov 2025
A person's arms, with a kitten being cuddled inside their hands.

Love animals? Start your journey in veterinary care at SCQF level 5

Want to work with animals? Learn more about the Lantra Diploma in Veterinary Care and Animal …

6 Nov 2025
Four children wearing bright yellow safety vests sit and smile on a wooden play structure at Baltic Street Adventure Playground, surrounded by trees and outdoor play equipment

The SCQF and Clyde Gateway: Helping Glasgow families learn, work and grow

Discover how Clyde Gateway and the SCQF is helping Calton families gain skills, find jobs and build …

23 Oct 2025

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’.