Tickets now on sale for SCQF@25 conference

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 has played a vital role in helping people understand qualifications, build pathways, and progress in learning and work. The Framework has supported individuals, educators and employers alike by creating clearer connections across education, training and employment.

The SCQF@25 Conference offers a unique opportunity to reflect on this journey – and, importantly, to look ahead to the future.

Event details

  • Date: Tuesday 22 September 2026
  • Venue: Glasgow Science Centre, 50 Pacific Quay, Glasgow, G51 1EA
  • Time: 9am to 5pm
  • Networking: Drinks and canapés reception to follow

This full-day conference will provide a vibrant and engaging space to explore the evolution of SCQF and its impact across Scotland.

What to expect

The conference will bring together a diverse mix of attendees from across:

  • Education
  • Skills and training
  • Industry and employers
  • Policy and public sector organisations

Throughout the day, participants can expect:

  • Insightful keynote sessions
  • Thought-provoking panel discussions
  • Opportunities to share best practice
  • Meaningful networking with peers and partners

Tickets now on sale

Tickets for the SCQF@25 Conference are now available:

  • Early bird (closing Tuesday 18 August): £125
  • Standard: £150

Book your place at bit.ly/SCQFConference

Early booking is strongly encouraged to secure your place.

For more information, email conference@scqf.org.uk

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’.