Introductory Letter
Subject - The framework for qualifications of Higher Education Institutions
in Scotland
Publication date - 27 November 2000
Recipients - Heads of higher education institutions in Scotland
Of interest to - All university staff
Further information - David Bottomley
Respond by - 18 December 2000
Attachments - Framework for qualifications of Higher Education Institutions
in Scotland
To: Principals & Vice-Chancellors
The Framework for Qualifications of the Higher Education Institutions in Scotland
I am pleased to enclose a copy of the Framework for Qualifications of the Higher Education Institutions in Scotland. This paper has been drawn up following careful consideration of the matters raised in response to the Position Paper on the Qualifications Framework for Scotland which was issued for comment earlier this year. A summary of the main comments made on the Position Paper together with the responses of the QAA Advisory Committee for Scotland to these comments is also enclosed.
We are very grateful to colleagues for the extensive contributions they have made to the development of the Qualifications Framework in a wide variety of ways, including: responding to the Position Paper and the two previous consultations; serving on the Qualifications Framework Development Group; contributing to a series of workshops and seminars; and, in discussions in a wide range of institutional and sector-wide fora, including the COSHEP Teaching Quality Forum.
One frequent response to the Position Paper was that the framework must represent a coherent structure for all stakeholders in Scotland and, in that respect should be clearly embedded within the wider Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework. In addition, it was also emphasised that the higher education system in Scotland operates in a UK and wider international context, and that the similarities with the rest of the UK should also be clear, in particular, at the postgraduate level. In response to this latter point, the QAA Advisory Committee for Scotland therefore agreed that the qualification descriptors for postgraduate qualifications should be the same across the UK.
Section 2 of the Framework paper provides draft guidelines to support institutions in the implementation of the Framework. This guidance, which does not have the status of a section of the Code of Practice, has been developed from some of the principles which were stated in the previous Position Paper.
This version of the Framework reflects the decisions of both the QAA Advisory
Committee for Scotland and the QAA Board on the final development of the
Framework. It is intended that the Board will sign off the Framework together
with the Framework for England, Wales and Northern Ireland at its meeting
on 10 January 2001. If there are any comments you would like to make on
this final draft, it would be most helpful if I could receive these before
Christmas, and, if at all possible, by 18 December.
Yours sincerely
Norman L Sharp
Head of the QAA Scottish Office
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