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14 November 2008

ILM’s Senior Manager, Research and Policy, David Pardey said: “In her report to the Minister (Part-Time Study in Higher Education), Professor Christine King argues for a far more flexible system based on a common system of credit transfer, to allow people to drop in and out of part-tim programmes and move between institutions.  But such a system already exists – the Qualifications and Credit Framework.  Professional bodies like ourselves are providing unitised and credit-rated qualifications, enabling learners to stop and start their programmes, change training providers if they move jobs, and transfer credit from one qualification to another – just what the report is calling for.”

ILM believes that the report appears to ignore vocational qualifications; marginalising learning methods being successfully used by thousands of people each year.

David Pardey continued: “In today’s faltering economy, UK plc needs a significant increase in higher level skills, not just by getting more young people into Higher Education, but by raising the attainment of the large numbers of people already in the workforce..”

In Scotland, where ILM’s qualifications are also credit-rated in the Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework (SCQF) - a single credit-rating system that applies across all qualification types, including HE. Credit can be transferred between vocational and academic qualifications, opening up flexible opportunities for learners. A similar system is also possible in Wales, where the Credit and Qualification Framework for Wales (CQFW) applies to HE and vocational qualifications alike.

“If it can be done in Scotland and in Wales, why not in England? If there were a single credit system operating across all types of qualifications, it would facilitate this transfer, opening up more opportunities for learners to improve their skills,” added Pardey.

ILM believes that universities have a significant role to play in achieving this goal, but they are not the only organisations able to address the needs of employers and employees for higher level skills.  Already individual universities are recognising the credit from ILM qualifications towards their own degrees. For example, holders of ILM’s Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Leadership and Diploma in Executive Management can put the 60 credits from these qualifications towards a Masters degree at Portsmouth University.

For further information and interviews with ILM Chief Executive Penny de Valk, please contact:  Anya Matthews or Rebecca Griffiths at Colman Getty / T: 020 7631 2666

Notes to editors: The Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) is Europe’s leading management organisation. ILM partners with more than 80,000 individuals and organisations each year to help them fulfil their potential and achieve success through its wide range of flexible leadership and management development solutions.  From industry-leading qualifications and membership services to specialist learning resources, all ILM products and services are built on in-depth research and benchmarked against best practice standards. Supporting a fast-growing community of over 30,000 practising leaders and managers, ILM’s membership services are designed to provide ongoing continuing professional development throughout every stage of a manager’s career.  Backed by an in depth programme of thought leadership research, ILM operates internationally, improving leadership and management skills, knowledge and outputs across all sectors, from corporate finance to the armed forces.