Employment Minister Sir Reg Empey has said a new Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) will be implemented in Northern Ireland.

The QCF is a credit and unit-based system that will allow learners to combine different learning units to form qualifications, based on the amount of credit awarded to them for completing units. The QCF is intended to include all vocational qualifications when it is in its final form at the end of 2010.

Sir Reg said: "The QCF heralds an important shift in the landscape for vocational qualifications across Northern Ireland, England and Wales.

"It will benefit learners, employers and providers of education and training by allowing more learning to be recognised and for these qualifications to meet the needs of employers in Northern Ireland more effectively.

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"The key advantages of the new framework are its flexibility and inclusiveness. Learners will be able to tailor their learning programmes to suit their needs, whether they want to change jobs or take time out for some other reason - in both cases the credit they have accrued will be recognised permanently.

"Employers will benefit by being able to ensure that their employees' learning programmes are relevant and in line with their business needs."

The announcement follows a wide-reaching programme of testing, trials and feasibility analysis conducted by the vocational qualifications regulators across the three countries, including the NI Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment, during which more than 10,000 learners took part, some of which were in Northern Ireland.

The new framework will be implemented on a phased basis, with the final systems in place by the end of 2010.

In the transitional period between now and then, government and the regulators will be working with bodies that award qualifications, employers, learning providers and sector skills councils to ensure that the framework is suitable for all stakeholders' needs.

Sir Reg added: "One of the features of the vocational qualification reform programme as a whole is the involvement of all stakeholders in the development and testing process.

"This theme of partnership will also characterise the programme as we move into the implementation phase of the QCF."

(PR/JM)