About the UK Vocational Qualifications Reform Programme (UK VQRP)

The UK VQRP is a programme of work involving England, Wales and Northern Ireland which is intended to reform adult vocational qualifications across the UK.  The key objectives of the programme are to:

1. Reform and rationalise sector qualifications so that they reflect employer and learner needs, providing recognised and valued levels of skills both within and across sectors - Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA) leads on this work.

2. Develop a unit-based qualification offer which is underpinned by credit, allowing credit accumulation and transfer, which is known as the Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) - Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is leading on this work in partnership with regulators in Wales and Northern Ireland.

3. Establish in England, Wales and Northern Ireland planning, funding and delivery arrangements which support Sub Programme (1) and (2) and are a facilitator for reform - LSC is leading on this work in partnership with UK funding bodies in Wales and Northern Ireland.

4. Rationalise existing qualifications - Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB) and the Joint Council for General Qualifications (JCQ) lead on this work.

5. Communications - Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) leads on this work.

6. Evaluation of the Impact of VQ Reform - SSDA and the UK Vocational Qualification Research Group (UK VQRG) are jointly leading on this work.