The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) Partnership has announced an inspiring line-up of speakers and workshop hosts for its flagship SCQF@25 Conference, taking place at the Glasgow Science Centre on 22 September. 

The conference marks the 25th anniversary of the SCQF – Scotland’s national qualifications framework – which has been helping learners, employers and educators understand and compare qualifications and learning achievements since 2001. 

Collage of four professional headshots arranged in a 2×2 grid. The top-left image shows a person with light hair and glasses wearing a dark shirt against a grey background. The top-right image shows a person in a dark polo shirt seated against a plain light-coloured wall. The bottom-left image shows a person wearing a blue shirt and checked blazer against a light grey background. The bottom-right image shows a person in a white shirt and patterned tie standing in front of a green, blue, and orange background. Labels appear on the collage identifying the speakers as David Cameron, Dr Lee Coutts, John Evans, and Stuart McKenna.

Hosted by Stuart McKenna, Chief Executive of the Scottish Training Federation, the event will bring together leaders from education, skills and industry to reflect on the Framework’s impact over the past quarter century and explore its role in shaping Scotland’s future skills and education landscape. 

SCQF@25 keynote speakers

Among the keynote speakers is The Real David Cameron, an experienced mentor and consultant whose insightful perspective on education promises to provide delegates with fresh inspiration. 

The conference will also hear from Dr Lee Coutts, Head Teacher of Ullapool High School, whose personal and professional journey exemplifies the transformative power of lifelong learning.

SCQF@25 workshops and hosts

Delegates will have the opportunity to participate in a series of interactive workshops exploring some of the key challenges and opportunities facing Scotland’s education and skills system: 

  • Bridging the attainment gap with the SCQF, hosted by Dr Lee Coutts and John McGhee, Director of Education at Glasgow City Council. 
  • Addressing skills gaps through apprenticeships, hosted by Rohaise Rose-Bristow, business owner and co-chair of the Apprenticeship Approvals Group, Michael Cusack, Chief Sustainability Officer at ACS Clothing and Tommy Breslin, Director of Scottish Union Learning. 
  • Exploring Recognition of Prior Learning, hosted by Peter McGuire, Senior Lecturer at the University of the West of Scotland and Ross Short, Head of Fleet Capability at Babcock International. 
  • How to get your qualification on the SCQF with third-party credit rating, hosted by Iain Hawker, Assistant Principal at Fife College, and Julie Wales, Head of Sector at Glasgow Clyde College. 
Headshot of Marissa Lippiatt, SCQF Partnership

The conference will conclude with a panel discussion featuring experts from across education, skills and industry, who will reflect on the future of qualifications, learning and workforce development in Scotland. 

‘An opportunity to reflect’

Marissa Lippiatt, interim chief executive of the SCQF Partnership, pictured right, said: “As we celebrate 25 years of the SCQF, this conference provides an opportunity to reflect on the significant impact the Framework has had on Scotland’s education and skills landscape.

“We are delighted to welcome such an inspiring group of speakers and workshop hosts who will help us explore how qualifications, skills and lifelong learning can continue to support individuals and communities for the next 25 years and beyond.” 

The SCQF@25 Conference is expected to attract representatives from schools, colleges, universities, employers, professional bodies, training providers and government organisations from across Scotland. 

Secure your @SCQF25 place

To book your ticket, visit SCQFP 25th Anniversary Conference 2026 REGISTRATION PORTAL

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

Sponsor SCQF@25

Showcase your organisation at SCQF@25. A range of sponsorship opportunities are available, offering valuable exposure and networking opportunities. View our sponsorship brochure for full details. 

Stuart McKenna, who sits on the SCQF Partnership Board

I’m delighted to be hosting SCQF@25, a special conference celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework, taking place on Tuesday 22 September 2026 at Glasgow Science Centre.

It’s a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the SCQF over the past 25 years, while looking ahead to how the Framework can continue to support learners, employers, education and training providers.

The SCQF has a wonderfully diverse range of stakeholders, and that is reflected in the conference programme.

Networking opportunity

I’m looking forward to hearing new ideas and perspectives, meeting old friends and new colleagues, developing relationships and exploring how the SCQF is being used in practice.

As Chief Executive of the Scottish Training Federation (STF), I’m particularly interested in how we can continue to promote the benefits of the SCQF to STF members.

Most of our members deliver apprenticeships and employability programmes, and many have used the SCQF since its inception to understand and communicate the level of programmes they deliver, including SVQs and, more recently, apprenticeships.

The formal recognition provided by the SCQF gives confidence to learners and employers, while helping learners understand how their qualifications can support their wider education and career pathways.

STF members can also have confidence in the quality of programmes that have gone through the Framework’s robust quality assurance process.

A former board member

I was delighted to serve on the SCQF Partnership Board from 2019 to 2025, which gave me the opportunity to contribute an employer perspective while gaining a deeper understanding of how the Framework can support our members and the wider skills system.

I look forward to continuing to work with Marissa Lippiatt and the SCQF Partnership team as we celebrate this important milestone.

Here’s to the next 25 years – see you at SCQF@25 on 22 September!

SCQF@25 tickets

Not got your ticket yet? Book at SCQFP 25th Anniversary Conference 2026.

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Glossary Term

Exercise

Used in connection with management and/or supervisory responsibility, denotes a requirement of a formal, substantive role.

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Directive

Applied to ‘supervision’, signifies a task or activity that is guided.

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Graphical Data

Encompasses maps, plans, diagrams, tables and graphs.

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Synthesis

Combine discrete elements into a coherent whole.

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Analysis

Examine in detail with a view to explanation and interpretation.

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Present

Set out, put forward, deliver information using a variety of mediums as appropriate.

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Hypothetical

Supposed, assumed for the sake of argument.

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Straightforward

Clear and uncomplicated activity, but not as demanding or systematic and therefore not as advanced as ‘routine’.

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Creativity

Often used in combination with ‘originality’. There is overlap in definition, but the defining characteristic of creativity appears to be imagination.

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Originality

Often used in combination with ‘creativity’. There is overlap in definition, but the defining characteristic of originality appears to be independence.

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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.

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Unfamiliar

New territory for an activity.

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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.

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Everyday

Slightly more advanced and beyond personal but a known experience/activity encountered/applied regularly - less advanced than ‘familiar’.

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Familiar

Often encountered or experienced; common; something one has a good knowledge of - more advanced than ‘personal’ and ‘everyday’, not as advanced as ‘routine’.

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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’.

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Critical

Fully informed, capable of supporting in-depth analysis and assessment.

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Discerning

Using judgement to recognise differences but not fully equipped/informed to analyse and discuss them in depth, so less advanced than critical.

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Awareness

Consciousness, including a background consciousness. Can be a starting point for further exploration.

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Appreciation

A sense, perception, a hold, fix or grasp of one or more of the various aspects of a subject/discipline/sector.

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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.

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Simple

Undemanding activity not necessarily part of a formal structure - not as advanced as ‘basic’.

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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.

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Basic

Activity is early stepping stone on a structure or framework that can be built upon – more advanced than ‘simple’.