Photo Derry Moore. © Victoria and Albert Museum
The V&A is doing its bit in the ongoing reform of vocational qualifications in the UK with its new Level 4 Diploma for its Assistant Curator Development Programme.
The Museum has been working with the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) to develop the course as part of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). The latter aims to make the qualifications system simpler to understand and use, as well as making it more relevant to the needs of employers and more flexible and accessible for learners.
Following two years of tests and trials the QCF has now been approved for implementation.
Covering a wide range of curatorial responsibilities, such as working with collections and looking after museum visitors, the V&A’s contribution to the programme features on-the-job training as well as academic study.
"The implementation of the QCF is a significant step in reforming the qualifications landscape for 21st century learners and employers,” said Ken Boston, Chief Executive of the QCA.
Mr Boston also promised that the QCF will “recognise achievements, support progress to more learning and employment and stimulate the higher levels of achievement required by the global economy.”
In July 2008 the V&A became the first national museum to have its in-house training nationally accredited by the QCA. The museum’s in-house training already sets the standard for curatorial training nationally, with both V&A employees and other museums undertaking their training programmes.
For more information about QCF visit www.qca.org.uk/qcf
