21st October 1998

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A new educational credit system which has been developed in Northern Ireland and will transform the traditional approach to qualifications, is to be discussed at a special conference at the University of Ulster.

The system, which has taken three years to develop, has already won the admiration of the educational world and is expected to become the model for a standard scheme throughout the United Kingdom.

Under the new 'learner-centered' scheme, all learning will be explained in terms of a 'common currency' of credit. This credit (a numerical measure of achievement) denotes the volume of learning (number of credits) and the intellectual depth of that learning (level).

Known as the Northern Ireland Credit Accumulation and Transfer system, the scheme was managed within the University of Ulster's Educational Development Unit, through the Project Director, Ms Sandra Griffiths, and the Project Development Officer, Dr Caroline Egerton. Sandra explains:

"Since the system allows learning to be described, measured and compared, credit can be accumulated and transferred within and between awards. Thus learners will not be required to repeat learning for which they already hold credit. People sometimes start courses with the best of intention but for all sorts of reasons, have to leave before they complete their course. I've been in education a long time and seen far too much talent and potential wasted. This new system will eradicate duplication of learning and effort which demoralises learners and wastes resources."

The system will not only allow credit to be transferred between and within awards but also between and within the sectors thus allowing learners to gain entry to colleges and institutions more readily, and increasing learner choice and flexibility.

Under the new system learners can be motivated by expectations of success as they progress, rather than inhibited by fear of failure at a distant and final examination. This is because learners who do not want a full national qualification can access small 'chunks' of learning in relevant fields at levels, times and locations suited to them. The credit awarded for these small 'chunks' of learning will be recorded or banked and can be added to at a later time, until sufficient credit is accumulated to progress to nationally recognised awards, Higher Education or employment.

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Academic Affairs at the University of Ulster, Professor Peter Roebuck, chaired the committee (with representation from all the major providers of Education and training in Northern Ireland) which developed and agreed the scheme. NICATS is one of the first UK networks to develop a single credit framework embracing both the further and higher education sectors and as Professor Roebuck states:

"It has taken years of hard negotiation among all the colleges, institutes and universities in Northern Ireland but we have cracked it! We now have a new, simplified benchmark for educational achievement".

Professor Roebuck explains:

"The work of NICATS has been perceived as 'radical', however, given the Northern Ireland context, we saw the development of a single framework as the only sensible way forward. It is clear that Northern Ireland is ideally placed to act as a testing ground which will inform practice in the rest of the UK."

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk