The Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) has re-launched its entire range of vocational qualifications on the ground-breaking Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF), bringing the benefits of flexible bite-sized development to more than 80,000 executives.

In a major step forwards for vocational education, learners on ILM’s wide range of qualifications will now be awarded transferable credits for every individual unit of learning they complete.

This means that as well as studying for full ILM qualifications, learners can now choose to take individual units through short courses, or mix and match units from across different qualifications to get the exact skills they need. They will have the option of building up to a full qualification over time. They will also be able to transfer credits across qualifications and use their online Learner Achievement Records to easily identify ‘progression routes’ to additional qualifications – with no need to repeat prior learning.

Penny de Valk, ILM chief executive of ILM said:
"The ILM is delighted to be pioneering this far more flexible and learner friendly approach to skills development, which will be particularly relevant and beneficial to the UK’s leaders, managers and organisations. Unit based learning makes it easier for managers to gain the key skills they need to meet the challenges of today, building towards qualifications at their own pace and continuing to improve and develop over the full length of their career. We have long been vocal supporters of the QCF and are pleased to be among the first to bring the many associated benefits to our customers and learners."

Ken Boston, QCA's chief executive added: "By having its courses accredited as part of the new QCF, the ILM is in a position to offer leadership and management related qualifications which reflect the needs of both employers and learners of a more flexible and easily understood qualifications system."

In addition to registering on the QCF, ILM has taken the opportunity to streamline its internal processes and introduce a fully revised quality assurance strategy thereby reducing paperwork and administration for its approved centres (colleges/universities, private trainers and major employers) with tailored support and monitoring. Initial feedback among ILM’s customers has been very positive.

Robin Lodge, director of the people development team commented: "The new credit framework offers a superb opportunity for us and, more importantly, our clients. We have already sold a range of QCF rated management qualifications and feedback from the employers is that the new system is giving them much more flexibility in meeting the skills needs of their workforces."