Glossary of Terms

A

• ALN - Adult Literacy and Numeracy
  - the ability to read, write and speak in English and to use mathematics at a level necessary to function at work and in society in general.

B

• BLC - Branded Learning Centre
  - a branded learning centre is a centre which has successfully applied to become part of our network of over 500 learning centres around Scotland. These centres have challenged the culture and ways in which people learn.  While adopting the methods and approaches that best facilitate learning, they have tailored learning to individual needs. To find out more visit our Branded Learning Centres section.

D

• DEL - Definition of Eligible Learning
  - this document is used to assess whether courses are eligible for funding within the ILA Scotland scheme. For further information the ILA Scotland Operational Rules document can be downloaded on the ILA Scotland website.

E

• ECDL - European Computer Driving Licence
  - the internationally recognised qualification which enables people to demonstrate their competence in computer skills. 
  
  
• ESOL - English for Speakers of Other Languages
  - courses designed to help those whose main language is not English to improve their English language skills.

F

• FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
  - a document or section of a website that lists and answers the most common questions on a particular subject(s). Visit the FAQs section of this website to view the answers to our most frequently asked questions.
  
  
• FE - Further Education
  - tertiary education courses leading to qualifications up to and including SCQF level 6 (SVQ level 3). 

H

• HE - Higher Education
  - courses leading to qualifications at or above SCQF level 7.
   
• HNC / D - Higher National Certificate / Diploma
  - Higher National courses provide both the practical skills needed to do a job and the theoretical knowledge employers will expect. Both HNCs and HNDs are made up of Higher National Unit credits (one credit represents roughly 40 hours of timetabled learning). HNCs are made up of 12 credits and usually take one year to complete while HNDs are made up of 30 credits and usually take two years to complete. Higher National qualifications have been developed by the Scottish Qualifications Authority in partnership with colleges, universities and industry.

I

• ILA Scotland - Individual Learning Accounts Scotland
  - a Scottish Government scheme that helps learners pay for learning that they can do at a time, place, pace and in a way that suits them. To find out more visit www.ilascotland.org.uk 
• Information Specialist
  - a member of the Information Services team in Skills Development Scotland. On hand to support providers in registering and maintaining their course information on the national learning opportunities database, provide training and support in the use of PROMT, apply eligibility standards to courses submitted for ILA Scotland funding and generally, support both non-ILA and ILA providers in their engagement with Skills Development Scotland.

M

• MA - Modern Apprenticeship
  - a national training programme which offers people aged over 16 the chance of paid employment linked with the opportunity to train for jobs at craft, technician and management level.

N

• NLOD - National Learning Opportunities Database
  - Skills Development Scotland's comprehensive database of registered learning providers and their associated learning opportunity information. The NLOD provides the data which is available through our helplines, available on our websites and also available through the websites of our partners and intermediaries. To search the course information held in the NLOD visit the NLOD course search on the Skills Development Scotland website.  
• NVQ - National Vocational Qualifaction
  - vocational qualifications based on National Standards which are drawn up by people from industry, commerce and education. NVQs provide a way of proving that a learner can do their job well, to national standards agreed by the industry or commercial sector they work in.

P

• PROMT - PRovider Opportunity Management Tool
  - free software which allows you to send us your learning opportunity information electronically for inclusion on our websites. To find out more visit the PROMT section of this website.

S

• SAAS - Student Awards Agency Scotland
  - deliver the ILA Scotland scheme in partnership with Skills Development Scotland.
   
• SCQF - Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework
  - helps to make the relationships between qualifications clearer. It can clarify entry and exit points and routes for progression within and across education and training sectors. It also helps maximise the opportunities for credit transfer. Qualifications in the framework are compared using two measures: level and credit.The level of a qualification shows how difficult the learning is. The credit points show the size of the qualification and how much work is involved in achieving that qualification. To find out more visit www.scqf.org.uk
   
• SDS - Skills Development Scotland
  - a new non-departmental public body which is an amalgamation of Careers Scotland, the Scottish University for Industry (SUfI) and key skills elements of Scottish Enterprise (SE) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The merger of these organisations took place on 1st April 2008. Through this merger Scotland now has a dynamic, forward-looking organisation which will deliver comprehensive information, advice and guidance for careers and learning as well as extensive support for skills development. For further information visit www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk
   
• SME - Small to Medium sized Enterprise
  - defined as being an organisation with less than 250 employees.
   
• SQA - Scottish Qualifications Authority
  - the national body in Scotland responsible for the development, accreditation, assessment and certification of qualifications other than degrees. To find out more visit www.sqa.org.uk
   
• SSA - Sector Skills Agreement
  - an agreement between relevant partners which maps out exactly what skills employers need their workforce to have and how these skills will be supplied, both now and in the future. Such agreements are facilitated by the network of employer-led Sector Skills Councils (SSCs), but are signed up to by everyone who supplies, funds and plans education and training.
   
• SSB - Sector Skills Body
  - an organisation with responsibility for both workforce development and the development and maintenance of National Occupational Standards, but which falls outwith the Skills for Business Network.
   
• SSC - Sector Skills Council
  - an employer-led, independent organisation that covers a specific sector across the UK.  SSCs provide employers with a unique forum to express the skills and productivity needs that are pertinent to their sector. All SSCs are licensed by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, in consultation with Ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. There are 25 SSCs in total - for a full list visit our Sector Skills Council Directory
   
• SVQ - Scottish Vocational Qualification
  - vocational qualifications based on National Standards which are drawn up by people from industry, commerce and education. SVQs provide a way of proving that a learner can do their job well, to national standards agreed by the industry or commercial sector they work in. SVQs are awarded by SQA.

U

• UKRLP - UK Register of Learning Providers
  - a project which aims to allow the sharing of information between Government Departments, agencies such as the LSC, Jobcentre Plus, the Adult Learning Inspectorate and learning providers. It offers a one stop source of provider information for employers, learners, learning providers and other stakeholders.