The Qualification Strategy for Languages, Intercultural Skills, Translation and Interpreting is a major step forward in developing a system of qualifications and training provision that is highly relevant for the needs of employers and learners in the UK. It has been devised to address the issues highlighted by employers across a range of sectors in a survey carried out between November 2007 and June 2008.

Vocational qualification reform and the recent introduction of credit and qualification frameworks across the UK provide the ideal opportunity to ensure available qualifications are relevant, motivational and allow learners to build up skills in flexible units that fit into their lifestyle and minimise impact on employers. This in turn can lead to cost-efficient investment in training, and increased productivity. Credit-based qualification frameworks can also help organisations to explore ways to formally accredit prior learning or experience.

CILT will continue to work closely with awarding bodies, regulatory authorities and other sector bodies to ensure that these qualifications meet the needs outlined by employers across a range of contexts.

National Occupational Standards will continue to act as the benchmark for all future qualifications development. CILT is committed to maintaining fit for purpose Standards in languages, intercultural skills, translation and interpreting as well as developing additional suites of Standards where necessary.

The Qualification Strategy, and the supporting research into employer needs, can be downloaded in PDF format below:

Qualification Strategy (pdf, 769KB)

Labour Market Intelligence in Translation and Interpreting (pdf, 319KB)

Labout Market Intelligence in Languages and Intercultural Skills (pdf, 933KB)

In order to implement this Qualification Strategy, CILT has created an Action Plan (pdf, 146kb) for the UK. This plan includes qualifications and other, non-qualification, outcomes that are supported by stakeholders across the UK. CILT will refresh this Action Plan annually as part of our corporate strategy and actively seeks feedback on the actions and outcomes listed to incorporate into future iterations of the Plan.