Education standards

We’ve a strong track record in working with overseas partners, either through delivery of online teaching and training, in-country provision, or a more ‘blended learning’ approach.

Curriculum, qualifications, accreditation and quality assurance

Universities

Scottish universities offer an extensive range of higher level qualifications ranging from undergraduate and postgraduate degrees to executive education and continuous professional development (CPD) programmes. These range from bespoke programmes for individual companies to industry recognised and accredited qualifications by professional and statutory bodies.

The quality of teaching in Scottish higher education institutions is internationally recognised as world-class. The Scottish Funding Council (SFC), the non-departmental government body that funds higher education has a statutory duty to assure quality and standards. 

The SFC contracts the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) to carry out independent, external review of institutional systems for quality assurance and enhancement – known as 'Enhancement-led institutional review'. The review teams, appointed by QAA, include senior academics, an international reviewer and one student reviewer as a full member of the team.

Colleges

Our colleges deliver qualifications backed by the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA), City & Guilds, Chartered Institute of Management, and many globally recognised professional industry standards.

Our close partnerships with these organisations help support teaching and training needs for businesses whether at home or operating overseas.

Scotland offers comprehensive teaching and training to suit most business needs backed by its wide range of Scottish vocational and academic programmes which can be tailored to ‘local’ overseas markets.

These include:

  • National Progression Awards – defined set of skills and knowledge (specialist and vocational), such as SQA's NPA in Enterprise (SCQF 6)  
  • National Certificates – foundation technician level offering ‘underpinning knowledge’ or essentials 
  • Higher National Certificates and Diplomas (HNC & HND advanced qualifications) – preparation for management and technician roles 
  • Scottish and International Vocational Qualifications – work-based learning to assess competence on the job from trainee, operative, craft-worker, technician to manager 
  • Professional Development Awards – such as, Continuous Professional Development (CPD) are useful in succession planning when aligned to company training modules 
  • Advanced Higher Education and Executive Education – from Undergraduate to Masters level (many HNC/D programmes progress to final year Undergraduate)

Scotland is proud of its one framework for qualifications under the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework, which has been adopted and replicated worldwide.

Learn about our international support for education and training projects