GMSA Showcases ModCAT

A scheme, run by the Greater Manchester Strategic Alliance, has been selected to  pilot the national principles of common credit between further and higher education. The GMSA was selected, alongside three other Lifelong Learning Networks, because of its progress in developing a module catalogue in Greater Manchester.

The GMSA’s ModCAT (module catalogue: Credit Accumulation and Transfer) project is testing the newly developed principles of LLNs - designed to make university education more accessible to people already in the work place.

GMSA Director Cath Walsh said: “ModCAT supports institutions in their attempts to provide employer-led, flexible, work-related higher education.

“It enables individuals to select university level modules from a module catalogue. Each module is awarded credits which can be accumulated towards a recognised higher education qualification.  This scheme enables employers and students to select modules from a host of different institutions and tailor their course towards their specific needs.

“It is suited to both part-time learners, who may be in employment and seeking career development opportunities, and employers, who may be looking to the higher education sector to help them develop their workforce.

“The GMSA is a large and very robust partnership and there is a real will in Greater Manchester to make this work. This approach to delivering flexible courses can only be achieved through excellent partnership working.

“The project has great potential, it has already generated interest from outside Greater Manchester and the GMSA is keen to share their developments as a means of enabling credit transfer opportunities beyond Greater Manchester.“

The GMSA is a member of The Joint Forum for Higher Levels, who have been responsible for the development of a common approach to credit between the Learning and Skills Sector and the higher education sector in England.