Objectives and functionalities

The ACQF QCP is envisaged as a unifying platform addressing the fragmented qualifications landscape in Africa. It aims to integrate national qualifications into a central repository, facilitating easier regulation, standardisation, and mutual recognition across member states. The platform will support national qualifications authorities, end-users and aid regional and continental integration, promoting the accessibility and portability of qualifications

User needs and system architecture

The Qualifications and Credentials Platform will cater to diverse user groups, including educational institutions, students, and employers, each with specific roles and requirements:

• Qualifications Curators need secure data management capabilities.
• The general public requires a user-friendly interface to access qualification information.
• Data Users need access to detailed, structured qualification data for analysis.

The proposed system architecture encompasses robust, scalable databases managed at national and continental levels, ensuring data integrity and accessibility. The architecture also includes data system functions like classification, comparison, and visualisation tools to support user interaction with qualification data

Data Model

The ACQF QCP will utilise the African Learning Model (ALM), which was developed by adapting existing learning models to suit the African context. The data exchange will be facilitated through JSON / JSON-LD formats, ensuring interoperability and compliance with international standards such as Dublin Core and SKOS. Data integrity and validation are managed through SHACL, ensuring that all data meets quality and structural standards.