QCP Training and Capacity Cevelopment

Building skills for qualifications platform management


The Qualifications and Credentials Platform (QCP) connects national qualifications databases across Africa. It is a key tool of the African Continental Qualifications Framework (ACQF), supporting qualification recognition, learner mobility, and cooperation among African nations.

To get the most out of the QCP, we provide comprehensive training to help national teams develop skills for data management, qualifications standards, understanding interoperability and using the platform effectively. This section provides everything you need to build those skills. You can work through the interactive online course at your own pace, download training materials to use in your own context, or browse resources from past webinars and workshops.

 

QCP interactive online course 

Start Learning: https://acqf.academy.knowledgeinnovation.eu/

The QCP eLearning course is the primary training resource for individuals working with or interested in the QCP. It is a self-paced, interactive course hosted on the ACQF Academy platform. The course is designed for ministry officials, national qualifications authority staff, database curators, and qualifications experts.

The course combines short pedagogical videos (2–5 minutes each), knowledge-check quizzes, and hands-on exercises. It is available in English, French and Portuguese.

What you will learn

By completing this course, you will be able to:

  • Understand the role of qualifications databases in the African context and within the ACQF policy framework.
  • Navigate and use the QCP platform and its Curator interface.
  • Map national qualifications data to the ACQF QCPdata model and prepare data for upload.
  • Apply quality assurance processes and manage qualifications records.
  • Set up and manage automated data upload for countries with existing digital databases.

Course content

The course comprises five modules with 15 lessons in total.

 

Module 1: Foundational Knowledge – Qualifications Databases in the African Context

This module establishes the core concepts behind qualifications databases and their strategic importance for national qualifications systems across Africa. It explores why databases matter, who uses them, and how African countries are at different stages of development.

Lessons:

  • Lesson 1.1: Purpose and Benefits in the African Continental Context
  • Lesson 1.2: Mapping National Stakeholder Ecosystems
  • Lesson 1.3: Qualifications Database Models in African Systems

 

Module 2: ACQF Policy Framework and the QCP

This module outlines the policy context of the ACQF. It also shows how the Qualifications and Credentials Platform (QCP) aids in integrating qualifications data across the continent. We will discuss the ACQF's goals, the QCP's role in achieving them, and the benefits for national and regional stakeholders.

Lessons:

  • Lesson 2.1: Introduction to the ACQF
  • Lesson 2.2: QCP's Role in Supporting ACQF Implementation
  • Lesson 2.3: Policy Benefits for Stakeholders

 

Module 3: QCP Platform Overview

This module provides a technical overview of the QCP platform, including its architecture, the ACQF QCPdata model, interoperability standards, and data governance principles. It explains how the platform connects national databases and enables continental data sharing.

Lessons:

  • Lesson 3.1: QCP Architecture and Components
  • Lesson 3.2: ACQF QCP data modeland Data Standardisation
  • Lesson 3.3: Interoperability Standards and Protocols
  • Lesson 3.4: Data Governance and Security

 

Module 4: Practical Implementation

This module develops practical skills for working with the QCP Curator interface. It covers how to navigate the platform, map national data to the ACQF QCP data model, ensure data quality, and manually enter qualifications records.

Lessons:

  • Lesson 4.1: Navigating the QCP Curator Interface
  • Lesson 4.2: Data Mapping and Preparation
  • Lesson 4.3: Data Quality Assurance
  • Lesson 4.4: Manual Data Entry Process

 

Module 5: Automated Data Upload

This module explains how countries with national databases can link them to the QCP using automated data flows. It covers technical requirements, upload processes (bulk upload and API), and the roles of national authorities and technical staff in maintaining data quality and compliance.

Lessons:

  • Lesson 5.1: Automated Data Upload

 

Access the QCP eLearning course: QCP eLearning Course on ACQF Academy → https://acqf.academy.knowledgeinnovation.eu/

 

QCP training series – material (T1–T6)

 The QCP Training Series is a set of six PDF training modules developed for those who prefer to work with printed or downloadable materials, and for trainers and facilitators preparing group learning sessions or workshops.

The modules can be used standalone or as part of a training programme. They are available in English, French and Portuguese. Each module can be used independently or as part of a sequential learning path.

The training series is designed for government officials and staff in ministries of education and labour, national agencies responsible for qualifications and credentials, and others working on qualifications databases and the QCP.

Training modules

  • T0 – Introduction to the QCP Training Series
    • Overview of the full training series, how to use the modules, and the learning approach.
    • Download T0 PDF
  • T1 – Qualifications Databases: Purpose and Users
    • What qualifications databases are, why they matter, and who uses them.
    • Download T1 PDF
  • T2 – The Role of Qualifications Databases in the International Context
    • How national databases connect to international frameworks and recognition systems.
    • Download T2 PDF
  • T3 – Mapping and Standardising Qualifications Data
    • How to align national qualifications data with common standards and structures.
    • Download T3 PDF
  • T4 – Integrating Learning Outcomes into Qualifications Data
    • How to describe qualifications using learning outcomes and competence-based approaches.
    • Download T4 PDF
  • T5 – Structured Data, Data Standards and Interoperability
    • Technical standards for data exchange, including the ACQF QCP data modeland JSON-LD formats.
    • Download T5 PDF
  • T6 – Policy Benefits and Use Cases
    • How qualifications databases and the QCP support policy goals such as mobility, recognition, and quality assurance.
    • Download T6 PDF

For more details, please download our comprehensive plan of all training activities supporting sustainable operations of the QCP

ACQF QCP Capacity Development Plan PDF

Training plan 2025

Data mapping templates

To support national teams in aligning their data with QCP standards, the platform provides dedicated data mapping templates. These tools offer a practical framework for translating national qualifications data fields into the ACQF QCPdata model format.

Download data mapping template (Excel)

Webinars and Workshops

The QCP capacity development programme has included online webinars, national Q&A sessions, and on-site peer learning workshops. These events have brought together national contact persons, ministry officials, and qualifications experts from across Africa.

Below you will find the materials from past sessions. Presentation slides and supporting documents are linked where available.

Webinars and online training

The following webinars and training sessions were held as part of the QCP capacity development programme:

Download the presentations at the following links.

On-site peer learning workshops

 Peer learning is a core methodology of the ACQF capacity development programme. On-site workshops bring together national coordinators and other practitioners from different countries to exchange experiences and work through hands-on activities, such as mapping national qualifications to the continental model, practice with the curator portal, developing country implementation roadmaps, and building relationships across national teams. These events build mutual trust and foster a community of practice across Africa.

Johannesburg peer learning activity (2024)  

Participants from pilot countries worked together on qualifications mapping and shared approaches to data collection.

Resources:

Mauritius peer learning activity (2024)  

Teams developed national implementation roadmaps and shared progress on data collection and platform use.

Resources:

Future workshops will be announced through the ACQF Network.

 

User Manual

A comprehensive user manual covers all aspects of platform navigation and data entry. It includes step-by-step instructions for curator portal functions. The manual is intended for national contact persons and database curators working directly in the QCP Curator interface.

Download QCP user manual (PDF)

 

Support  

If you have questions about course content or technical problems, contact the support team.

Email: support@acqf-qcp.africa

The support team can help with account creation and login problems, technical issues with the platform, questions about course content, and accessing your certificate.