UK plans permanent academic database

Universities and employers will be able to check whether prospective candidates have the qualifications they claim

The UK government is to create a database that will hold the academic achievements of every citizen from the age of 14.

The system has been under trial since 2006 and will allow colleges, universities and future employers to check whether prospective candidates have the qualifications they claim.

The Managing Information Across Partners (MIAP) database will keep track of students by issuing a Unique Learner Number.

The new system replaces the unique pupil numbers that are currently destroyed at the end of a candidate's school life.

Cross-sector tests and trials of the Learner Registration Service and Unique Learner Number began in June 2006.

"Precious Igbinobaro, from Lewisham College in London, was the first person to be registered with a Unique Learner Number on 6 September 2006," said an MIAP statement.

A full Learner Registration Service was launched for more than 40 early adopter organisations on 3 September 2007.

MIAP said that almost 27,000 learners had been registered by the time the prototype service went live.

The service was used by 74 organisations including schools, colleges, awarding bodies and partners.