BEagle, I'm suprised you didn't know about something! First time?? (J!)
QTI was introduced to Hawk TWU mates about 4 years ago to give them a 'Q' qual to take to civvy street and acknowledge they actually now instruct rather than just assess/criticise; and more importantly act as an incentive to recruit to the sunshine paradise Isle.
It was preposed that QTIs would make a good sqn QFI, able to do annual check rides and things, but not the basic convex flying(sounds good).
56 (F3 OCU) also took on the new shiney badge for the non-QFIs to give it some front-line cred. The rest of the OCUs gaffed it and so it died a slow and painful death and gave no cred at all.
Last year another guy got promoted by changing the decision. This time TWU QTIs were changed to QFIs, for the same reason as above.
Here endeth the lesson. No doubt someone else knows more to the story, if they wish to contribute.......