Transcript Development of the Finnsh National Framework for

Bologna Process and European Qualifications
Framework (EQF)
15 April 2011, Stockholm
NQF and Bologna Process
Carita Blomqvist, Head of Unit
Recognition and International Comparability of
Qualifications
Finnish National Board of Education
Contents
- Institutional level: EQF, HEQF (Bologna) and
referencing/self-certification processes
- Compatibility and co-operation
- Challenges
- Different solutions in Member States
- Shift in focus from institutions to citizens
- Situation in Finland
European Qualifications Framework
Adopted in 2008 as a Council and EP
Recommendation
32 countries (EU/EEA + countries participating in the
EU LLL programme)
Characteristics:
• Lifelong learning perspective – all qualification
levels
• Eight levels
• Levels defined through learning outcomes
(knowledge, skills, competence)
• Promotion of validation of non-formal and informal
learning
• Close link to quality assurance
For education and learning
European Qualifications Framework
Implementation on national and European
levels: National Coordination Points (work
coordinated by the European Commission)
Referencing of national levels to the EQF
• criteria and procedures agreed in the EQF
Advisory Group
• overseen by EQF Advisory Group and the
European Commission
• referencing reports are published
For education and learning
QF-EHEA/European Higher Education Area
(Bologna)
Adopted in 2005 by EHEA Education Ministers
47 countries participating in the Bologna
Process, incl. all EU Member States
• covers only higher education
• three levels with possibility for intermediate
qualifications in national frameworks
• levels defined through learning outcomes
For education and learning
QF-EHEA/European Higher Education Area
(Bologna)
Implementation on European level: national
correspondents (work coordinated by the
Council of Europe)
Self-certification of compatibility between
national framework and QF-EHEA
• criteria and procedures
• overseen by Bologna Follow-up Group and
QF working group
• reports are published
For education and learning
Compatibility and co-operation
Close co-operation between the two
overarching
frameworks between implementation bodies
on
European level
• national level?
EQF Recommendation states compatibility
with the cycle descriptors of the QF-EHEA:
• short cycle/EQF 5
• 1st cycle/EQF 6
• 2nd cycle/EQF 7
• 3rd cycle/EQF 8
Great importance of shared self-certification
and referencing criteria and procedures.
For education and learning
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Common challenges –
and opportunities
Learning outcomes (work to be carried out
by educational institutions)
Link to quality assurance
Link to recognition of qualifications
Stakeholder involvement
Recognition of non-formal and informal
learning
Transparency and credibility of
referencing/self-certification
Co-operation and implementation on
national level
For education and learning
Different solutions in Member States
• one overarching framework covering all
levels of qualifications
• separate frameworks for higher education
and other qualification levels
• common or separate descriptors for EQF
levels 5/6-8
• referencing/self-certification: separate
procedures or one procedure resulting in
one or two reports
For education and learning
Why are frameworks developed?
Benefits for individual citizens
• Help understand qualifications and how
they
are related
• Value learning obtained in different ways
(emphasis on learning outcomes)
• Ease movement within and between
systems:
instruments to help people progress in
learning and carry qualifications from one
system to another.
For education and learning
Why are frameworks developed?
Benefits for individual citizens
• Institutions dominate the development and
definition of frameworks, not the users.
• If frameworks become “battleground” for
institutional interests, there is a risk
individuals do not benefit from frameworks.
• Diversity and inconsistency in the design of
the
QF (different levels, different descriptors
etc.)
will only diminish the benefits to an
individual learner
For education and learning
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Situation in Finland
Government proposal for an Act on the
National Framework of Qualifications and
other learning
8-level framework covering all levels of
qualifications; levels 5-7 are not reserved
solely for higher education qualifications
Learning outcomes and to which framework
level descriptor they correspond (best fit) is
decisive
Level 5: all specialist vocational
qualifications and some vocational
qualifications
Level 6: some specialist vocational
qualifications
For education and learning
Further information
EQF
http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelonglearning-policy/doc44_en.htm
Bologna (QF-EHEA)
http://www.ehea.info
Council of Europe HE site
http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/highereducation/Defa
ult_en.asp
Finnish NQF:
www.oph.fi/qualificationsframework
For education and learning