Transcript Project Status

Professional
Qualifications System
in Estonia
European Bank for the Development of Modular
Curricula and Educational Technologies EMCET-2
Svetlana Kozlovskaja
Institute of Educational Research, Tallinn, Estonia
Agenda

History of standards in Estonia

Professional Standards’ Legal Basis

The Professions Chamber:
− Brief overview
− Objectives
− Achievements

Estonian Qualification System

Keywords

Structure of standard

Standards for VET specialists

Useful resources
History Of Standards:
Milestones

1993 - Adult Education Act - provides for everybody’s
rights, opportunities and obligations to participate.

1998 – Vocational Training Institutions Act - regulates
the procedure and conditions for organising professional
education and training at vocational educational institutions.

2000 – Professions Act – regulates qualifications system

2001 - the Action Plan for Developing Estonian
Vocational Education and Training System for 2001–
2004. The main objective: to determine the main courses of
development in the vocational education system

2005 - the Action Plan for Developing Estonian VET
System for 2005–2008. 3 main goals:
− further development of VET
− compliance with the needs of the Estonian economy and
labour market
− cooperation with employers
Professional Standards’ Legal Basis
 Professions Act - entered into force 19 January 2000 (RT1
I 2001, 3, 7)
This Act provides the bases for the development of the
requirements for professional qualifications and the conditions
and procedure for the attestation and award of professional
qualifications.
1997-2001 – Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry was
delegated to develop and implement qualification system
 Professional Council’s statutes
 The procedure for the preparation,
amendment, structure and recording of
professional standards
 Establishment of the Register of the
professions
 Professional certificate issue and statute
The Professions Chamber:
brief overview
 The Estonian Qualification Authority
(trademark – “Kutsekoda” or The Professions
Chamber) was established in August 2001 in order
to continue developing the professional
qualifications system launched by the Estonian
Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 1997.
 The Professions Chamber was established by
− the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and
Industry,
− Estonian Employers' Confederation,
− Ministry of Social Affairs,
− Estonian Employees' Unions' Confederation
− the Confederation of Estonian Trade Unions
The Professions Chamber:
objectives
 Facilitating the establishment and development of
an integrated professional qualifications system
 Establishing prerequisites for achieving
comparability of the qualifications of Estonian
employees as well as acknowledgement of other
countries.
To achieve these objectives, the Professions Chamber
shall:
− organise the activities of professional councils as well
as the development, supplementing and improvement
of the professional standard, and establishment of
evaluation criteria;
− work out methods for developing and implementing
the employees' qualifications system, and the
qualification evaluation system;
− organise performance of tasks given by professional
councils,
− manage the state register of professions.
The Professions Chamber:
achievements
− 16 professional councils – 245 people
− 77 professional qualifications
committees (which award professional
qualifications) - 970 people
− 475 professional standards
− 8868 professional certificates
Estonian Qualification System
Resources
People
Professional councils
Working groups
Professional qualifications
committees
Examination committees
Professional examination
centers
Experts
Specialists
Coordinators
Assistants
Money
Time
Award of
professional
qualifications
Training
Mapping of
professions,
Development and
modernisation of
qualifications
requirements
Professional
certificate
Curriculum
Trainers
Professional
standard
Keywords
Profession
an area of activity based on similar duties and activities
Vocation
the set of knowledge, skills, experience, values and attitudes
necessary for the performance of duties which is acquired by
learning and working in the corresponding profession
Standard of professional competence
document that describes working conditions, tasks, responsibilities,
knowledge, skills, competencies and attitudes required for a
particular profession.
Competency
specialized knowledge, skills, experience and attitudes
Professional qualification
the level of competence required in a given profession which is
recognized on the basis of regulated requirements
Professional council
body consisting of the representatives of employees, employers and
professional associations of the corresponding area of activity and
the representatives of the state. Development of professional
standards
Professional qualifications committee
body which awards professional qualifications
Professional certificate
document certifying professional qualifications
Structure of standard

General skills and knowledge

Main skills and knowledge
Requirements for general skills and knowledge in the fields of
activity.
Requirements for skills and knowledge necessary for the
profession.

Special skills and knowledge
Requirements for skills and knowledge related to specialisation.

Additional skills and knowledge

Personal characteristics and abilities
Recommended skills and knowledge, which support and extend
professional skills or are related to additional qualification.
Requirements for personal and individual characteristics and
physical abilities necessary for the profession.
Professional qualifications are divided into 5 levels where level is
the lowest and level V is the highest
Standards for VET specialists
 Teacher V (general subject teacher)
 Adult educator (Andragogue) III, IV, V
Vocational Teachers
Statute (1995)s:

A profound knowledge of the theory and methods of
the profession

Aware of general developments in his/her profession

Ability to link professional subjects with general
education subjects

Ability to link theory and practice

Co-operates with employers

Prepares teaching resourses necessary for his/her
work

Sets tests, exams and assessments

Organizes and participates in final professional
exams
Useful resources

The Estonian Qualification Authority (The Professions Chamber)
http://www.kutsekoda.ee/default.aspx/3

Association of Estonian Adult Educators ANDRAS
http://www.andras.ee/

Estonian Central Federation of Employers http://www.ettk.ee

National Examination and Qualification Center
http://www.ekk.edu.ee

NGO Estonian Association of Vocational Teachers
http://eky.org.ee/

Action Plan for Developing Estonian VET System in 2005-2008.
Tallinn, Ministry of Education and Research, 2004.
http://www.hm.ee/uus/hm/client/download.php?id=1172

Estonian National Observatory, Foundation for Lifelong Learning
Development
http://www.innove.ee/en/?p=2&op=page&pID=130
Thank you!