Transcript Document

European Qualifications
Framework
Jens Bjornavold
Loucas Zahilas
André Huigens
European centre for development of
vocational training (Cedefop)
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Main functions of the EQF
Translation device
for comparing qualifications
Neutral reference point
and a system for
classifying qualifications levels
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MAIN FEATURES OF
THE EQF
• 8 levels defined through
learning outcomes –
knowledge, skills and
competence
• EQF has two main
aims; to facilitate transnational mobility and
lifelong learning
EQF Level 8
EQF Level 7
EQF Level 6
EQF Level 5
EQF Level 4
EQF Level 3
EQF Level 2
EQF Level 1
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State of play; European level
• Commission; adopted draft Recommendation
5 September 2006
• Agreement in COREPER (Committee of Member States
Permanent representatives) on EQF text 12 September
2007
• Final discussion in Parliament 24 September
• Adoption by Parliament and Council November
2007
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A key to implementation of the
EQF - National Qualifications
Framework:
classification of qualifications
to levels of learning achieved.
for
integration and coordination of
qualifications systems
transparency, access, progression and
quality of qualifications
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National Qualifications Frameworks and
National Qualifications Systems
A national qualifications framework is an optional
part of a National Qualifications System
A national qualifications system embraces all
structures and processes leading to the award of
a qualification
NQS; frequently complex, non-transparent and
fragmented;
NQF aim at making levels explicit and provide
transparency for access, transfer and progress
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Overarching National Qualifications Frameworks in
Europe (1)
Existing NQFs: Ireland, UK (England, Scotland
and Wales), France, Malta
Commitment and preparation: Austria, Belgium,
Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany,
Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Slovak Republic,
Slovenia, Spain and Turkey
Consideration: Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Romania and Sweden
No preparation; Cyprus, Finland, Greece, Iceland
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Overarching National Qualifications Frameworks in
Europe (2)
All candidate and pre-accession countries are
working on NQFs:
Croatia, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
and Turkey, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia
The influence of EQF on developments is clear
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2005-2007
EQF as a catalyst for national
developments
Clear demand and strong support from Member
States
EQF is seen as a relevant tool for cross-border
mobility and for pursuing national lifelong
learning strategies
EQF - a driver and catalyst for national reform and
development of overarching National
Qualifications Frameworks
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Advantages of the EQF
at national level
Introduces an international reference important for individuals, education
and training providers and employers
Supporting LLL by integrating separate
education and training systems
Paves way for credit transfer
Improves employers ability to judge profile
and relevance of qualifications
Enables peer learning between countries
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The first and critical step;
Referring national qualifications levels
to the EQF
Countries asked to refer their national qualifications
levels to the EQF by 2010
Countries will have to refer their qualifications
levels to the EQF through learning outcomes
The principle of ‘best fit’ - how to make trusted
decisions on the placing of national qualification
levels
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National Qualifications Frameworks
developments outside Europe;
situation mid 2007
Existing NQFs: New Zealand, Australia, South Africa
Emerging NQFs in; Russia, Ukraine, Sri Lanka,
Malaysia, Thailand, Namibia and Botswana
International organisations like OECD and ILO are
increasingly focussing on NQF as an instrument for
reform
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Common features in European
NQF developments
Learning outcomes are used as a basis for
classifying and describing levels
Quality assurance is a major concern
Big majority of countries link NQFs to
validation of non-formal learning
Significant number of countries
use 8 level structure
A number of countries have established
inventories of national qualifications
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How to achieve real comparability?
The shift to learning outcomes
EQF requires a (re) interpretation of
national qualifications levels in terms of
learning outcomes
‘Window dressing’ or a genuine effort to
review national qualifications levels?
The shift to learning outcomes requires
objectivity and transparency
to allow for mutual trust
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How to achieve real comparability?
Quality assurance
A realistic use of learning outcomes
Is a condition for quality and mutual trust!
Are existing quality assurance approaches
able to guarantee transparency
and mutual trust?
How to quality assure
the referencing of levels
certification procedures and standards?
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Challenge:
EQF as a comprehensive, meta-framework
EQF is a comprehensive meta-framework
addressing the links between sub-systems
(for example HE and VET)
How to ensure, at European and national level,
an integrated LLL approach
breaking down barriers between systems
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Challenges; Credit transfer, validation
and Europass
 How to integrate credit transfer and EQF
One integrated European system?
Why is there a limited development of
national credit transfer schemes?
How can validation of non-formal and
informal learning be promoted by the EQF?
Europass; how can it support the EQF?
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European support to national
implementation
 EQF pre- Implementation group (32 countries) March
2007
 Following formal adoption of EQF, a European advisory
group will be set up
 Cluster on Recognition of learning outcomes;
focus on National Qualifications Frameworks and
validation
 EQF test and pilot projects; 12 projects launched
January 2007
 New call for proposals published 25 May 2007
 Guidelines for implementation being prepared
 EQF implementation conference February 2008
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Conclusions
• The EQF has become a driver for national
reform! A momentum has been created
• A national reform pressure – aiming at efficiency
and equity- EQF/NQF can facilitate these
reforms
• EQF responds to international competition and
mobility
• Mutual trust is a condition for successful
implementation of the EQF
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What is the EQF and what are its
benefits?
• All countries have a qualifications system but a
qualifications framework is a more systematic way
of classifying qualifications, usually by a hierarchy
of levels. Among the benefits are greater readability
of qualifications and easier progression between
levels.
• The EQF will relate different countries' national
qualifications systems and frameworks together
around a common European reference. In practice, it
will function as a translation device making
qualifications more readable. This will help learners
and workers wishing to move between countries or
change jobs or move educational institutions at
home.
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Who is the EQF for?
• The primary users of the EQF will be
bodies in charge of national and/or
sectoral qualification systems and
frameworks. Once they have related their
respective systems to the EQF, the EQF
will help individuals, employers and
education and training providers compare
individual qualifications from different
countries and education and training
systems.
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Why does the EQF use learning
outcomes?
• The EQF uses 8 reference levels based on learning outcomes
(defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competences). The EQF
shifts the focus from input (lengths of a learning experience, type of
institution) to what a person holding a particular qualification actually
knows and is able to do. Shifting the focus to learning outcomes
• supports a better match between the needs of the labour market (for
knowledge, skills and competences) and education and training
provision
• facilitates the validation of non-formal and informal learning
• facilitates the transfer and use of qualifications across different
countries and education and training systems.
• It also recognises that Europe's education systems are so diverse
that comparisons based on inputs, say length of study, are
impracticable.
• The use of learning outcomes is part of a wider shift in this direction
already underway in many European education and training
systems.
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How can individuals benefit from
the EQF?
• For individuals, the European
Qualifications Framework will:
• make it easier to describe their broad level
of competence to recruiters in other
countries;
• make it simpler to read across from one
qualification system to another, e.g. when
looking for further education and training
opportunities.
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How can the EQF benefit
industry and commerce?
• It is a key aim of the EQF to contribute to
creating a truly European workforce that is
mobile and flexible. For employers, the EQF will
make it easier to interpret the qualifications of
foreign applicants.
• The EQF will support labour market mobility in
Europe both between and within countries and
sectors by simplifying comparisons between
qualifications and enabling a better match
between supply and demand for knowledge,
skills and competences.
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Is the EQF relevant to labour
market needs?
• The EQF is certainly relevant to the labour
market. Indeed, the descriptors for the 8
reference levels - the core of the EQF - were
drafted in close cooperation with representatives
of the European social partners, as well as the
Member States. This followed their and indeed
other labour market actors' contributions to the
public consultation process during the second
half of 2005. Social partners will also remain
involved in implementing the EQF.
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What levels and what types of
education does the EQF cover?
• As an instrument for the promotion of lifelong
learning, the EQF encompasses general and
adult education, vocational education and
training as well as higher education. The eight
levels cover the entire span of qualifications from
those achieved at the end of compulsory
education to those awarded at the highest level
of academic and professional or vocational
education and training. Each level should in
principle be attainable by way of a variety of
education and career paths.
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What do countries have to do? What are
the deadlines for implementation?
• It's a voluntary framework, so there are no formal legal
obligations on the countries. But the Commission is
naturally pleased that most countries are already
developing a national qualifications framework (NQF).
Some countries - Ireland, the UK, France, and Malta already have NQFs. But countries can also relate their
systems to the EQF where they don't intend to establish
a framework per se .
• 2010 is the recommended target date for countries to
relate their qualifications systems to the EQF, 2012 for
them to ensure that individual qualification certificates
bear a reference to the appropriate EQF level.
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Testing and implementing the EQF;
EQUFAS project
1-11-2007—1-11-2009
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