Abu Dhabi, 5-6 April 2005 GCC Qualifications going global 1/SESSION 1/6... · 2009-04-08 ·...

ecdc.europa.eu

…

Meta-frameworks of qualifications

Carlo Scatoli

European Commission, DG Education and Culture

GCC Qualifications going globalTowards internationally recognised qualifications frameworks in

the GCC countries

The European Qualifications Framework for lifelong

learning

Abu Dhabi, 5-6 April 2005

2

Qualifications

frameworksbring together

qualifications

and give them a structureconnecting

including

3

Qualifications

frameworks=> provide clarity about the relative

position of qualifications

* provide a way to compare qualifications

# ensure an integrated system for lifelong

learningSCQF,

HKQF,

NQF ZA,

NFQ IE,

DQR,

…

• provide a comprehensive profile of

competences acquired in the

country- allow bridges between education

and training subsystems~ help learners, employers,

institutions to make informed choices

National

4

A transnational qualifications

framework could bring togethernational qualifications

directlyConnecting including ordering

Is this TQF a

meta-

framework?

5

This “TQF” merges national

qualifications

frameworks and systems into a larger

qualifications frameworkIs that possible

without reforming

nQFS?Without

reforming the

national

education and

training

systems?

6

* a meta-framework

* to connect, but not to merge nor

reform…

…the national education

and training systems

…the national

qualifications systems

and frameworks

National

competenc

es

EU

initiative

The only option for the

European Qualifications

Framework for lifelong learning

7

A EU meta-framework –

How to get there?

Shared perception of the

need

WHY

The making of the EQF

Further facilitate mobility of

learners and workers

Agreement on the response

WHATMake qualifications more

transparent and readable

Agreement on the

instrument

HOW

Develop a European

meta-framework, making

qualifications easier to

understand throughout

Europe, adopting a

competence based

approach

Explicit political consensus

WHY, HOW, WHAT

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the development of an open and flexible

European qualifications framework, founded on

transparency and mutual trust, which will

stand as a common reference covering

both VET and higher education, based mainly

on competencies and learning outcomes.


Political consensus – Education Council of 14 November

2004

European Council of 15-16 March 2005 (stressing

learning mobility) and 23-24 March 2006 (stressing

labour mobility)

Political consensus – Joint report on the education and

training strategy of 3 March 2004

9


Working group with experts from countries and

stakeholders – Nov 2004 - June 2006 15 meetings

Development of level descriptors based on learning

outcomesConference on qualifications frameworks in Europe,

Glasgow 22-23 September 2005

Conference on EQF, Budapest, 27-28 February 2006

Europe-wide consultation July – December 2005

125 contributions from national authorities and

stakeholders

Commission proposal of 5 September 2006

COM(2006)479

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Smooth legislative process:

- no amendment to the levels descriptor

- amendments to stress the opportunity for easier

validation of non-formal learning

- political agreement in November 2007.

Recommendation of the European Parliament

and the Council of 23 April 2008

Preparatory implementation group with representatives

from national authorities and stakeholders – two

meetings in 2007

EQF is a voluntary initiative

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What does it look like?

The structure of the

EQFAn overarching framework of eight levels

• covering lifelong learning (general and

higher education, vocational training)

• defined through non-subject specific

descriptors in terms of learning

outcomes,

organised around

knowledge, skills, competence

(Very

much like

a national QF…)

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Knowledge Skills Competence

L

E

V

E

L

5

comprehensive,

specialised,

factual and

theoretical

knowledge within

a field of work or

study and an

awareness of the

boundaries of

that knowledge

a comprehensive

range of

cognitive and

practical skills

required to

develop creative

solutions to

abstract

problems

exercise

management and

supervision in

contexts of work or

study activities

where there is

unpredictable

change

review and develop

performance of self

and others

The EQF level descriptors

(Very much like a national QF…)

13

Learning outcomes and

qualifications frameworks

What a learner knows, understands or is

able to do at the end of a learning process

The adoption of learning outcomes, as opposed to formal features to define qualifications, is essential for qualifications frameworks

Learning outcomes allow connecting qualifications

across sectors, systems (general education, vocational training, higher education) and considering non-formal learning

14

Learning outcomes and

qualifications frameworks

What a learner knows, understands or is

able to do at the end of a learning process

The adoption of learning outcomes, as opposed to formal features to define qualifications, is essential for qualifications meta-frameworks

Learning outcomes allow connecting qualifications

across sectors, systems (general education, vocational training, higher education),

national boundaries, considering non-formal learning and connecting frameworks

15

Qualifications

Framework=> provides clarity about the relative position

of qualifications throughout Europe

* provides a way to compare qualifications in

Europe# ensures an integrated reference system for

the European lifelong learning area• provide a comprehensive profile of

competences acquired throughout Europe- allow bridges between education and

training throughout Europe~ help learners, employers, institutions to

make informed choices throughout

Europe

The

European

EQF is a

meta-

framework

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The EQF brings together

National qualifications

frameworks and systems

Connecting systems - but not including, nor ordering

themEQF is a

meta-

framework


What does it do?

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The EQF brings togetherqualifications

Connecting, including and

ordering qualifications,

but not directly

by way of national systems

and gives them further

structure

EQF is a

meta-

framework


What does it do?

18

The EQF connects NQF/S

The EQF connects and

structures qualifications

(Not so abstract as it

sounds…)

That’s the action!

19

A EU meta-framework in action

Member States to relate NQS/F to the EQF

Implementing the

EQF

- to ensure that qualifications issued by competent

authorities are related, via the NQS, to the EQF

- to designate national coordination points

to coordinate this referencing process

ensuring a transparent methodology

informing and involving stakeholders

Countries may have more active bodies internally

but should speak with one voice to the others

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Coordinating the EQF

Commission to support Member States and in

particular

set up an EQF advisory group

to provide overall coherence and transparency of the

referencing processEQF advisory group

- Representatives of participating countries

- Representatives of social partners and other

stakeholders

- Representative of the European Higher Education Area

– EHEA (Council of Europe)

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EQF advisory group

• Plenary meetings (March and September 2008,

March, June, November 2009)

• Working groups on specific issues:

- criteria and procedures for the referencing

process

- mutual trust

- qualifications issued by sectoral organisations

- ICT support toolsEQF National Coordination Points

• Regular meetings of all NCP (March 2009, September

2009)

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Peer to peer review

Common

criteria

Common

criteria


Coordinating the EQFThe EQF advisory group has agreed on a set of

criteria and procedures for the referencing process

Mutual trust

EQF

is

a

meta-

frame

work

23



Criteria and procedures in 10 points

to ensure that

the information made public

- is validated by the competent

authorities

- is relevant and transparent

- can be compared

- generates trust

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The EQF referencing criteria and

procedures have been developed

taking into account

and drawing upon

the EHEA qualifications framework

and its criteria and procedures for self-

certification

25

Meta-framework meets

meta-framework

The EHEA Framework is established

in the context of a process of

reform.

as a tool to support the reform of

the national higher education

systems

It requires national qualifications

frameworks to be established

A nationally

driven

process

Not a EU

initiative

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Both EQF and EHEA QF are meta-

frameworks.

Their nature, purpose, objective, scope

overlap, but are not the same.Qualification

levelsEHEA

QF

EQF

Participating

countries

EHEA QF

EQF

Meta-framework meets

meta-framework

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EHEA

International transparency

of qualifications

International academic

recognition of

qualifications

International mobility

of learners and graduates

Transparency and

comparability of

qualifications

Mobility of learners and

workers, across countries,

sectors, systems

Easier validation of non-

formal outcomes

EQF

Based on learning outcomes

Overlapping, but not the

same Different, but

compatible and

coordinated

Two European

meta-frameworks

28

Thank you for your attention

[email protected]

meta

Abu Dhabi, 5-6 April 2005 GCC Qualifications going global 1/SESSION 1/6... · 2009-04-08 ·...

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