European policy initiatives supporting individual learning pathways – Focus on EQF and ECVET –...

European policy initiatives supporting individual learning pathways

– Focus on EQF and ECVET –

Isabelle Le MouillourPLA: Guiding at risk youth through learning to work

Thessaloniki, 26 November 2009

Presentation title- to be changed/deleted in master slide. Other footer info, venue, date, slide Num to be changed from View->Header footer

Author to be changed/deleted in master slide. Cedefop – 26 November 2009 2

Permeability and progression for individual pathways

Main idea: education or training pathway

A set of related education or training programmes provided by schools, training

centres, higher education institutions or VET providers, that facilitates individuals’

progression within or between activity sectors.

State-of-play

• Educational legal framework: provisions for permeability, barely put into practice

• Participation to lifelong learning is stagnating

• European lifelong learning benchmark of 15% (2020)

• Share of non-traditional students in HE: in most countries below 12%



Policy initiatives by acronyms

ECVET EQF

Credit systems

Qualifications frameworks

ECTS

NQF

SQF

Qualifications systems

ECVETEuropean Creditsystem for VET

ECTSEuropean Credit Transfer System (HE)

EQFEuropean Qualifications Framework

NQFNational Qualifications Framework

SQFSectoral Qualifications Framework

Validation



EQF & ECVET – shared definitions

• Learning outcomesmeans statements of what a learner knows, understands and is able to do on completion of a learning process, which are defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence

• Qualificationsmeans a formal outcome of an assessment and validation process which is obtained when a competent body determines that an individual has achieved learning outcomes to given standards



Could EQF build up the bridge?

• “to create a common reference framework which should serve as a translation device between different qualifications systems and their levels”

• “international sectoral organisations to relate their qualifications systems to a common European reference point”

NationalQualificationsFrameworks- NQF -

Levels Knowledge Skills Competences

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

EQF

SectoralQualificationsFrameworks- SQF -

QQ NQFNQS



NQFs are seen as instruments (in Europe)

• for referring national qualifications to the EQF;

• to make national qualifications systems easier to understand and overview - at

national as well as international level (transparency);

• for supporting LLL learning by making learning pathways visible and thus facilitate

access, progression and participation;

• for facilitating the recognition of a broader range of learning (including non-formal

and informal learning);

• …

State-of-the-art: NQF are being developed in most countries

Source: Cedefop NQF mapping, Sept 2009



If you were to build up your path, QF could:

insights in qualifications via the learning outcomes approach

- Learning outcomes are used for classifying and describing levels

link to validation of non-formal learning (in a large majority of countries)

use 8 level structure (in most countries)

show the full range of qualifications awarded in a single scheme (overarching)

The frameworks are mainly conceived as communications and transparency

tools – not as regulatory tools

Source: Cedefop NQF mapping, Sept 2009



Which individual path? Case 1: mobility

Hostprovider

SendingproviderLearning agreement

1

The individualacquires

KSC

The learning outcomes are

assessed

3

2

Credit is awarded to the individual for the learning outcomes achieved

4 Learner's credit in an individual transcript of record

5

Credit is validated6

Learning outcomesare recognised andaccumulated as a part of the aimed qualification; corresponding ECVET pointsare included.

7

Source: ECVET Recommendation, June 2009



Qualificationssystem

Individual learner

The learning outcomes are

assessed

2

Credit is awarded to the individual for the learning outcomes achieved 3 Recognition of learning

outcomes acquired towards the intended qualification

5

Acquisition of knowledge, skills and competence. 1

Credit obtained is validated by competent institutions

4

Which individual path? Case 2: validation

Source: ECVET Recommendation, June 2009



Pathways across education and training sectors

• Regulatory statements about the right to access (unrelated to QF or CS)• Development of ‘bridging’ qualifications (not directly related to QF/CS)• Unifying pathways

– Unit-based framework where VET and GE units are considered equivalent• Voluntary arrangements based on demand

– Levels and units one means to open up the sectors– Other means: exemption expressed in length of programme, design of bridging

programmes, articulation of qualifications and curricula

The drivers for transfer and progression are external to QS

Enablers and impediments are often unrelated to qualification design• Modes of financing• Level of bureaucracy• Lack of motivation to cooperate (no drivers for the actors concerned)• Capacity of the competent institution to enforce requirements of the QF/CS• Implications in terms of power

Cedefop. Preliminary results, study on credit systems and qualifications framework, to be published



For further discussion

• Smoothing access for VET and HE:– E.g. entry routes via vocational upper secondary schooling: school-

based or apprenticeship, second chance schooling;

• Building bridges between VET & HE– opportunities for adults through distance education degree programmes,

continuous professional education, lifelong learning centres within universities;

• Defining overarching qualifications framework– Recognition of prior learning, crediting instruments, qualification

linkages;

• Competitive diversity:– Support diversification of offer (range of courses, accessibility,

closeness of links with employers and wider community)

Cedefop. Preliminary results, study on credit systems and qualifications framework, to be published


Author to be changed/deleted in master slide. Cedefop – 26 November 2009 12Cedefop – 26 November 2009

12

Thanks for your attention

Next meeting on the issue of permeability and learning pathways

Workshop on 21/22 January 2010 at Cedefop

Isabelle Le Mouillour(ECVET, qualifications & learning outcomes)Area Enhanced Cooperation in VET and Lifelong LearningPostal address: PO Box 22427 | GR-551 02 | Thessaloniki (Finikas)Tel. 0030 23 1049 01 30 Mail: [email protected]

European policy initiatives supporting individual learning pathways – Focus on EQF and ECVET –...

Documents

Transcript of European policy initiatives supporting individual learning pathways – Focus on EQF and ECVET –...