European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning
In
April 2008 the European Parliament and Council adopted the Recommendation on the establishment of the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning (EQF).
The EQF aims to establish a
common reference framework as a translation device between different
qualification systems and their levels. This framework comprises
general, higher and vocational education and training, and should lead
to better transparency, comparability and portability of citizens’
qualifications (e.g. diplomas, certificates etc.)
The EQF
recommends that each level of qualification should, in principle, be
attainable by way of a variety of educational and career paths. This
should foster lifelong learning and increase the employability,
mobility and social integration of workers and learners. The
recommendation should also facilitate building bridges between formal,
non-formal and informal learning.
The EQF neither replaces nor
defines national qualification systems nor qualifications. It does not
describe any particular qualifications or individual competences, but
describes the eight EQF levels via descriptors for the three categories
“knowledge”, “skills” and “competences” (see Annex II of the
Recommendation).
The Member States are encouraged to develop
national qualifications frameworks that rely on and are linked to the
EQF. Moreover, it is recommended to the Member States to:
- Relate their national qualifications systems to the European Qualifications Framework by 2010;
- Adopt
measures, as appropriate, so that, by 2012, all new qualification
certificates, diplomas and "Europass" documents issued by the competent
authorities contain a clear reference, by way of national
qualifications systems, to the appropriate European Qualifications
Framework level;
- Use an approach based on learning outcomes when defining and describing qualifications;
- Promote and apply the principles of quality assurance in education and training set out in Annex III.
These principles, which include both higher and vocational education and training, are as follows:
- Quality assurance policies and procedures should underpin all levels of the European Qualifications Framework.
- Quality assurance should be an integral part of the internal management of education and training institutions.
- Quality
assurance should include regular evaluation of institutions, their
programmes or their quality assurance systems by external monitoring
bodies or agencies.
- External monitoring bodies or agencies carrying out quality assurance should be subject to regular review.
- Quality
assurance should include context, input, process and output dimensions,
while giving emphasis to outputs and learning outcomes.
The
second part of Annex III contains a summary of elements which quality
assurance systems should contain (e.g. clear and measurable goals and
standards; appropriate resources; consistent evaluation methods,
associating self-assessment and external review; feedback mechanisms
and procedures for improvement; widely accessible evaluation results
etc.)
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