EQAVET
Work in European quality assurance in vocational education and training (EQAVET) brings together the Member States of the European Union, the Social Partners and the European Commission in a community of practice to develop a culture of quality assurance both within national vocational education and training (VET) systems and at a European level.
EQAVET should be seen in the broader context of the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training (ET 2020) and the Copenhagen Process, which calls for a deeper collaboration in the field of VET where countries work together in developing common responses to shared challenges.
EQAVET works in a collaborative methodology designed to support Member States in improving the quality of their VET and supporting the implementation of the Recommendation on the establishment of a European Quality Assurance Reference Framework, adopted in 2010.
The European Quality Assurance Reference Framework aims to increase the transparency, market relevance, consistency and transferability of VET qualifications across Europe. It provides a common framework and tools to Member State VET systems and VET providers to improve, monitor and evaluate their quality assurance policies and practices in a manner appropriate to their national/institutional context.
The effective implementation of the European Quality Assurance Reference Framework requires Member States to participate fully in the EQAVET Network, its work programme and to support well functioning Quality Assurance National Reference Points. In every Member country, a National Reference Point gives access to information on the EQAVET Framework; and brings together existing relevant bodies, involving the Social Partners and all stakeholders concerned at national and regional levels. The National Reference Points play a key role in EQAVET.