National Qualifications Frameworks for Lifelong Learning and Skills Development Community Learning Centres Regional Conference Bangkok, 19-21 June 2013 “Food for Thoughts” Dr. Patrick Werquin Professor, CNAM, Paris and Independent Consultant, Saint-Sulpice-sur-Lèze Affiliate Research Fellow, Toulouse Business School Formerly Senior Economist, OECD (Education) (The opinions expressed in this power point presentation are those of the author alone)

Context CLC Specific target groups Governance issues … Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, 19-21 June 2013

Political and Research Agenda around the World TVET RNFILO QF Literacy Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, 19-21 June 2013

Other Mechanisms in the NQS Communicating returns to learning for qualification Increasing learner choice in qualifications Clarifying learning pathways Providing credit transfer Increasing flexibility in learning programmes leading to qualifications Creating new routes to qualifications Lowering cost of qualification Optimising stakeholder involvement in the qualifications system Improving needs analysis methods so that qualifications are up to date Improving qualification use in recruitments Ensuring qualifications are portable Investing in pedagogical innovation Expressing qualifications as learning outcomes Improving co-ordination in the qualifications system Optimising quality assurance Improving information and guidance about qualifications systems Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, 19-21 June 2013

Complex Vocabulary Don’t panic!!!!    Decide on the terms and concepts you need, because you need a common language… … and accept the vocabulary may/will evolve over time anyway Simplify the vocabulary for the end users… … but it’s OK to have complex jargon among us: as long as we then translate it into real actions targeted at real people - Young people absent (???) Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, 19-21 June 2013

Policy Tools Key aims, or most frequently heard: Foundation skills Skills for employment But their acquisition may go through broad approaches, such as: Improving self esteem Improving motivation Hence the role of policy tools, or mechanisms, that are not about the teaching/training or education/training per se Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, 19-21 June 2013

Money Issues Asumption: not reasonnable to ask for more money Better idea: optimise the use of the existing money A national qualifications framework can be a tool for managing money, and creating incentives With a qualifications framework, and a cataloque, in place subsidies can be based on: Registration in the calalogue; and Any other considerations (qualifications in need, qualification accessible to validation of non-formal and informal learning outcomes…) Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, 19-21 June 2013

Stakeholders Involvment Stakeholders involvement is a necessary condition Organise the involvement of stakeholders Because you need to start from their needs: labour market needs, literacy needs… Bring employers, workers organisation, all ministries awarding qualifications, education and training providers… in the design process early on: sense of ownership Flexible revision process, involving them too Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, 19-21 June 2013

Validation and Recognition of Non-formal and Informal Learning Outcomes The society may not be ready (except in art maybe) But you need it: EQUITY° Loooooooooong process Organise communication Define your objectives (academic qualifications, literacy, TVET qualifications; for job, for self consumption; legitimate awarding body(ies)… ) It impacts on level of formalisation and therefore… … it impacts on cost (RNFILO: not free, not cheap) Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, 19-21 June 2013

Literacy, RNFIL, Qualification & QF. Skilled but Illiterate: Three Options National Qualifications Framework … Levels in the NQF: all suppose literacy 4 3 2 1 Certificates for the Labour Market (not in the NQF) Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, 19-21 June 2013

Literacy, RNFIL, Qualification & QF. Skilled but Illiterate: Three Options National Qualifications Framework … Partial Qualification Levels in the NQF: all suppose literacy 4 3 5 Years 2 1 Certificates for the Labour Market (not in NQF) Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, 19-21 June 2013

RNFILO: Assessment in Practice Eligibility Panel of assessors (at least 3 assessors: teacher, professional, validation officer) Cost issues: Validation of NFILO: 3 assessors for 1 applicant Formal system: 1 teacher to 20 to 2000 students Even if RNFILO is an individual process, assessment will have to be partly collective Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, 19-21 June 2013

ASSESSMENT: How Much do you Need to See? Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, 19-21 June 2013 13

ASSESSMENT: How Much do you Need to See? Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, 19-21 June 2013 14

ASSESSMENT: How Much do you Need to See? Does NOT help much: Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, 19-21 June 2013 15

ASSESSMENT: How Much do you Need to See? Where do you need to watch? Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, 19-21 June 2013 16

ASSESSMENT: How Much do you Need to See? Better: Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, 19-21 June 2013 17

ASSESSMENT: How Much do you Need to See? Probably enough: Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, 19-21 June 2013 18

My Advice If you have a national qualifications framework: do information and communication If you don’t have a national qualifications framework: do information and communication Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, 19-21 June 2013

Questions and comments please to: patrick.werquin@gmail.com M e r c i Questions and comments please to: patrick.werquin@gmail.com Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, 19-21 June 2013 20