Main steps in designing a national qualifications framework Mogens Berg Former chair of the Bologna Working Group Yerevan, 9 September 2008

NQF and Bologna Framework Self certification National Qualifications Framework Accreditation or similar National qualifications

Problem areas of NQF for HE Deciding for an NQF Designing the NQF Administration of an NQF Self-certification of compatibility

Steps in establishing NQF (1) Decision to start   Taken by the national body responsible for higher education (minister?) 2 Setting the agenda: The purpose of our NQF WG-Report nr. 1 (section 2.3) 3 Organising the process Identifying stakeholders; setting up a committee/WG 4 Design Profile Level structure; Level descriptors (learning outcomes) Credit ranges 5 Consultation National discussion and acceptance of design by stakeholders

3. Organising the process Identifying the stakeholders Ad hoc or permanent organisation Setting up a committee or board Timetable

4. Design of National Qualifications Frameworks Levels Descriptors Workload

Differences between QF-EHEA and NQF   QF for EHEA NQF Cycles/levels 3 cycles Nationally defined number of levels Level descriptors Dublin descriptors: 5 dimensions More specific, additional dimensions Workload Broad credit ranges More specific definitions

Descriptors of qualifications and learning outcomes Dublin descriptors (generic) Knowledge and understanding applying knowledge and understanding making judgements communication skills learning skills Not subject specific

Credit ranges in ECTS Bachelor programmes: 180-240 ECTS Master programmes: 90-120 ECTS Doctoral programmes: 180 ECTS

5. Consultations Institutions and labour market partners Important for the acceptance and support of the QF

Steps in establishing NQF (2) 6 Approval   According to national tradition by Minister/Government/legislation 7 Administrative set-up Division of tasks of implementation between HEI, QAA and other bodies 8 Implementation at institutional/programme level Reformulation of individual study programmes to learning outcome based approch 9 Inclusion of qualifications in the NQF Accreditation or similar (cfr. Berlin Communiqué) 10 Self-certification of compatibility with the EHEA framework (Alignment to Bologna cycles etc.) WG Report nr. 1 Pilot projects

10. Alignment of NQF to the EHEA-framework No external control but trust building Minimum criteria for the verification that a NQF is compatible with the EHEA framework Procedures for self-certification of compatibility Role of Quality Assurance