Education and Training Statistics Working Group, May 2011 Item 7.4 – ISCED, EQF and NQFs Working Group - Education and Training Statistics, 23-24 May 2011, Luxembourg

Transparency ISCED – EQF - NQFs The revised ISCED 2011 says: National and regional qualification frameworks can be useful tools for distinguishing skills related to programmes and qualifications in formal and non-formal education. Such frameworks exist in many countries for describing competencies and skill levels for the population in the sense of possibilities for educational achievement. It is recommended that countries make the links transparent between ISCED and their national or regional qualification framework where one exists. (§25). Delegates at the ISCED Workshop November 2011 asked for more evidence regarding the links between ISCED and NQFs.

Transparency ISCED – EQF - NQFs The links between ISCED – NQFs – Bologna structures and EQF NQFcountry1 EQFs’ NQFcountry2 European 4 highest ISCED Qualification levels = 2011: NQFcountry3 Framework Bologna levels 5, 8 levels structures 6, 7, 8 NQFcountry4 EHEA tertiary levels ISCED 2011 levels 0-4: no direct links to EQF skill levels 1-4 NQFs can have many levels, but the links to the EQF with 8 levels should be established.

Transparency ISCED – EQF - NQFs Findings until now: Not much evidence has been found about the links between ISCED and NQFs in published material. Both DG EAC and Eurostat invite countries to investigate this further The NQFs should be finalised in 2012. The most advanced countries are the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, France, Finland and Denmark. Contacts between ETS and EQF networks could be established for looking at links for the 6 most advanced countries. ETS delegates are invited to indicate how they would like to follow up on this issue?