European Network on Quality Assurance in VET Barbara Kelly Chairperson May 2006

Introduction  Welcome and timely  Debate - ensuring quality within and across education and training systems  Creation of High Quality Learning Environments in Europe  World class

Building partnerships to support the further development of education and training systems in Europe

Partnership  VET/HE  Parts of education and training systems  Parts work best together  Similar issues  Moving in the same direction

ENQA - VET Background  Younger sister/brother of...  Long history to …  Number of stages in …  Quality Forum …  Technical Working Group on QA in VET  Common Quality Assurance Framework (CQAF)  Voluntary basis

VET Sector  Diverse  Vast number and types of providers  Partners -Social partners -Providers -State/regional/local agencies -Higher Education  Range of Programmes  Learners  Contribution -Economic -Social

Strengths  Diversity  Scale / Range  Social Partnership Model

Quality Who needs it ? And Why?  Systems-accountability  Providers-improvement culture  Learners-customer service

Who / What is ENQA - VET  Launch  Member States (22) / Social Partners  Board  Commission  CEDEFOP/Virtual Community  European Training Foundation

Aim  Build sustainable cooperation and a platform …  Structured exchange …  Debate …  Foster initiatives and best practice  Bring added valve, consistency and common references…  Enhance the status …

Work Programme  Thematic Groups (3) Instruments Indicators Links with EQF/HE  Peer Learning  Development of Guidelines and Criteria  Promote and review the CQAF

Quality Assurance Reference Points  Anchors  National QA Reference Points (RPs)  Survey  Current Position (QARPs)  Who ?

Common Quality Assurance Framework (CQAF)  Framework / Tool  Develop, improve, monitor and evaluate  4 Pillars / Building Blocks

Common Quality Assurance Framework (CQAF)  Models - strategies, missions, policies, planning, goals, objectives, targets, feedback  Methodologies - self assessment/evaluation (internal)  Monitoring - external dimension  Measurement - indicators, to assess effectiveness

Recent linked European Developments  ENQA - VET  Europass -Certificate Supplement -Diploma Supplement  EQF  ECVET

Key Recommendations  Promoting and consolidating partnership between VET and HE regarding QA  Developing Common Principles at European level  Joint Actions e.g. Peer Learning Activities  Jointly supporting the building of progression pathways

Challenges  Maximising stakeholder involvement  Dissemination of information  Resources and technical & scientific support  Building HE/VET cooperation contact points  Supporting the EQF process

Lets …..  Share experience  Maximise effort and output  Learn from each others unique strengths  Make different contributions

Conclusions  Opportunity  Start…..  Ongoing dialogue  European interest  National interest

Looking forward to the next phase Thank You