Establishing national qualifications frameworks without stakeholders? Colin Tück ESU EQF Stakeholders Project Final conference Bled, 21 April 2008

p. 2 National QF – what for?  Making explicit the implicit  Shift towards learning outcomes  Creating new learning paths  Bridging different sectors

p. 3 Involving stakeholders  To create broad ownership and support  Crucial for the education system  Imagine NQF without stakeholders …  Who knows it?  Who uses it?  Who has trust in it?  Who supports it?

p. 4 Qualifications frameworks for …  Learners/students  Transparency of qualifications  More learning paths, new possibilities  Enhance recognition & minimise duplication  Employers  Transparency of qualifications  Bridging different sectors (HE, VET, …)  Facilitate recognition of non-formal & informal learning

p. 5 Qualifications frameworks for …  Trade unions  Facilitate the recognition of non-formal & informal learning  Create more possibilities for employees  Education institutions/providers  Increasing mutual trust in connection with sound quality assurance mechanisms  Reference point for the design of qualifications/study programmes

p. 6 Qualifications frameworks for …  Quality assurance agencies  Reference point in programme reviews  Can be part of fitness of purpose approach  Governments  Greater transparency and efficiency of the (national) education system  Increase communication and cooperation between different sectors

p. 7 Conclusions  QF: a very theoretical and meta-level discussion?  Maybe, yet a key discussion in reforming education systems!  Important to take part and influence the development process  Not a quick process