1. The contents of this document were prepared by the QFP team. No part of it may be reproduced, distributed, adapted or modified, in any form or medium, whether by electronic transmission or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the QFP Project Director www.qualifications.ae 29 January 2009 The contents of this document were prepared by the QFP team. No part of it may be reproduced, distributed, adapted or modified, in any form or medium, whether by electronic transmission or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the QFP Project Director www.qualifications.ae 1 Development of an Integrated Qualifications System in the United Arab Emirates Modernizing the UAE Qualifications System for a globalised world Faisal Albakeri Director, The Qualifications Framework Project, Abu Dhabi, UAE

2. The contents of this document were prepared by the QFP team. No part of it may be reproduced, distributed, adapted or modified, in any form or medium, whether by electronic transmission or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the QFP Project Director www.qualifications.ae 29 January 2009 The contents of this document were prepared by the QFP team. No part of it may be reproduced, distributed, adapted or modified, in any form or medium, whether by electronic transmission or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the QFP Project Director www.qualifications.ae 2 The UAE context Relatively small multinational population Modern economy developed over a very short period Key location Key location: a gateway between Eastern and Western worlds Member of a key economic bloc Member of a key economic bloc: the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries

3. The contents of this document were prepared by the QFP team. No part of it may be reproduced, distributed, adapted or modified, in any form or medium, whether by electronic transmission or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the QFP Project Director www.qualifications.ae 29 January 2009 The contents of this document were prepared by the QFP team. No part of it may be reproduced, distributed, adapted or modified, in any form or medium, whether by electronic transmission or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the QFP Project Director www.qualifications.ae 3 Working and learning in the UAE A Globalised labour market –Mixture of Workers from all over the world, including EU –Workers bring qualifications from a myriad of different systems A very diverse population and a booming industry –Education providers and awarding bodies from many countries –Industry requires Learning outcomes-based Occupational standards –The Qualifications Framework associates both sectors

4. The contents of this document were prepared by the QFP team. No part of it may be reproduced, distributed, adapted or modified, in any form or medium, whether by electronic transmission or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the QFP Project Director www.qualifications.ae 29 January 2009 The contents of this document were prepared by the QFP team. No part of it may be reproduced, distributed, adapted or modified, in any form or medium, whether by electronic transmission or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the QFP Project Director www.qualifications.ae 4 Education Curricula Students Occupational Profiles Jobs and Functions Qualification Educational Structure Qualifications Structure What to Learn ? How to Learn ? Levels Integrated Qualifications Framework levels 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Qualifications landscape Source: Colo, NL

5. The contents of this document were prepared by the QFP team. No part of it may be reproduced, distributed, adapted or modified, in any form or medium, whether by electronic transmission or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the QFP Project Director www.qualifications.ae 29 January 2009 The contents of this document were prepared by the QFP team. No part of it may be reproduced, distributed, adapted or modified, in any form or medium, whether by electronic transmission or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the QFP Project Director www.qualifications.ae 5 Rationale for a Framework of National Qualifications in the UAE  The basis for a coherent national policy approach  A benchmark for accurate interpretation of foreign qualifications  A pre-requisite for participation in international developments

6. The contents of this document were prepared by the QFP team. No part of it may be reproduced, distributed, adapted or modified, in any form or medium, whether by electronic transmission or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the QFP Project Director www.qualifications.ae 29 January 2009 The contents of this document were prepared by the QFP team. No part of it may be reproduced, distributed, adapted or modified, in any form or medium, whether by electronic transmission or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the QFP Project Director www.qualifications.ae 6 A Qualifications Framework: a more coherent policy approach A single organising structure for all qualifications in UAE –a frame of reference for existing qualifications –a basis for the design of new qualifications An aid in the recognition of non-formal and informal learning An aid in the recognition of foreign qualifications The UAE model (10-Level Framework) has been developed based on learning outcomes

7. The contents of this document were prepared by the QFP team. No part of it may be reproduced, distributed, adapted or modified, in any form or medium, whether by electronic transmission or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the QFP Project Director www.qualifications.ae 29 January 2009 The contents of this document were prepared by the QFP team. No part of it may be reproduced, distributed, adapted or modified, in any form or medium, whether by electronic transmission or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the QFP Project Director www.qualifications.ae 7 LEVELS OF THE QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK Proposed 10 LEVEL QualificationsFramework 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 New Vocational/ Professional Awards Doctorate Degree 2-4 Years الدكتـــــوراه Masters Degree الماجســــتير Post Graduate Certificate/ Diploma Bachelors Degree (4 Years) البكالوريــوس Graduate Certificate/ Diploma Higher Diploma الدبلوم العالــي Diploma الدبلـــــــوم Associate Degree Enjaaz إنجـــــــــاز Associate Diploma Secondary School Certificate الثانويـــة العامــــة Existing Academic Awards Certificate 4 شهادة مستوى متقــدم (Advanced Level) Certificate 3 شهادة مستوى متوســط (Intermediate Level) Certificate 2 شهادة مستوى تأسيسي (Foundation Level) Certificate 1 شهادة مهارات أساسية (Access Level/ Key Skills) Certificate 7 شهادة دبلوم عالي مهنية (Vocational Higher Diploma) Certificate 6 شهادة دبلـــوم مهني (Vocational Diploma) Certificate 5 شهادة إنجــــاز مهني (Vocational Associate Diploma)

8. The contents of this document were prepared by the QFP team. No part of it may be reproduced, distributed, adapted or modified, in any form or medium, whether by electronic transmission or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the QFP Project Director www.qualifications.ae 29 January 2009 The contents of this document were prepared by the QFP team. No part of it may be reproduced, distributed, adapted or modified, in any form or medium, whether by electronic transmission or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the QFP Project Director www.qualifications.ae 8 Regional developments The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region –Six states: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE socio-economic challenges and visions –All share similar socio-economic challenges and visions regional meta-framework –An ideal context for a regional meta-framework of qualifications –Qualifications Framework Project (QFP) of the UAE has developed the necessary groundwork for a national qualifications framework and is in the process of developing a draft GCC Meta-Framework

9. The contents of this document were prepared by the QFP team. No part of it may be reproduced, distributed, adapted or modified, in any form or medium, whether by electronic transmission or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the QFP Project Director www.qualifications.ae 29 January 2009 The contents of this document were prepared by the QFP team. No part of it may be reproduced, distributed, adapted or modified, in any form or medium, whether by electronic transmission or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the QFP Project Director www.qualifications.ae 9 International developments International trend towards use of Qualifications Frameworks in many countries with which UAE has links: –EU countries –Australia, New Zealand, South Africa –many countries in the Middle-East and North AfricaMeta-frameworks –EQF, SADEC Need for Meta-Frameworks to develop relationships with other international Qualifications structures –e.g. emerging Meta-Frameworks in the Gulf or other regions

10. The contents of this document were prepared by the QFP team. No part of it may be reproduced, distributed, adapted or modified, in any form or medium, whether by electronic transmission or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the QFP Project Director www.qualifications.ae 29 January 2009 The contents of this document were prepared by the QFP team. No part of it may be reproduced, distributed, adapted or modified, in any form or medium, whether by electronic transmission or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the QFP Project Director www.qualifications.ae 10 UAE, GCC and EQF Need to ensure that UAE Qualifications and European Qualifications can be referenced –UAE Framework is being designed to align easily with EQF Need to ensure that qualifications systems enable interaction between the EU and GCC economies –Moves towards a regional meta-framework in the GCC region –A Gulf Meta-Framework should have links with EQF from the outset