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

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

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

4. 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

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

6. 4. Design of National Qualifications Frameworks
Levels
Descriptors
Workload

7. 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

8. 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

9. Credit ranges in ECTS Bachelor programmes: 180-240 ECTS
Master programmes: ECTS
Doctoral programmes: 180 ECTS

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

11. 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

12. 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