Qualifications frameworks in Europe: supporting transparency, recognition

and mobility?

Mara Brugia, Head of Area - Cedefop

EESC conference on ‘Skills and mobility for competitiveness’ ,Thessaloniki, 3 December 2013

23 December 2013 Mara Brugia

Obstacles to cross-border mobility in EU-27/EEA/EFTA countries

Source: European Commission (2012), Language competences for employability mobility and growth.

Accompanying document to the Communication from the Commission “Rethinking Education”, SWD 372.

3

• A translation grid to understand and compare qualifications across Europe

• Covers qualifications at all levels and sub-systems of education and training

• 8 reference levels defined in terms oflearning outcomes

EU objective: Cross-border mobility and lifelong learning

The European Qualifications Framework (EQF)

A bridge between qualifications systems

3 December 2013 Mara Brugia

4

NQFs in Europe – impressive developments

NQFs a global phenomenon (142 countries worldwide)

36 countries are working on NQFs

21 countries have linked their qualifications to the EQF

24 countries have formally adopted NQFs

11 countries working on NQF practical arrangements

In 5 countries NQFs are fully operational

30 countries working on comprehensive NQFs

3 December 2013 Mara Brugia

5

NQFs reflect national contexts, needsand priorities

Establish a closer link to the labour market (e.g. Cyprus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Portugal)

Make education and training systems less complex and more flexible (e.g. Germany, Romania, Turkey)

Signal qualifications needed by the labour market (e.g. Lithuania)

New impetus to validation of non-formal learning (e.g. Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Latvia)

3 December 2013 Mara Brugia

6

NQFs – mobility and recognitionof qualifications

Help understand the level of a qualification

Make relationship between qualifications clearer

Qualifications databases and registers

EQF supports recognition BUT not a legal tool

3 December 2013 Mara Brugia

7

NQFs – contribution to skills strategy

NQF for recruiting, certifying skills, career paths

or just policy hype?

Cooperation platform with employers, employees, others

3 December 2013 Mara Brugia

8

Thank you for your attention

www.cedefop.europa.eu

3 December 2013 Mara Brugia