0. Developing a National Qualifications Framework in Austria

1. The National Qualifications Framework (NQF)
2006
Government’s decision to implement an NQF in Austria
Working groups were set up to prepare an NQF
2007
National steering group was established
First „fact-finding phase“
Information and public awareness work
Analysis by ordering diverse studies
Preparing a consultation paper
April 16, 2010
BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank

2. The National Qualifications Framework (NQF)
2008
Public consultation process until 11/2008, all stakeholders have been involved
Commentaries‘ evaluation by experts: The report identified a number of open questions and challenges for the further NQF development.
Report to the national steering group which presented the conclusions and recommendations end 2008
April 16, 2010
BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank

3. The National Qualifications Framework
2009
Preparation of a policy paper of the both ministries involved to devise the strategy for the Austrian NQF implementation in October 2009.
April 16, 2010
BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank

4. The National Qualifications Framework
until end 2010
Decision about a general framework
Classification of all formal qualifications to the NQF
First steps to present informal and non formal qualifications
Establishing a national contact point
April 16, 2010
BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank

5. BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank
NQF presentation
Higher education
Vocational education
EQF 8
Level 8
Level 8
EQF 8
EQF 7
Level 7
Level 7
EQF 7
EQF 6
Level 6
Level 6
EQF 6
EQF 5
Level 5
EQF 5
EQF 4
Level 4
EQF 4
EQF 3
Level 3
EQF 3
EQF 2
Level 2
EQF 2
EQF 1
Level 1
EQF 1
April 16, 2010
BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank

6. BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank
Organisation
National steering group
Representatives of all ministries and social partners and the Länder
Defines general framework and guidelines
A subgroup of the national steering group is established
April 16, 2010
BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank

7. BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank
Organisation
Advisory board in the BMWF
Representatives of the tertiary education sector
Exchange of information
Defining general strategy to follow
April 16, 2010
BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank

8. BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank
Aims of the NQF (1)
Easier transparent allocation to the EQF levels
Instrument to support the qualifications system
Sustainable enhancement through learning outputs on national level
Neutral benchmark, who makes transparency and comparability of qualifications possible, which were gained in different systems and at different levels
April 16, 2010
BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank

9. BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank
Aims of the NQF (2)
Strong position for Austrian qualifications through the NQF and EQF in the national and European labour market
Exploratory function for better qualifications comparability
Qualifications are allocated not competences or persons
April 16, 2010
BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank

10. BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank
Aims of the NQF (3)
Neither NQF nor EQF are models to present individual competence profiles
Implementation in cooperation with all stakeholders on basis of a broad consensus
April 16, 2010
BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank

11. Thank you for your attention!
For more information:
Mag. Florian Pecenka M.A.S.
Federal Ministry of Science and Research
Section I/6c EU-Rechtsangelegenheiten
phone
Mag. Elisabeth Frank
Federal Ministry of Science and Research
General Directorate I
phone
April 16, 2010
BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank