1. National Qualifications Framework in Romania National Qualifications Framework in Romania Challenges and Opportunities Liliana Voicu National Adult Training Board - NQA Budapest 27 - 28 November 2008

2. Legal framework  Regulatory texts on the institutions involved CNC/SNEE, CNDIPT, ARACIP, CNFPA/ANC, CSs, ACPART, ARACIS  Regulatory texts on certification Education, CVT, non-formal/informal learning  Regulatory texts on qualifications/ occupations structure COR, qualifications lists (IVET, CVT), HE National Qualifications Register

3. Tripartite Agreement on NQF Challenges & Opportunities  Statement on voluntary cooperation SP/Gov  common principles & procedures quality assurance validation of prior learning career guidance and counselling promotion of key competences  NQS  NQR: Institutional background NQA Sectoral Committees

4.  Concepts – correspondence with EQF  Instruments: occupational standards (CVT), training standards (IVET, CVT) Terminology differences – coherent concepts Competence units (fundamental/key, general, specific) Competence elements / competences Performance criteria Range of variables / applicability conditions Assessment guide/tests Similar approach & procedures occupational analysis involvement of SP – sectoral committees)

5. Qualification Levels Q level Educational Level ISCED 97 12First cycle of lyceum / arts and craft school 23Full vocational school (completion year) 34 Lyceum, Tertiary non-university ed, Postsecondary ed, Tertiary non-U ed 4 5656 University education, Tertiary University education 5

6. Q Levels 1-3

7. HE Qualifications  Definition of U diplomas on qualification profiles (on the run - Bologna process)  Methodology  learning outcomes (ACPART) General competences – on the study field Specific competences – on the study programme Transversal competences  Validation procedures - reference criteria fundamental professional roles (identified within occupational analysis)

8. Actual History Challenges &Opportunities  Romania declared its voluntary commitment to assure the thorough correspondence of NQF with EQF, until 2011.  2004 - The National Adult Training Board is acting as the National Authority for Qualifications (NAQ) – autonomous tripartite body, including representatives of Ministry of Education and Research and Ministry of Labour, Social Solidarity and Family.  Main attributions:  Ensuring NQF methodological framework at national level;  Management of National Register of Qualifications (NRQ) for all qualification levels;  Coordination of the Sectorial Committees (SCs), involved in validation of qualifications.  1999 - The National Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training Development (NCTVETD), with attributions in qualifications’ development in VET.  2005 - The National Agency for Qualifications in Higher Education and the Partnership with the Economic and Social Environment (ACPART), with attributions in qualifications’ development in HE.

9. Actual History Challenges & Opportunities  2005 - The Tripartite Agreement was signed by the Employers’ Organisations, the Trade Unions’ Confederations and the Government’ representatives. They declared their commitment to contribute to the establishment of a coherent national qualifications system, applicable to initial and continuing vocational/ professional training, in order to assure the development and access to qualifications in conditions relevant to the labour market.  2006 – 2007 - The Phare Project – Establishment of National Authority for Qualifications Europeaid/121949/D/SV/RO developed ‘methodologies’ for: - job analysis  - development / definition and review of qualifications  - qualifications validation  - certification of qualifications and competences  - development and updating the National Register of Qualifications

10. QFEmbodiment Project Opportunities  To facilitate the comparability of Romanian NQF with other NQFs.  To exchange experiences and good practices related to the creation and development processes of national and sectorial qualifications frameworks.  To analyze the levels of the qualifications structures (public education, VET, HE) concerning the correlation with the EQF.

11. NEXT STEPS  To link the national qualifications and international sectoral qualifications to the EQF.  To participate in the testing of ECVET and encouraging its implementation.  To implement the Common Quality Assurance Framework (CQAF), in order to promote a culture of the quality improvement and wider participation in the ENQA-VET network.  To promote the widespread use of EUROPASS.

12. Thank you for your attention!! Liliana Voicu Consiliul National de Formare Profesionala a Adultilor (National Adult Training Board) Str. Valter Maracineanu, nr. 1-3, intr. 2, cam 164, sector 1 RO 010155 – Bucharest, ROMANIA Tel/fax: +40-21-315.78.55, +40-21-315.78.46 E-mail: liliana.voicu@cnfpa.ro, lilianavoicu@easynet.ro