Developing a National Qualifications Framework in Austria

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you for your attention! For more information: http://www.bmwf.gv.at/wissenschaft/national/nqr/ Mag. Florian Pecenka M.A.S. Federal Ministry of Science and Research Section I/6c EU-Rechtsangelegenheiten florian.pecenka@bmwf.gv.at phone ++43 1 53120-5812 Mag. Elisabeth Frank Federal Ministry of Science and Research General Directorate I elisabeth.frank@bmwf.gv.at phone ++43 1 53120-2546 April 16, 2010 BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank