Croatian Qualifications Framework Law on the CROQF Prof. Dr. Mile Dželalija University of Split President of the MB of the Agency for Science and Higher Education (CROQF Committee; Nacional Bologna Experts) Ljubljana, Univerzi v Ljubljani,

Croatian Qualifications frameworks Motivation Implementation of the EQF and QF-EHEA Purpose Law on the CROQF, and implementation

Changes in society: Average aging Accession to the EU Technological development: new knowledge new skills Need to adapt to changes Promoting citizens’ mobility Facilitating their lifelong learning Quality assurance ? How ?

Promoting citizens’ mobility Facilitating their lifelong learning Quality assurance ? This ( ) includes: Better integration of all stakeholders, and Coordination of all activities What is needed? Entirely understanding, as basis for integration and coordination, Access, progression and award of qualifications adjust to: Labour market needs, Further education, Other needs of individuals and society Quality (fit to purpose, assessment, awarding/certification).

Croatian Qualifications Framework (CROQF): Means an instrument for the classification of qualifications according to a set of criteria for specified levels of learning achieved, which aims: to integrate and coordinate national qualifications subsystems, and to improve: the transparency, access, progression, and quality of qualifications in relation to the labour market and civil society (implicitly: awarding/certification, assessment and recognition – included)

Implementation of two regional or meta-frameworks: European Qualifications Framework for LLL Qualifications Framework of the EHEA

QF-EHEA Caribbean European Southest Asia Arab World Pacific Southern Africa Regional frameworks:

NQF NQF-2 EQF /QF-EHEA NQF-1 Referencing / Self-certification ? (for now: MT, IE, UK, FR,..., HR, D,... Feb 2013: 16 countries) NQF-2 Referencing / Self-certification ? Referencing and self-certification criteria and procedures Common principles for QA

Fulfilment of: QF-EHEA Criteria (7) and Procedures (6) EQF-LLL Criteria and procedures (10) Common Principles for QA (9) Referencing and Self-certification processes

Irish Presidency Conference: QA in QFs, Dublin, March 2013: 1.We encourage the Commission, the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) Advisory Group and the Bologna Follow Up Group (BFUG) to look at ways of facilitating greater dialogue between the main actors in Vocational Education and Training (VET) and Higher Education (HE) on the topic of quality assurance and qualifications frameworks. The EQF Advisory Group and the BFUG working group on structural reforms, in cooperation with ENQA and EQAVET, should review and make proposals to strengthen the common principles of quality assurance to be applied across HE and VET, such as found in Annexe 3 to the EQF Recommendation

Regional qualifications frameworks (QF-EHEA + EQF-LLL) QF-EHEA and EQF-LLL criteria and procedures Common principles for QA National aspect: stakeholder involvement – fit to local context Croatian qualifications framework Modernising universities and entire education system: QA – Mutual trust on international and national level Partnership with relevant stakeholders (LM,...) Expected and achieved learning outcomes Fit to purpose (relevance), assessment, certification Recognition and validation of NF and IF learning Relevant PhDs (new jobs by research and innovation)

Croatian Qualifications Framework 12 (sub)levels  10 (sub)levels  8 levels

One report: Self-certification – QF-EHEA Referencing – EQF

PRESCHOOL EDUCATION AND CARE PROGRAMMES AGE 6 PRIMARY EDUCATION /27 GENERAL EDUCATION IN SECONDARY SCHOOL (GYMNASIUM) 4-Y VET 3- 3,5-Y VET 2-Y VET 1-Y 5-Y VET POST-SECONDARY VET STATE MATURA EXAMS 19 UNDERGRADUATE UNIVERSITY STUDY GRADUATE UNIVERSITY STUDY POSTGRADUATE UNIVERSITY STUDY UNDERGRADUATE PROFESSIONAL STUDY GRADUATE UN. STUDY – SPEC. SHORT PROGRAMMES GRADUATE SPEC. PROFESSIONAL STUDY CROQF EQF Levels/sublevels proposal in

PRESCHOOL EDUCATION AND CARE PROGRAMMES AGE 6 PRIMARY EDUCATION /27 GENERAL EDUCATION IN SECONDARY SCHOOL (GYMNASIUM) 4-Y VET 3- 3,5-Y VET 2-Y VET 1-Y 5-Y VET POST-SECONDARY VET STATE MATURA EXAMS 19 UNDERGRADUATE UNIVERSITY STUDY GRADUATE UNIVERSITY STUDY POSTGRADUATE UNIVERSITY STUDY UNDERGRADUATE PROFESSIONAL STUDY GRADUATE UN. STUDY – SPEC. SHORT PROGRAMMES GRADUATE SPEC. PROFESSIONAL STUDY CROQF EQF

One report: Self-certification – QF-EHEA Referencing – EQF ? April 2013

CROQF:  One common NQF:  Partnership of all relevant stakeholders,  Reflecting education system in Croatia,  Reforming the system (LO, QA, RPL);  Learning outcomes, credits and unit based NQF;  Descriptors – (domains similar as in the EQF) dynamic combination of:  Knowledge;  Skills (cognitive, practical, social);  Associated autonomy and responsibility;  Levels (and sub-levels):  Levels – stable structure (8);  Sub-levels (+2; national interests) – descriptors as for levels;  Additional requirements (entry and volume).

CROQF and Qualifications:  All types:  HE (academic and professional); VET; General (state examination,...);  All classes:  Complete / full  Partial “small” (supplementary, special purpose,...)  All types of learning:  formal,  non-formal, informal – equal value – validation/assessment  “Old”, existing and new qualifications  Quality Assured – competent authority – QA agency(-ies)

CROQF – Quality Assurance

OCCUPATIONAL STANDARDS QUALIFICATION CURRICULA /PROGRAMMES (including ASSESSMENT and CERTIFICATION) LM NEEDS (and other needs of individuals and society) EMPLOYABILITY SOCIAL INCLUSION NON-FORMAL and INFORMAL LEARNING QUALIFICATION S STANDARDS

Qualifications standards Units of Learning outcomes Occupational standards Programmes for assessment of LO Programmes for certification of qualifications Validation of non- formal and informal learning (equal value) Quality assurance

Role of the CROQF Register:  Quality assurance  Standards for assessment and certification of qualifications  Link to the EQF  Relevance of qualifications  Labour market, further education,... (similar in the ESCO)  Validation of (knowledge, skills and competence achieved by) non-formal and informal learning  Equal value

ESCO

Units of LO

Benefits for individuals and society

 Students:  Transparent access and progression;  Quality and relevance of their learning;  Internationally and nationally recognised qualifications – easier to get a job or further education;  Employees:  Promotion and LLL; RPL;  Employers:  Study programmes linked to LM needs (occupational standards)  Competent work force; New technology to new jobs (PhDs)  HEIs:  Coherent education system;  Competent teachers and assessors; institutions;  RPL;  Society as a whole:  A proud, learning nation with the ability to adapt to change; social inclusion

Challenges and opportunities

 Stakeholders involvement from the beginning;  Very slow, but transparent process; Reforming framework – not easy to implement;  Law on the CROQF (Feb 14, 2013.; by-laws)  Reforms and modernisation (LO Unit-based framework):  Link between qualifications and occupations;  Common QA system;  RPL – with an equal value as to formal learning;  Improve access and progression of individuals;  Set no formal dead ends and barriers for further learning;  Open higher level qualifications for adults;  Open vocationally and professionally oriented qualifications at higher level – depending on labour market needs;  Opportunities  Individual, institutional, national and international

 Law on the CROQF 1. General (concepts, aims, principles,) 2. Classification of qualifications (qualifications, learning outcomes, workload/volume, levels,...) 3. Implementation (coordination, National council, Ministries, sectoral councils) 4. Quality assurance of the implementation (Register,...) 5. Recognition and validation of NF-IF 6. Link to the EQF/QF-EHEA 7. Descriptors  Pravilnik o Registru (quality assurance)  Pravilnik o priznavanju neformalnog i informalnog učenja  AZVO (Agency for Science and HE),...

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION ! Prof. Dr. Mile Dželalija