Bureau Zuidema Jolanda Botke Postbus AC Leusden 033 – Pauline Hupkes 1 april 2009 Measuring and Assessing Social Skills (MASS) A Leonardo de Vinci TOI project promoted by Angus College UK

European Qualifications Framework (EQF) The EQF acts as a translation device to make national qualifications more readable across Europe, promoting workers' and learners' mobility between countries and facilitating their lifelong learning. The EQF aims to relate different countries' national qualifications systems to a common European reference framework. Individuals and employers will be able to use the EQF to better understand and compare the qualifications levels of different countries and different education and training systems.

Why is this relevant for MASS? So that partners know more about EQF and the timescale for implementing EQF in their country So that partners know hat level on their national framework will the MASS soft skills be placed

Shifting focus The core of the EQF concerns eight reference levels describing what a learner knows, understands and is able to do – 'learning outcomes'. Levels of national qualifications will be placed at one of the central reference levels, ranging from basic (Level 1) to advanced (Level 8). This will enable a much easier comparison between national qualifications and should also mean that people do not have to repeat their learning if they move to another country.

Eight reference levels The core element of the EQF is a set of eight reference levels describing: what the learner knows; what the learner understands; what the learner is able to do, regardless of the system under which a particular qualification was awarded. Unlike systems which guarantee academic recognition based on the duration of studies, the EQF covers learning as a whole, in particular learning which takes place outside formal education and training institutions.

Formal, non-formal and informal learning The EQF applies to all types of education, training and qualifications, from school education to academic, professional and vocational. This approach shifts the focus from the traditional system which emphasizes 'learning inputs', such as the length of a learning experience, or type of institution. It also encourages lifelong learning by promoting the validation of non-formal and informal learning.

European aims… In 2010 a system for comparing the national systems and the European framework is to be established in all participating States. In 2012, all new qualifications issued by EU post-secondary institutions will automatically refer to one of the EQF's eight qualification levels.

Learning outcomes Knowledge is theoretical or factual Skills are cognitive and practical Competence is about responsibility and autonomy

learning-policy/doc44_en.htm Leaflet in all European Languages

National Qualifications and EQF

While the number of countries having fully implemented an NQF is still low (Ireland, France, Malta and the UK), almost all EU and EEA countries are now signalling that they will introduce comprehensive, overarching NQFs covering all parts of their education, training and qualifications systems.

UK The SCQF will be referred to the EQF as a part of the overall UK referencing process. The referencing work started in June 2008 and a draft referencing report has now been produced (August 2009). This will be presented to the EQF AG late autumn The SCQF will thus be one of the first frameworks to meet EQF deadline of Netherlands The Dutch NQF work is still at an early stage. The Netherlands intend to meet the 2010 deadline of the EQF Recommendation. The referencing process will formally start in the third quarter of Roemenia An overarching national qualifications framework (NQF) based on learning outcomes is being developed in Romania, which will bring together all nationally recognised qualifications from both initial and continuing VET, apprenticeship at the workplace and HE. It is expected to be completed by Cedefop, September 2009

SwedenThe development of the Swedish NQF is still at an early stage. The development of the NQF will be given priority in 2009/10, the actual referencing to the EQF is expected to start late A draft report will be ready for the EQF AG mid 2011, the final referencing report is expected to ready by fourth quarter of GreeceIt is expected that NQF will be in place by The referencing of the national qualifications system levels to the EQF should take place in 2011 under the NQF Committee umbrella. Cedefop, September 2009