1. National Qualifications Frameworks for Lifelong Learning and Skills Development Community Learning Centres Regional Conference Bangkok, June “Food for Thoughts” Dr. Patrick Werquin Professor, CNAM, Paris and Independent Consultant, Saint-Sulpice-sur-Lèze Affiliate Research Fellow, Toulouse Business School Formerly Senior Economist, OECD (Education) (The opinions expressed in this power point presentation are those of the author alone)

2. Context CLC Specific target groups Governance issues …
Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, June 2013

3. Political and Research Agenda around the World
TVET
RNFILO QF
Literacy
Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, June 2013

4. Other Mechanisms in the NQS
Communicating returns to learning for qualification
Increasing learner choice in qualifications
Clarifying learning pathways
Providing credit transfer
Increasing flexibility in learning programmes leading to qualifications
Creating new routes to qualifications
Lowering cost of qualification
Optimising stakeholder involvement in the qualifications system
Improving needs analysis methods so that qualifications are up to date
Improving qualification use in recruitments
Ensuring qualifications are portable
Investing in pedagogical innovation
Expressing qualifications as learning outcomes
Improving co-ordination in the qualifications system
Optimising quality assurance
Improving information and guidance about qualifications systems
Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, June 2013

5. Complex Vocabulary Don’t panic!!!!   
Decide on the terms and concepts you need, because you need a common language…
… and accept the vocabulary may/will evolve over time anyway
Simplify the vocabulary for the end users…
… but it’s OK to have complex jargon among us: as long as we then translate it into real actions targeted at real people
- Young people absent (???)
Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, June 2013

6. Policy Tools Key aims, or most frequently heard:
Foundation skills
Skills for employment
But their acquisition may go through broad approaches, such as:
Improving self esteem
Improving motivation
Hence the role of policy tools, or mechanisms, that are not about the teaching/training or education/training per se
Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, June 2013

7. Money Issues Asumption: not reasonnable to ask for more money
Better idea: optimise the use of the existing money
A national qualifications framework can be a tool for managing money, and creating incentives
With a qualifications framework, and a cataloque, in place subsidies can be based on:
Registration in the calalogue; and
Any other considerations (qualifications in need, qualification accessible to validation of non-formal and informal learning outcomes…)
Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, June 2013

8. Stakeholders Involvment
Stakeholders involvement is a necessary condition
Organise the involvement of stakeholders
Because you need to start from their needs: labour market needs, literacy needs…
Bring employers, workers organisation, all ministries awarding qualifications, education and training providers… in the design process early on: sense of ownership
Flexible revision process, involving them too
Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, June 2013

9. Validation and Recognition of Non-formal and Informal Learning Outcomes
The society may not be ready (except in art maybe)
But you need it: EQUITY°
Loooooooooong process
Organise communication
Define your objectives (academic qualifications, literacy, TVET qualifications; for job, for self consumption; legitimate awarding body(ies)… )
It impacts on level of formalisation and therefore…
… it impacts on cost (RNFILO: not free, not cheap)
Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, June 2013

10. Literacy, RNFIL, Qualification & QF.
Skilled but Illiterate: Three Options
National Qualifications Framework …
Levels in the NQF: all suppose literacy 4 3 2 1
Certificates for the Labour Market (not in the NQF)
Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, June 2013

11. Literacy, RNFIL, Qualification & QF.
Skilled but Illiterate: Three Options
National Qualifications Framework …
Partial Qualification
Levels in the NQF: all suppose literacy 4 3
5 Years 2 1
Certificates for the Labour Market (not in NQF)
Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, June 2013

12. RNFILO: Assessment in Practice
Eligibility
Panel of assessors (at least 3 assessors: teacher, professional, validation officer)
Cost issues:
Validation of NFILO: 3 assessors for 1 applicant
Formal system: 1 teacher to 20 to 2000 students
Even if RNFILO is an individual process, assessment will have to be partly collective
Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, June 2013

13. ASSESSMENT: How Much do you Need to See?
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14. ASSESSMENT: How Much do you Need to See?
Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, June 2013 14

15. ASSESSMENT: How Much do you Need to See?
Does NOT help much:
Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, June 2013 15

16. ASSESSMENT: How Much do you Need to See? Where do you need to watch?
Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, June 2013 16

17. ASSESSMENT: How Much do you Need to See?
Better:
Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, June 2013 17

18. ASSESSMENT: How Much do you Need to See?
Probably enough:
Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, June 2013 18

19. My Advice
If you have a national qualifications framework: do information and communication
If you don’t have a national qualifications framework: do information and communication
Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, June 2013

20. Questions and comments please to: patrick.werquin@gmail.com
M e r c i
Questions and comments please to:
Patrick Werquin, National Qualifications Frameworks: Possible Ways Forward, CCL Regional Conference, Bangkok, June 2013 20