1. Fatih University
NIHA CONFERENCE “COMMON FUTURE” European Qualifications Framework and National Qualifications System in Turkey Prof. Dr. Oğuz Borat 13 – 16 January 2008 Hotel Patalya Kizilcahamam, Ankara
Distinguished Guests, I would like to present some basic points of EQF & NQS in Turkey. Since most of the speakers yesterday mentioned the Lisbon decision of heads of state or government of member states, I can skip it.

2. Heads of State or Government of the Member States agreed on the following objective
"By 2010 the European Union must become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion."
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Lisbon Council Mart 2000
15 Jan 08

3. To Achieve Knowledge Based Economy
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To Achieve Knowledge Based Economy
Strategic objective for the European Union is: to become the world’s most dynamic knowledge based economy.
Hence, promote social inclusion, cohesion, mobility, employability and competitiveness.
15 Jan 08

4. Fatih University
European Qualifications Framework – EQF ? - Translation device for comparing qualifications / Meta-Framework - Neutral reference point based on learning outcomes - EQF implementation is voluntary - Impose no legal obligations on Member States or sectors - 8 common reference levels (learning outcomes)
The European Qualifications Framework (EQF) is a translation grid for qualifications around Europe. It has two principal purposes: (1) to promote mobility between countries, and (2) to facilitate lifelong learning. Both are indispensable for achieving more and better jobs and growth, as Europe faces the challenges of becoming an advanced, knowledge-based economy.
15 Jan 08

5. the European Qualifications Framework
Mutual recognition of academic and vocational qualifications
Establishment of
1- National Qualifications Frameworks
2- European Qualifications Framework;
(The 8 levels go from very basic skills to top level academic and professional skills. Today we are mainly concerned with levels 2 to 6)
Fatih University
EQF is unique in being the first international framework which covers the entire scope of qualifications: higher education, vocational training, adult education, as well as general education. It frames together results of the Bologna and the Copenhagen processes. EU members decided to establish NQF and EQF. Within countries, the EQF initiative has already encouraged the development of National Qualifications Frameworks. Over the next few years, the EQF will promote lifelong learning, for example by making it easier to gain credit for the learning people have already achieved.

6. The alternative to EQF: bilateral agreements?
Country B
Country A
Country C
…they rapidly become very complex…
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These circles can be accepted as individuals, instititions, sectors, companies or (as it is shown in the figure as) countries, seeking links to other bodies
15 Jan 08

7. The alternative to EQF: bilateral agreements?
Country I
Country D
Country C
Country F
Country B
Country G
Country A
Country E
Country H
The alternative to EQF: bilateral agreements?
Fatih University
Circles are individuals, instutiions, sectors, countries, companies seeking links to other bodies
15 Jan 08

8. Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 Level 7 Level 8
Qualification
Country A
Country B
EQF Levels
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EQF is designed to make mobility easier and to promote lifelong learning. It will make qualifications more transparent and understandable between and within countries.
15 Jan 08

9. Swedish post-secondary engineering education (Påbygnadsutbildning)
= EQF Level 4
= Irish post secondary education at national level 6 (Advanced certificate) E Q F
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People in Europe too often face obstacles when they try to move from one country to another to learn or work. They even sometimes face obstacles when they want to move from one part of their own country's education system to another, e.g. from vocational education and training to higher education. The EQF will make different qualifications more easily readable between different European countries, and so promote increased mobility for learning or working.
15 Jan 08

10. Country which has not yet taken a decision to
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Country has framework
Country which has not yet taken a decision to
have a framework
Country is developing framework
The European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, Mr Ján Figel', launched the EQF for LLL on , at a major education conference in Lisbon. The EQF will act as a translation device between the Member States' qualifications systems. This will help employers and educational establishments across Europe compare and better understand the qualifications presented by individuals. The core of the EQF system is its eight reference levels, covering the span of basic to the highest level qualifications. The Recommendation specifies that countries should relate their national qualifications systems to the EQF by By 2012, every new qualification issued in the EU should have a reference to the appropriate EQF reference level, so the benefits to mobility and LLL that the EQF brings will be visible and available to every EU citizen.
15 Jan 08

11. EUROPEAN SPACE LLL LABOUR MARKET
Learning Outcomes
VOC-TEST (MEGEM)
EUROPEAN SPACE
Ploteus Learning Opportunities Portal
5- Mobility
4- Certificate Supplement
3- Diploma Supplement
2- Language Passport
1- CV
EUROPASS
Citizen
European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System
(ECTS, ECVET)
8 Reference & 5 Certification Levels
In the Field Learning
Informal Learning
Non-Formal Learn.
Formal Edu.
LLL
LABOUR MARKET 1 2 3 4 5
Fatih University 6
Behind the abstract translation device of the EQF lies the intention to meet an immediate need at the personal/citizen level: the need for mobility, to better equip oneself when moving to another country or undertaking further training. The EQF joins Europass, Ploteus, the Lifelong Learning programme and other instruments aimed at enhancing the transparency of systems or qualifications and the mobility of citizens.

12. 8 Reference Levels in Formal Education
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8 Reference Levels in Formal Education 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Levels
Sectors & Chambers
Person having a primary education diploma accepted as unskilled work force. There are more than 70 million people in EU countries today.
Master and Ph D levels are acaqdemic levels which can not be assessted by the sectors & chambers. But occupational standards of the remaining 5 levels- from two to six- will be prepared by the sectors & chambers.
15 Jan 08

13. 8 Reference Levels and Titles in LM7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Levels
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8 Reference Levels and Titles in LM
Sectors & Chambers

14. The EQF Level Descriptors
Each level in the EQF is described in terms of three types of typical learning outcomes:
1- Knowledge
2- Skills
3- Personal and professional competences
- Autonomy and responsibility
- Learning competence
- Communication and social competence
- Professional and vocational competence
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The EQF Level Descriptors
The EQF uses a learning–outcomes approach, which is its hallmark feature. ‘Learning outcome’ means that the stress is on what people know and can do with their knowledge, rather than on where and how they got their diplomas. The learning–outcomes basis has been accepted as the basic principle of most national qualifications frameworks that are being developed across Europe. This represents a conceptual change for education and training. We can expect to see a fundamental transformation in our ideas about teaching and learning over the next few years.
15 Jan 08

15. LIFELONG LEARNING (LLL) & ECVET
Learning in the Field
Informal Learning
Non-Formal Learning
Formal Learning
(Higher Vocational School)
LIFELONG LEARNING (LLL) & ECVET
Fatih University
5th Level Certificate Supplement
Test for 5th Level
5th Level Credit Accumulation
4 x 30 = 120 Unit
5th Level Diploma Supplement

16. Establishment of National Qualifications System in Turkey
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Establishment of National Qualifications System in Turkey
Draft law proposal on Vocational Qualifications Authority (VQA) prepared by Social Partners (MoNE, MoL&SS, SPO, ISKUR, TOBB, TISK, TESK, TURK-IS, HAK-IS, DISK,TUSIAD, MEKSA)
VQA Law
No.5544
07 October 2006
Turkey has already initiated the establishment of the national qualification system with the Law of "Vocational Qualifications Authority" (VQA) which was accepted by Grand National Assembly of Turkey in September This authority is the responsible body to establish and execute the national qualifications system in a trilateral dialogue as an affiliated body of Ministry of Labour and Social Security
15 Jan 08

17. Labour Market Socio-Economic Activities in Sectors CoHE (YOK)
Trade Unions
NGOs
Chambers
Labour Market
Vocational Qualifications Authority (VQA)
Education Needs
Learning Outcomes
Education System based on LLL
OSC OS
Education
Standards
Educated HR
Certified manpwer
Mo L&SS
MoNE
Council of Higher Education
Ministries
Vocational Qualifications Authority (OQO)
Education,Training & Employment of Human Resources
SPO
Certification System
MEGEM
(VOC-TEST)
Fatih University
TÜRKAK
Socio-Economic Activities in Sectors
CoHE
(YOK)
15 Jan 08

18. Occupational Standards
VQA
Occupational Standards
Education Standards
Curricula
Testing
Certification
Accreditetion
Sectors
NQS in Turkey
Question Bank
Fatih University
NGOs
15 Jan 08

19. NGO SECTOR Preparation of Occupational Standards by Sector
2- LMNA
Fatih Üniversitesi
SECTOR
3- Priority in occupations
4- Determination of Reference Levels
1- Application to VQA
Preparation of Occupational Standards by Sector
5- Occupational standards
NGO

20. 2- Prep. of Question Bank by Sector 3- Knowledge & Skills Testing
Fatih University
VOC-TEST by SECTOR
1- App.to VQA
2- Prep. of Question Bank by Sector
4- Certification
NGO
3- Knowledge & Skills Testing
SECTOR

21. Fatih University
THANKS
15 Jan 08

22. 8 COMMON REFERENCE LEVELS
The main elements of the EQF
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8 COMMON REFERENCE LEVELS
15 Jan 08

23. - communication in mother tongue, communication in another language,
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KEY COMPETENCES
- communication in mother tongue,
communication in another language,
basic competences in maths, science and technology,
digital competence,
learning to learn,
interpersonal and civic competences,
entrepreneurship and
cultural expression
15 Jan 08

24. (Credit transfer and accumulation system)
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ECTS, ECVET
(Credit transfer and accumulation system)
Goal
to create an integrated credit transfer system at European level, meeting the needs of vocational and academic institutions
15 Jan 08

25. National Qualifications Frameworks (NQF)
Fatih University
Building up
National Qualifications Frameworks (NQF)
National authorities determine how the qualifications within each country are linked to an EQF.
15 Jan 08

26. Fatih University
Linking qualifications to the EQF: the role of sectoral stakeholders - Invite sectors to link sectoral qualifications to EQF - Facilitate sectoral developments - Facilitate link between national and sectoral qualifications - Decentralisation and self-certification
15 Jan 08

27. Occupational Standards (5-10 Sector Experts)
SECTORAL NGO
Fatih Üniversitesi
Certified person
Occupational Standards (5-10 Sector Experts)
Knowledge&Skills Testing (5-7 sector + 2 education experts)
VOC-TEST
(MEGEM)
Certification
National Standards & Certificate
VQA
TÜRKAK
15 Jan 08