The European qualifications framework

1. Its emergence and application in selected European countries The European qualifications framework Mari Elken (UiO/NATED) Poznan, 03.09.09

2. Background • policy in a multi-level and multi-centered setting, involving large numbers of actors, institutions and processes (Olsen 2005) • increasingly difficult to differentiate between European and national policies => understanding the integration processes also offers a key to the change processes within higher education in Europe , but European level has not replaced other levels of governance (Gornitzka et al 2007)

3. Background • Mismatch in definitions, understandings and interests, but -> • ”Strong convictions and weak evidence” (Olsen & Maassen 2006)

4. Qualification • A qualification is a formal outcome of an assessment and validation process which is obtained when a competent body determines that an individual has achieved learning outcomes to given standards (European Commission 2008). • From being a national responsibility to European policy discussions

5. Qualifications Frameworks • NQF as ‘a practicalsolution to real political, economic and educational problems /…/, and the often unrealistic expectations about what the introduction of an NQF will achieve.’. • Difference between ‘general idea of a single qualifications framework that is common to a country or group of countries and the very different ways in which the idea of a framework has been taken up in different countries.’ (Young 2002)

6. Qualifications Frameworks • a basis for the measurement of private provision and the regulation and control of public provision (Allais 2007) • A tool for creating trust (Ministry of Technology and Education, Denmark) • Developments started on national level

7. Vocational Qualifications • processes of recognizing vocational qualifications started already with the Treaty of Rome in 1957 • In 1975 - CEDEFOP, in 1985 a process of establishing comparability of qualifications was started -> few results at the time. • 1998 European Forum on Transparency of Qualifications • 2002 – The Europass initiative started, established 2004 (Bouder 2008, Paulsen 2007)

8. Early European developments • During the last ten [now almost 20] years, has been a call for more mutual recognition, transferability and transparency of qualifications (Brennan & Shah 2000a). • Bologna as a first remote step towards overarching qualifications framework? • National and international initiatives followed

9. QF-EHEA • 2005 Bergen meeting • Emphasis that it should not be standardized, national ownership • QF-EHEA as a meta-framework

10. The development of the EQF • Copenhagen process and VET as a starting point but... it grew larger.

11. EQF • ”a translation device” • The EQF was signed on 23rd of April in 2008 • “promote citizens’ mobility between countries and to facilitate their lifelong learning” (European Commission 2008)

12. EQF structure • 8 levels • Knowledge - theoretical and/or factual. • Skills – cognitive (involving the use of logical, intuitive and creative thinking) and practical (involving manual dexterity and the use of methods, materials, tools and instruments). • Competence – responsibility and autonomy.

13. Knowledge

14. Skills

15. Competencies

16. Implementation • No legal commitment, voluntary • No explicit rhetorics of harmonization • Optimism and scepticism, as always

17. The project • European level ideas and capabilities • European ambitions meet national realities (Gornitzka et al 2007) • Need to understand the interaction between the two, no simple adaptation

18. The project • European level analysis • Case studies and cross-country comparisons of selected European countries (Norway, Ireland, Estonia)

19. European level developments (preliminary) • What were the necessary conditions, the rationale and ambition behind the emergence of EQF? Who were the key actors in this process and what was their role? • The role and legitimation of EC in the process • Implementation/effects - recommendation vs regulation? • How does the process fit into the broader context of europeanisation?

20. National implementations (preliminary) • What is the relationship between national policy agendas (various internal actors) and European initiatives? • How are the National Qualifications Frameworks being developed? (process, actors, negotiations, dynamics) • What is the role of EC (EQF) vs Bologna (QF-EHEA) in the national policy developments?

21. Thank you!