MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA Skopje, June 2009 Nadezda Uzelac

1. MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCEOF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIASkopje, June 2009Nadezda Uzelac NATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK SWOT Analysis, Ljubljana, June 29-30, 2009

2. STRENGTHS • In line with the common documents (Bologna Process, EU); • A national Working Group – increasing number of partners – chambers, agencies… • Legislation; • QF principles: LLL, recognition of informal learning, quality assurance mechanisms, credit accumulation and transfer; • Interpretation of national qualifications levels in terms of learning outcomes - used as a basis for classifying and describing levels; • Quality assurance approach - major concern – to be able to guarantee transparency and mutual trust; • Descriptors: Dublin descriptors;

3. WEAKNESSES • Absence of an overarching qualification framework; • Absence of the relevant legislative framework – except the Law on Higher Education; • New occupations and qualification standards; • Structural inconsistencies of the labor market; • Mobility of students and stuff; • Employability opportunities.

4. OPPORTUNITIES • Compatibility with the overarching framework for qualifications of the EHEA and EQF; • Relevant stakeholders; • Clear nationally agreed set of purposes; • NQF to link academic standards - quality assurance system and understanding within the country - place and level of qualifications; • Proper description - access to further qualification; • Relation to the three cycles. • Relation of qualifications with the transparency instrument, Diploma Supplement and ECTS;

5. THREATS • International compatibility of the Macedonian qualifications; • Student mobility; • Attractiveness of the country's study programs - to the students, own and foreign; • Employment opportunities; • New degree programs - experimental stage; • Difference between degrees bearing the same name in terms of admission requirements, content, learning objectives and function and the rights they confer;

6. Main Features of the Macedonian NQF • 8 levels defined trough learning outcomes – knowledge, skills and competence; • NQF aim at making levels explicit and provide transparency for access, transfer and progress; • Focus on learning outcomes - respecting all forms of learning (Formal, Non-Formal, Informal); • Support LLL - integrating separate education and training system; • Employers attempt to judge profile and relevance of qualification;

7. Expected outcomes from the “Ljubljana” meeting: • Raising knowledge on regional developments in the field of qualification frameworks; • Assessing the relevance of the work on NQF within the SEE region; • Comparing the initial results and feedbacks; • Targeting specific support to the further development in line with the priorities

8. Conclusion Active engagement in adapting to the new standards and methodology, strong commitment by the Ministries of Education and all regional stakeholders to create the conditions of a faster and sustainable coming together of the European integration processes, in the field of the qualifications frameworks too.