Brussels, 19/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - National qualification frameworks (NQFs) are becoming more and more widespread, says Cedefop in a separate study.
Cedefop, the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, has carried out an evaluation of NQFs in Europe (the EU plus the EEA plus Switzerland and the EU candidate countries). While the role of NQFs is essentially national, they are being used increasingly to strengthen cooperation between countries and regions. Cedefop reports that, in October 2014: 1) 28 NQFs had been formally adopted; 2) 18 countries had reached the operational stage (compared with 16 in 2013) and seven were fully operational; 3) 29 countries had proposed or adopted eight reference level frameworks (28 in 2013); 4) 26 countries had presented reports showing how their national frameworks relate to the European qualifications framework (EQF); the other countries are due to submit theirs in 2015. Cedefop also indicates that increasing numbers of non-European countries are expressing interest in linking into the EQF, even though no timetable has been proposed.
The European qualifications framework for lifelong learning is a common reference framework which allows European countries to establish a link between their national qualifications systems. It has eight reference levels described in terms of training and education outcomes. It allows qualifications from different countries and educational systems to be more easily understood. It has two main objectives: increasing the mobility of citizens between countries and promoting lifelong education and training. (IL)