Robotics, environmental technology, public health management – the diversity of interesting jobs and career advancement opportunities with a Level 5 qualification is extensive.
At the crossroads of university and vocational education, Level 5 demonstrates specialised and practical skills, creative problem-solving and management. The gateway to innovation, this qualification is an attractive option for learners and employers alike!
In many countries, Level 5 can also be validated through learning that takes place outside of the classroom, on-the-job, even online. But not all qualification systems are created equal. The best ones bring education and training providers, together with business and other social partners to deliver the skills for today and tomorrow.
To help explore best-practice, challenges, opportunities and policy actions the European Training Foundation (ETF) together with the Council of Europe, both working on qualifications reform in the EU neighbourhood, hosted the ‘Shaping Level 5’ conference in Turin, 7-8 June.
More than 60 policymakers, employers, educators, experts, EU officials and social partners from across Europe (from Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Finland) and 14 of the ETF’s partner countries (from North Africa, the Middle-East, Turkey, the Balkans, Eastern Europe and Central Asia) took part.
Opening the conference, the ETF’s Xavier Matheu de Cortada said National Qualification Frameworks, where qualification levels are defined (typically 1-4 in vocational education and 6-8 in higher education) are the perfect tool to provide quality assured, recognisable skills for the labour market. ‘They can equip citizens for lifelong learning, recognition and mobility within and across countries.’
Jean-Phillipe Restoueix, from the Council of Europe’s Higher Education Unit, says a common obstacle for Level 5 however, is the ‘complicated’ relationship between higher and vocational education. ‘Building trust is key. You need to make the bridge more obvious.’
The two-day workshop provided a forum for participants from all countries to share their experience, challenges and opportunities to leverage better policy and practice outcomes.
ETF partner countries: Albania, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kosovo*, Moldova, Morocco, Serbia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine.
* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
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