Partner Countries are developing better vocational qualifications based on identified needs and expressed in learning outcomes, but the numbers are still low. Without those qualifications NQFs are empty boxes with false promises of seamless progression. In order to make transitions in professional development and between work and learning easier, better vocational qualifications are needed. Without qualifications we won’t have graduates that meet new requirements, new curricula, or systems for the recognition of prior learning.
With increased emphasis on lifelong learning, the needs for different kind of qualifications than those existing emerge. Apart from traditional secondary VET qualifications, post-secondary and continuing VET qualifications are considered for retraining jobseekers and for specialising and upskilling practitioners. There is no disagreement: Vocational qualifications should be based on identified needs, e.g. by using occupational standards, and developed with representatives of the world of work. Qualifications should be expressed in learning outcomes. Yet developments are slow.
The complexity of reform seems to be the main bottle-neck. Setting up new processes takes time and no one really has an overview of all the ins-and-outs. The main blockages are due to lack of capacities, understanding and agreements of key concepts. Countries depend on technical assistance to advance, but foreign experts lack understanding of local contexts. Although partner countries are struggling with similar issues in reforming their qualifications, copying is not a solution. Qualifications have to fit within national contexts of labour markets, education systems and values.
In the workshop we want to look at how qualifications are being understood, and how the qualifications development processes change. Mirjana Bojanic from the Institute of the Improvement of Education in Serbia and Tomasz Suryusz-Wolski from the team that implements the NQF in Poland will explain how qualifications are changing in their countries. Daria Duilovic from the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina will be our rapporteur, The facilitation of the workshop is done by Jens Bjornavold and myself, and we are going to actively involve all participants of the workshop. We want to explore if we can identify minimal requirements for ‘qualification standards’ and ‘qualification types’. We want to discuss whether countries can start working on new qualifications, when the set up for their new qualifications systems is still under development. We want to understand the linkages between occupations, qualifications and curricula and between occupational standards and qualification standards. We want to know if it is useful to exchange more experience on the development of qualifications and how information on qualifications could be exchanged effectively.
We have only limited places available in our workshop but please join us right now in the debate with your suggestions and comments. The key questions are:
• How can we speed up vocational education reforms?
• How can we structure the exchange of information between countries?
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