Practice Areas
Quality assurance in vocational training

The webinar

ETF Quality Assurance Forum organised a webinar on quality assurance of work-based learning, on 16 June.  

The purpose of the webinar was to explore and discuss quality assurance arrangements for work-based learning (WBL).

WBL in vocational education is an increasing priority among the ETF partner countries, as in the European Union, to improve skills and employability, and enhance economic competitiveness and social inclusion. While WBL can be a win-win-win situation providing benefits for all major stakeholders involved – the learner, the employer, and society - it poses specific questions in terms of quality assurance at the level of VET system, providers and enterprises. The webinar addressed exactly these issues:

- Stefan Thomas, ETF Work-based specialist, provided insights from the provided insights from the ETF work on the monitoring and evaluation of work-based learning,

- Anette Curth, Senior Technical Expert of EQAVET Secretariat, introduced EU tools on quality assurance of WBL developed to support VET systems, providers and enterprises: EQAVET framework, building blocks for WBL, European framework for quality and effective apprenticeships,

-  Kakhaber Eradze, Deputy Director of the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement of Georgia presented quality assurance system for work-based learning in Georgia,

- Brigitte Bouquet, the General manager of France Compétences, presented the quality assurance model of apprenticeships system in France

Presentations are uploaded below. 

Full recording (English)

 

ETF Quality Assurance Forum 

The ETF QA Forum is a transnational collaboration initiative between national institutions with VET quality assurance mandates in ETF’s partner countries. The aim of the Forum is to support member countries to modernise and improve quality assurance in VET. For additional information about the Forum, please contact the ETF senior expert, Mounir Baati, at mba@etf.europa.eu.

 

Webinars of the ETF Quality Assurance Forum

Since early 2020 the Forum has organised a series of webinars - recordings and materials can be downloaded below:

- on self-assessment of schools (LINK),

- on graduate tracking (LINK),  

- on peer visits as external evaluation tool (LINK),

- on assessment of teachers’ and trainers’ performance (LINK),

Files

Comments (11)

Nadezda Solodjankina
Open Space Member • 3 years ago

Today the ETF Forum for quality assurance in VET organised a webinar on quality assurance of work based learning. Great interventions and participation - you can access presentations here...and the recording is on its way ! We did not have time to address all the questions from the audience, so we are inviting speakers and participants to continue the discussion - here are some of the questions !

Nadezda Solodjankina
Open Space Member • 3 years ago

For ALL speakers: Do you think that the assessment of learners in this WBL mode is more difficult and more expensive than for the basic mode?

For ALL speakers: Would you have good examples of role of WBL in view of emerging needs such as green jobs?

For KAKHABER ERADZE and BRIGITTE BOUQUET: What are the benefits of obtaining the status of apprentice training center / educational enterprise?

For BRIGITTE BOUQUET: could you please explain the articulation between the accreditation system for CFAs and the qualiopi label?

Anette Curth
Open Space Member • 3 years ago

I agree with Kakhaber that assessment in wbl does not necessarily be more difficult or expensive. Yet, the pre-conditon are the use of clear and transparent standards and processes. Where this does not yet exist, it might take some preparatory work to put these in place and make sure they are understood and applied.
The following should be clear and agreed between all parties from the outset:
- Which learning outcomes will the learner achieve at the work place? Is this part of the training plan/curriculum, or are these learning outcomes extracurricular?
- Are those learning outcomes going to be assessed at the work place (all of them, or a part)? In case they are part of the curriculum - will the VET school need to be nvolved in the assessment?
- Who will acrry out the assessment at the work place (e.g. the mentor in the company or an external organisation - e.g. sector organsation)?
- What assessment methods are used (e.g. observation, demonstration of skills etc.)?
- What standards are going to be used for the assessment? Are sectoral standards or training standards applied, or this upon the discretion of the assessor?
- How is the outcome of the assessment recorded? How is this communicated to the VET school (or other responsible body)?
- What to do in case of differing views on an individual learner’s achievement? Is there is an agreed process for resolving any differences?

Anette Curth
Open Space Member • 3 years ago

I also just came across an initiative from Spain (LaRioja Region) where a VET school (I.E.S. Rey Don Garcia) developed several dual learning schemes (NQF level 3) in the renewable energy sector. This was done in close collaboration with local employers that were concerned they would not find people with the right skills in the region.

Kakhaber Eradze
Open Space Member • 3 years ago

Assessment of learners in vocational education, generally is not the easy task. especially when we assess practical skills and especially if the assessment process requires observation from assessors. in non WBL case, assessment process needs to be organized and needs special preparation. in WBL it takes place in normal working environment and usually does not need any special preparation. Instructor, based on everyday task performance observation, which is described in students portfolio or records, proves learner's achievements. Therefore I think that assessment in WBL is not at all difficult or expensive than other, properly performed assessment.

Kakhaber Eradze
Open Space Member • 3 years ago

Benefits of obtaining the status of apprentice training center / educational enterprise, generally called training company, in Georgian case are the following:
1. apprentice salary is much less than the salary paid to the qualified worker. It means lower paid workforce for 3 years at least;
2. in some priority cases, if the company employs a student, Georgian employment agency pays salary for one year and covers transportation costs for the same period of time;
3. obtaining the status of training company, means that the state officially proves company's compliance with predefined requirements, such as financial stability, job safety etc, which is "prestigious" for companies and they like to advertise their status.
4. Companies that participate in educational activities, by providing WBL services are considered as carrying out their social responsibilities, and the society has positive attitude towards them;
5. participation in WBL is the most effective way to employ proper labor force, which are already adopted in the company during their apprenticeship;
6. We seriously consider to impose more financial benefits for training companies (such as release from income tax for apprentice salaries, providing "free" insurance for apprentices, that is paid from the state budget, etc)
7. chamber of commerce and industry provides some extra free services to training companies, like consultations, trainings and advocacy if needed. .
so already there are some benefits to become a training company and some more to expect.

Stefan Thomas
Open Space Member • 3 years ago

The costs for practical assessments very much depend on the profile or trade. Some require the use of expensive consumables and equipment. It is advisable to regulate how the costs for practical assessments will be shared by companies, learners and the government. Companies that do not train apprentices but may hire skilled workers that were trained by other companies may be asked to contribute to cover the costs for training and assessment. In some countries, levy-fund systems have been established for this purpose.

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