Navigating through various qualification types

Background

The European qualifications framework (EQF) was adopted in 2008 and revised in 2017. It has significantly contributed to increasing transparency, comparability and portability of qualifications across Europe.

It has also triggered the development of learning-outcomes-based national qualifications frameworks (NQFs) in most of the 41 countries participating in the EQF process. Countries are working towards improving the way NQFs are included as main features of education and training policies, and increasing their awareness and use. Countries have reported considerable progress in opening up frameworks to qualifications awarded outside formal education and training. According to them, NQFs most often have a positive impact on promoting transparency of qualifications and the use of learning outcomes.  

What is new?

A new, updated, version of Cedefop's National qualifications frameworks (NQF) online tool. The NQF online tool is a rich source of information on the qualifications frameworks and systems of the 41 countries participating in the European qualifications framework (EQF) process. Policy-makers, researchers, and the wider public can learn about the structure and scope of the NQFs, and get information on their implementation, impact and future priorities.

The NQF online tool presents, through an interactive map/grid, information on the state of play of the NQF of each country Information is organised in thematic categories, and can be compared for two countries (Country comparison). 

Aim

To enhance the transparency and comparability of qualifications and contribute to increasing the mobility of individuals through different education and training sectors, in the labour market and across borders.

For who?

The tool is also addressing members of the wider public who can compare, through the EQF, qualifications from their country with those from all the other countries participating in the EQF process (Qualification comparison) and, in this way, establish which EQF level a given qualification is.

The information displayed in the tool is collected biennially by Cedefop jointly with the European Commission and the European Training Foundation (ETF), in cooperation with countries and the EQF national coordination points. 

Detailed information on 2022 developments in the accession and pre-accession countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine) will be available in the second half of 2024.