The ACQF Development Process
The African Continental Qualifications Framework (ACQF) is a policy initiative of the African Union (AU) underpinned by the AU Agenda 2063. The ACQF is in development, supported by the Africa-EU Partnership (2019-2022). The ACQF project is a component of Skills for Youth Employability, an EU contribution to African Union / AUDA-NEPAD's "Skills Initiative for Africa".
Developing the ACQF is a holistic process, involving analysis and mapping, stakeholders' consultation, capacity development and networking. The major output of this process will be the ACQF policy and technical document supported by an action plan, ACQF guidelines, website and tools. The ACQF document will be technically validated and submitted to the African Union Commission for decision making.
The collection of the ACQF Mapping Reports is uploaded at: https://www.nepad.org/skillsportalforyouth/publication/african-continen…
The ACQF Mapping study comprises 13 country reports, reports of 3 Regional Qualifications Frameworks (RQFs), a landmark comprehensive report and several reference tools (analysis of level descriptors, analysis of qualifications and Inventory of NQFs). Several reports are available in English-French, English-Portuguese languages. The 13 country reports: Angola, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Togo. The 3 REC reports cover the RQFs of: EAC, SADC and ECOWAS. The final publication of the comprehensive report (EN-FR-PT) - forthcoming (February 2021), but the pre-publication is already uploaded.
The ACQF Peer Learning Programme 2020
The ACQF peer learning programme is focused on core themes of qualifications frameworks and systems, and contributes to boost engagement of African Union member states and stakeholders, to develop knowledge and a common understanding of key concepts, objectives, and operational instruments of national and regional qualifications frameworks.
The 7 peer learning webinars covered 22 cases: 17 National and 5 Regional Qualifications Frameworks. The presented Regional Qualifications Frameworks are: the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Qualifications Reference Framework (ASEAN QRF), the Arab Qualifications Framework (ARAB QF), the Southern African Development Community Qualifications Framework (SADCQF) and the East African Qualifications Framework for Higher Education (EAQFHE). The shared NQF experiences, in alphabetic order, are: Angola, Bahrain, Cape Verde, Egypt, France, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mozambique, Portugal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
All experiences were presented by lead managers representing the relevant institutions, according to the governance models in place: National Qualifications Authorities, Quality Assurance Agencies, Higher Education Councils, Coordination Units of the National Qualifications Systems, and steering / coordinating entities of Regional Qualifications Frameworks.
Each qualifications framework has a story, and a vision for change. Similarities and some differences in respect to stage of development, conceptual-technical design, governance, implementation mechanisms and impact were discussed and the cases compared.
The peer learning journey stared on 2/July 2020 with Kenya.
In the July webinars the community of peer learned from the experiences of 4 national qualifications frameworks (Kenya, Slovenia, Mozambique and Ireland) and 2 overarching reference frameworks (EQF and ASEAN QRF).
The speakers were Dr Eusebius Mukhwana, Koen Nomden and Urska Marentic respectively for Kenya, EQF and Slovenia, while Dr Jeffy Mukora, Dr Mega Santoso and Dr John O'Connor presented the cases of Mozambique, the ASEAN QRF and Ireland National Framework of Qualifications.
The webpages for the two July webinars are available on ETF website at the following links:
1st Peer learning Webinar (Kenya, EQF, Slovenia) - https://www.etf.europa.eu/en/news-and-events/events/african-continental…
2nd Peer Learning Webinar (Mozambique, ASEAN QRF and Ireland) - https://www.etf.europa.eu/en/news-and-events/events/african-continental…
During the 3rd webinar, on 10 September, we became well acquainted with the qualifications frameworks of Mauritius, France and Portugal, and underscored their common interest for parity of esteem of all types of learning to access qualifications, recognition of prior learning (validation of non-formal and informal learning), and transparency of qualifications.
Speakers were: Dr Robin Phoolchund, Brigitte Bouquet and Teresa Duarte.
You can find all presentations of the 3rd webinar in EN-FR-PT languages at: https://www.etf.europa.eu/en/news-and-events/events/african-continental…;
On the 4th Webinar we enjoyed the brilliant presentations on the national qualifications frameworks of Lesotho (LQF) and Bahrain (BQF). Lesotho has approved its revised NQF in June 2019. The Arab Qualifications Framework illustrated how regional cooperation can benefit from a regional referencing qualifications framework, and the challenges and issues that require constant follow-up
Speakers were: Mr M. Khobotlo and Dr Tariq Al-Sindi.
All presentations and LQF technical documents wait for your visit: https://www.etf.europa.eu/en/news-and-events/events/african-continental…
During the 5th Webinar we analysed the developments and perspectives of four African National Qualifications Frameworks: Angola, Egypt, Ghana and Zimbabwe. Countries discussed as well how they are adapting to the "new normal" during and beyond Covid-19.
The vision and roadmap of the young Angolan NQF was presented by Ana Cláudia Andrade (UTG-PNFQ); Ghana's NQF experience and new developments was shared by Maxwell Amoako-Kissi (NAB); Prof. Youhansen Eid (NAQAAE) told us about the history of Egypt NQF; and the case of Zimbabwe NQF, adopted in 2018, was narrated by Prof. Kuzvinetsa Dzvimbo (ZIMCHE).
You can find these insightful presentations, and NQF technical documents at the following link: https://www.etf.europa.eu/en/news-and-events/events/african-continental…
On the 22nd of October, at the 6th Webinar, we learned about the evolution of NQFs of two countries with significant experience (Zambia and Cabo Verde), and engaged with two regional qualifications frameworks in Africa (Southern African Development Community and East African Community). The speakers were: Mirriam Chiyaba (ZAQA), Amílcar Mendes (UC-SNQ), Coleen Jaftha (for the SADCQQF) and Dr James Jowi (EAC Principal Education Officer, for the EAQFHE)
All documents, presentations and agenda can be accessed here: https://www.etf.europa.eu/en/news-and-events/events/african-continental…
To conclude this journey of knowledge and trust building, two emblematic cases were superbly shared at the 7th Peer Learning Webinar: the South African NQF, one of most experienced and well-known in the world, in implementation for more than two decades; and the NQF of Sierra Leone - currently starting the first steps of development and consultation.
The speakers from SAQA, Dr Julie Reddy and Coleen Jaftha shared a comprehensive and inspiring overview of the 22 years of South African NQF
Ing. Mohammed Jalloh, director of NCTVA (Sierra Leone) led the peers through the story of resilience in the recent turbulent country path, the successive phases of reform education and training, and the recent evolution of the thinking on the NQF that the country needs.
These presentations and complementary technical reports are available for your consultation at https://www.etf.europa.eu/en/news-and-events/events/african-continental…;
Digital Credentials - one of the novel topics presented by Zambia and South Africa. And a special session was conducted by the team Dennis van-Gessel and Ildiko Mazar, representing Europass Digital Credentials. To know more on Europass Digital Credentials and on interconnected qualifications databases of EQF countries, visit: https://europa.eu/europass/en/what-are-digital-credentials and https://europa.eu/europass/en/find-courses?page=752
To close the Peer Learning Programme, a panel of peers expressed their views on the main learnings from this first programme, and on the relevance of peer-sharing in the ACQF process; and on the importance of cooperation between national and regional qualifications frameworks with the continental, for the agenda of African integration, portability of qualifications and mobility. The presentation with the panel contributions is available in the webpage of the 7th webinar, and a brief systhesis is provided below.
Thank you to all panellists:
Merci à tous les experts du panel de conclusion :
Agradecimentos aos participantes do painel de conclusão:
- Mme Ida Alvarinho, ANEP, Mozambique
- Prof Constant Nkima, ANAQ-ESU, R D Congo
- Dr Al Muktar Bakkour, ANEAQ, Morocco
- Mme Fiona Ernesta, SQF, Seychelles
- Dr Deodonne Kunwufine, MINESEC, Cameroon
- M. Abdoul Lahaté Cissé, ANAQ-Sup, Senegal
- M. Mustapha Hassen, Head of TVET department, Tunisia
- Dr James Jowi, Principal Education Officer, East African Community
Synthesis of the Panel
Today our final panel of eight experts representing countries and REC concluded that NQFs are instruments for RESPECT and for PEACE, as they support dialogue and mutual understanding between countries, systems, people, and create trust in qualifications from all sub-sectors. The education response to the global Pandemic is not only about educational and pedagogic continuity, but about transformation of learning - and NQFs need to be part of this transformation. NQFs - quality assurance - recognition: the indispensable triangle. Further knowledge-sharing, more peer learning webinars at country and continental level, a platform for capacity development of experts throughout the continent and to support countries - were mentioned in the recommendations of all our panellists today. New qualifications frameworks are being developed on the continent, and they deserve and need encouragement and support. Cooperation and linkages between all qualifications frameworks on the continent - national, regional and the continental framework - was considered a fundamental objective for the coming years. And finally: advocacy needs to be reinforced - at all levels - to support this movement towards greater comparability and approximation of qualifications and frameworks. Advocacy, engagement, strategy, resources. Holistic vision. The ACQF process is starting.
Synthèse du panel
Aujourd’hui, notre panel de huit experts (représentant des pays et une communauté économique régionale) ont conclu que les Cadres de certifications sont des instruments pour le RESPECT et pour la PAIX, car ils soutiennent le dialogue et la compréhension mutuelle entre les pays, système et personnes, et créent la confiance dans les qualifications (tous sous-secteurs). La réponse éducative à la pandémie mondiale ne concerne pas seulement la continuité pédagogique, mais aussi la transformation de l’éducation et formation - et les cadres de certifications doivent faire partie de cette transformation. CNC - assurance qualité - reconnaissance: le triangle indispensable. D’autres partages d’expérience, plus de webinaires d’apprentissage par les pairs au niveau national et continental, une plate-forme solide pour le développement des capacités des experts à travers le continent et pour soutenir les pays - ont été mentionnés dans les recommandations de tous nos panélistes aujourd’hui. De nouveaux cadres de certifications sont en cours d’élaboration sur le continent, et ils méritent et ont besoin d’encouragement et de soutien. La coopération et les liens entre tous les cadres de certifications du continent - cadres nationaux, régionaux et continental - ont été considérés comme objectif fondamental pour les années à venir. Et enfin : le plaidoyer doit être renforcé - à tous les niveaux - pour soutenir ce mouvement vers une plus grande comparabilité et l’approximation des certifications et des cadres. Plaidoyer, engagement, stratégie, ressources. Vision holistique. Le processus de l’ACQF commence.
Síntese do painel
Hoje, o nosso painel final de oito peritos (representando países e REC) concluiu que os NQF são instrumentos para o RESPEITO e para a PAZ, uma vez que apoiam o diálogo e a compreensão mútua entre países, pessoas e criam confiança nas qualificações (todos subsectores). A resposta educativa à Pandemia global não é apenas sobre continuidade educacional e pedagógica, mas sobre a transformação da aprendizagem - e os NQFs precisam de fazer parte desta transformação. NQFs - garantia de qualidade - reconhecimento: o triângulo indispensável. A partilha de expêriencia, mais webinars de aprendizagem entre pares a nível nacional e continental, uma plataforma de desenvolvimento de capacidade de especialistas em todo o continente e de apoio aos países , foram mencionados nas recomendações de todos os nossos painelistas de hoje. Estão a ser desenvolvidos novos quadros de qualificações no continente e estes merecem e precisam de incentivo e apoio. A cooperação e as ligações entre todos os quadros de qualificações no continente - nacional, regional e continental - foram consideradas um objetivo fundamental para os próximos anos. E, por último: a advocacia tem de ser reforçada - a todos os níveis - para apoiar este movimento no sentido de uma maior comparabilidade e aproximação das qualificações e dos quadros. Advocacia, envolvimento, estratégia, recursos. Visão holística. O processo ACQF está a começar.
Link to the playlist of the ACQF Peer Learning Webinar recordings: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEKEwOFeOWc6W5fxbX6M8NrO6oA0yH3Ww
The ACQF activities will continue with more and interesting capacity development and networking actions.
From October 2020 the ACQF Task Force starts developing the options for the ACQF as a sustainable policy instrument. We will continue supporting peer-sharing and dissemination.
The ACQF mapping reports (countries and RECs) are available for you at this repository: https://www.nepad.org/skillsportalforyouth/publication/african-continen…
Contact us, send us your suggestions for peer learning and knowledge-sharing on qualifications frameworks.
Thematic coordinator and facilitator of the peer learning programme: Eduarda Castel-Branco, ecb@etf.europa.eu
Thanks for joining and participating!