Changing qualification systems in Australia, Ireland and South Africa

Well established qualifications frameworks and qualification systems in Australia, Ireland and South Africa are going through another overhaul to make them meet the needs of the 21st century. These are three frameworks together with Scotland that have really taken reviews to heart in the past, so this is a great opportunity for all colleagues to learn about these processes and to get an inside where these countries are going to steer their Qualification Systems in the next decade.

In Australia as I already posted the new AQF will be more flexible allow to mix and match qualifications from VET and HE, improving more progression between secondary education, VET and HE and supporting upskilling through recognising microcredentials. 

https://www.education.gov.au/australian-qualifications-framework-review-0

In Ireland the review process is still in an early phase of consultations with key questions identified for stakeholders.

They have published two green papers  on the qualification system and on qualifications that you can access here

https://www.qqi.ie/Articles/Pages/Current-consultations.aspx

These include how to develop a more integrated skills ecosystem, linking better labour market intelligence, occupational standards and qualifications, how to create more permeability between traditional higher education and further education (VET), as in the case of Australia both considered to be part of tertiary education, to what extent should the NFQ be opened up and give more emphasis on professional qualifications developed by communities of practice (which are  qualifications that are not issued by the education system) so that pathways can be more personalised. How personalisation can be supported by digital tools to navigate qualifications as part of the skills ecosystem, how to make recognition of prior learning work and how to redesign qualifications so that they are more fit for purpose. In the Irish system QA remains a very important part of all these aspects and there are also questions about the role of QQI, awarding bodies and communities of practice. John O'Connor from QQI emphasised to me that QQI would greatly benefit from any engagement among the ETF community of qualifications experts on these papers. So if you have any questions, comments, suggestions please share them here and we will also share them with John.

From South Africa Joe Samuels shared two documents that were released in the South African context over several months. In August 2019 the President signed into law an NQF Amendment Act 12 of 2019 - (not in force yet) and a Consultative Paper on amendments to the NQF Act 67 of 2008 (as amended) on 26 March 2020. They are both attached. There will be consultation processes and this may lead to "further simplification" of the South African NQF.

Joe who left SAQA earlier this year is not happy with these papers which he considers nor fit for purpose, especially after the COVID19 crisis. You can read on his LinkedIn page what he sees as the problem  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/7-reasons-why-minister-should-withdraw-consultative-paper-joe-samuels

As our toolkit Skills and Qualifications benefits for people that we released last year indicated, qualification system need to serve the needs of users and beneficiaries, not only those of governments and providers. But in order to do so qualifications need to be trusted otherwise they have no currency. We  are entering a new era in qualification systems and these have been accelerated by COVID19 crisis. All of you who are working on these issues should consider these reviews as inputs for developing your own systems. 

What do you think of the questions and proposals from the three established frameworks?

Are the issues raised sufficient to meet the needs of the next decade?

Are these proposals implementable in your view?

Is COVID19 changing our perspective?

Do you dare to react?