In higher education (HE) and in vocational education and training (VET), quality of education represents a topic of high priority. However, attempts to introduce quality assurance (QA) in the HE institutions and in the VET sector were not synchronous; different methods, approaches and structures have been developed. Nevertheless, the development and implementation of the EQF calls for coherent approaches on QA across education and training sectors and stresses the need for cross-fertilisation and possible joint developments between sectors.Up to now, not many comparisons between HE and VET (and especially their different QA-systems) were made, mainly due to reasons of different qualification level, different political and systematic position in the state, and different degrees of autonomy of the educational institutions. But by establishing new models of both, VET and HE, the borders between both sectors seem to disappear more and more: The establishment of practice oriented higher education in different European countries (e.g. Finland, Austria) can be seen as a "prolongation and academisation" of VET. On the other hand VET-providers tend to reach a higher degree of autonomy to be able to react more flexible and faster on the labour markets' needs. Another sign for the comparability of at least practice oriented HE and VET is the heterogenous role of stakeholders in both sectors, but also the labour-market relevance of curricula designed in both sectors. When looking at the four elements of the quality circle (Planning, Implementation, Evaluation, Review) it is already possible to identify not only differences but also common elements, similar concerns and difficultuies. The aim of this paper is to take a cross-sector perspective and to explore possibilities of the transferability of QA elements, methods and procederes from one educational sector to the other. This will be done by focussing on two specific aspects:First, we are focusing on the system perspective. Based on examples from HE and VET (Messerer et al 2006), different ways to assure quality at the system level will be analysed and discussed. While in HE a common model of quality assurance seems to have been developed in the recent years (internal evaluation combined with external evaluation conducted by an independent agency our Council), similar developments in VET can only be observed to a lower extent so far. The focus will be on the possibilities and obstacels for the transferability of key sucess factors for QA at the system level from one sector to the other.Second, we are looking at a common quality theme in HE and VET, the necessity of effective relationships with "the relevant labour market". VET institutions as well as HE institutions, in particular those offering practice-oriented HE, are concerned with questions related to the establishment and sustainability of such relationships and the procedures to ensure their efficiency. Based on the findings of the DEQU project, a project concerned with QA in practice-oriented HE (Humpl et al 2007, Whittington et al 2006), the possibilities of transferring approaches for enhancing quality through relationships with the labour market to the VET sector will be elaborated. Case studies (analysis of literature and documents, expert interview) The cross-sector perspective should elaborate the possibilities for cross-fertilisation between QA developments in VET and HE. For example: What are the preconditions for transferring key success factors for QA at the system level from HE to VET? How can the typology for HE institutions "Developing Relationships with Labour Market Stakeholders" - developed in the DEQU project - be used as typology for self-allocation of VET institutions with hints how to improve the relationships with labour market stakeholders? Messerer, K., Markowitsch, J., Sohm, K. & Balfe, W. (2006): Quality Assurance in a System Perspective. Good practice from the Irish VET and the Austrian HE sector. In: Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Culture (Eds): Quality in Eduaction and Training. Published by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Vienna, 2006, pp43-57 Humpl, S., Ferrandez, R., Whittington, B. (to be published in summer 2007): Guidance Notes for the Development of QA Elements in Practice Oriented Higher Education - Final Report for the Leonardo da Vinci project DEQU Whittington, B., Ferrandez, R. (2006): Developing a Market Responsive Curriculum - A consideration of preliminary findings from a project in Five European Higher Education institutions. Paper presented at the Consortium of Higher Education Researchers (CHER) Conference, Sep. 7th-9th, 2006.Publication at the DEQU website - www.dequ-info.net