Assuring comparability and compatibility of the sectoral qualifications between the countries using the European Qualifications Framework

Author(s):

Vidmantas TutlysMilada StalkerCarmel KellyJakob KhayatM'Hamed DifMiroslav Kadlec

Conference:

ECER 2009

Network:

2. Vocational Education and Training (VETNET)

Format:

Research Workshop

Session Information

02 SES 03 C, Assuring Comparability and Compatibility of the Sectoral Qualifications between the Countries using the European Qualifications Framework

Research Workshop

Time:

2009-09-28

14:00-15:30

Room:

HG, HS 26

Chair:

Vidmantas Tutlys

Contribution

The topic of the research concerns the possibilities to use the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) for the comparability of the qualifications in the sectors of construction and hospitality between the 5 countries: Austria, Czech Republic, France, Ireland and Lithuania (SECCOMPAT - EQF and compatibility of sectoral qualifications between the EU countries: 2008-2010). There can be discerned the following research questions: 1. What are the main methodological backgrounds and preconditions for the comparability and compatibility of the sectoral qualifications between the different countries (similarities and differences of the concepts of qualifications and competences, institutional and socioeconomical factors influencing the definition of qualifications and competences etc.) 2. How the differences in the occupational structure of the sectors and in the dispositions of qualifications in the sectors influence the comparability of the sectoral qualifications between the countries? 3. How the differences in the structure of qualifications in the sectors influence the comparability of the sectoral qualifications between the countries? 4. To what extent the sectoral qualifications (in the construction and hospitality sectors) fit to the National qualification frameworks in the analysed countries and what are the implications of this fit to the comparability of the sectoral qualifications between the countries? 5. To what extent the national qualification frameworks of the analysed countries can be comparable with the EQF and what are the implications of this comparability for the comparison of the sectoral qualifications? Referring to the research questions, the undertaken research deals basically with the following: 1.Discussion of the methodological issues of the compatibility and comparability of the sectoral and national qualifications frameworks using the EQF. 2.Analysis of the comparability of the sectoral qualifications frameworks between partner countries in terms of the structure of the sectors. 3. Research of comparability of the sectoral qualifications frameworks between the countries in terms of the structure of qualifications. 4. Analysis of the compatibility of the sectoral qualifications with the national qualifications frameworks and the compatibility of the national qualifications frameworks with the EQF. The basis of the adopted conceptual framework of this research are those principles and theories connected with the practice of designing and implementing the qualifications frameworks and systems, i.e. the underlying theories and principles of interrelationships between education and labour market, methodologies of designing of learning-outcome and competence based qualifications, approaches of the levelling of qualifications/certifications and learning outcomes, including relationships between different types of skill formation ,and knowledge.

Method

The adopted research methodology encompasses dealing with the guiding principles and theories used for designing the outcomes-based qualification frameworks and systems, including the functional analysis and other methods of research activities. The comparability and compatibility of the sectoral qualifications are disclosed by looking into the similarities and differences of the interpretation of the main concepts, hypothesising the impacts of the comparability of the sectoral environment and context of designing, provision and usage of qualifications (structure and development of the sectors, the situation of VET and human resource development in the sector, adopted policies for skill development, etc.). This includes comparing the contents and structures of sectoral qualifications. The main sources of research are the documents concerning the development of the NQF's in the partner countries and the various registers, directories and data-bases of the qualifications, occupations or trades.

Expected Outcomes

1. There is an increasing need for a clear and comprehensive referencing instrument in comparing the sectoral qualifications between the countries. The existing differences of sectoral qualifications between the different countries on the conceptual level, contextual level (sector contexts) and contents level (structure of sectors in terms of qualifications and the contents of qualifications) creates significant difficulties in undertaking direct comparison of the sectoral qualifications between countries. 2. European Qualifications Framework can be effectively used for the comparison of the sectoral qualifications between the countries only in combination with the national qualifications frameworks between the countries. 3. Analysing the different cases of the comparability of the sectoral qualifications between the countries there can be stated, that one of the most important factors which complicate the comparability of qualifications is the difference in the approaches of the qualifications design (for example, comparison of the input-based qualifications to outcomes based qualifications).

References

1. A Proposal for the Concept, Structure and Processes of the National Qualifications Framework (2008) Národní ústav odborného vzdělávání. Prague 2. Becker M., Spöttl G. (2008) Berufswissenschaftliche Forschung. Berufliche Bildung in Forschung, Schule und Arbeitswelt, Band 2, Peter Lang Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften, Frankfurt am Main 3. Brockmann M., Clarke L., Winch Ch. (2008) Can performance-related learning outcomes have standards? Journal of European Industrial Training Vol. 32 No. 2/3, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp. 138-156 4. Delamare Le Deist F., Winterton, J. (2005) What is Competence? Human Resource Development International, March 2005, Vol. 8, Nr. 1, pp. 27-46 5. Dif, M. (2007): “Accreditation of experiential learning in vocational education to foster professionalisation”, in Bernd Baumgartl, Fatma 6. Mizikaci and Dean Owen (Eds.): “from here to there: Mileposts of European higher education”, Naverme/Publications, Vol.7B, March, pp.151-159. 7. European Commission (2008) The European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning (EQF), Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 8. Grollmann, Ph. (2008) Professional competence as a benchmark for a European space of vocational education and training. Journal of European Industrial Training Vol. 32 No. 2/3, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp. 138-156 9. Grugulis I. (2007) Management, Training and Human Resources Development. Palgrave, London 10.Integrovaný systém typových pozic (Integrated System of Standard positions)www.ktp.istp.cz 11. Kvalifikační a hodnoticí standardy: kuchař – číšník, NÚOV 2007. Qualification and assessment standards: cook – waiter, NÚOV 2007 (In cooperation with the field group on gastronomy, hospitality and tourismus) 12. Maillard F., Rose J. (ed.) (2007) Les diplômes de L’Éducation nationale dans l’univers des certifications professionnelles. Relief 20. Céreq. Marseille 13. Markowitsch J., Luomi-Messerer, K. (2008) Development and interpretation of descriptors of the European Qualifications Framework. European Journal of Vocational Training, Vol. 42-43, Cedefop, pp. 14. Národní soustava kvalifikací (National Qualifications Framework) www.narodni-kvalifikace.cz 15. Národní soustava povolání (National System of Occupations) www.nsp.cz 16. NQR in der Praxis am Beispiel des Baubereichs (2008) Institut für Bildungsforschung der Wirtschaft. Wien 17. Professional Standards for Construction, Hotels and Restaurants Sectors (2008).Lithuanian Labour Market Authority under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour. Vilnius 18. Projekt NSK, Rozvoj Národní soustavy kvalifikací (On the Development of the National Qualfications Framework), NÚOV 2006 19. Projekt NSK, Návrh pojetí, struktury a procesů Národní soustavy kvalifikací (Proposal of Concept, Structure and Processes of the National Qualificatons Framework), NÚOV, 2007 20. Projekt NSK, Metodika tvorby hodnoticích standardů pro dílčí kvalifikace (The Methodology of the Development of Assessement Standards for Partial Qualifications), NÚOV 2007 21. ROME - Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois: The Operational Repertory for Occupations and Employement, ANPE (Agence National pour l’Emploi) - National Agency for Employment, http://www.anpe.fr/espacecandidat/romeligne/RliIndex.do. 22. RNCP - Répertoire National des Certifications Professionnelles : National Repertory for Vocational Certifications, CNCP (Commission Nationale de la Certification Professionnelle)- National Commission for Vocational certification, http://cncp.gouv.fr/CNCP/ 23. http://www.arbeiterkammer.at/ 24. http://www.wien.bauakademie.at/ 25. http://www.oeibf.at/ 26. http://www.ibw.at/

Author Information

Vidmantas Tutlys

Vytautas Magnus University

Centre for Vocational Education and Research

Kaunas

126

Milada Stalker

National Institute of Technical and Vocational Education

Social Partnership and Qualifications

Prague

Carmel Kelly

National Qualifications Authority of Ireland, Ireland

Recognition

Dublin

Jakob Khayat

CAMILLO SITTE LEHRANSTALT

HTLuVA für Bautechnik Wien 3

Vienna

M'Hamed Dif

University of Strasbourg (UdS)

BETA/Céreq Alsace

Strasbourg

Miroslav Kadlec

Narodni ustav odborneho vzdelavani NUOV, Czech Republic

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