The inter-country comparison of national and sectoral qualifications through the use of the EQF as an instrument cannot be limited only to the comparison of learning outcomes based on related descriptors of qualification attainments. Previous researches confirm, that the learning outcomes approach alone does not provide complete guidelines for the comparability acquired knowledge and skills in different countries. There are differences in the processes the national systems of qualifications engendered by the influences of different contextual socio-economic, institutional and cultural factors and actors. Therefore, it is also important to investigate and analyse the comparability of sectoral and national qualification as contextualised learning “processes” and “outcomes” by adopting both: the process and outcome based learning approaches. This workshop is based on the findings of the research of the project “EQF-PROQS Project (2010-2012)” which researches the impacts of design, provision and awarding of qualifications to the the inter-country comparison of sectoral qualifications in seven partner countries (AT, DE, FR, LT, NL, SI and UK). The aim of the workshop is to present and discuss the influences of the processes of design and provision of qualifications to the inter-country comparability of qualifications and to the potential of the EQF as an instrument for the inter-country comparison and referencing of sectoral qualifications.  There will be presented the outcomes of research carried in the sectors of construction, hospitality and engineering (metalworking and machinery production) sectors. The main assumption of research is that the existing methodological and institutional  settings and traditions in design and provision of qualifications in the analysed countries,  as well as developed frameworks of institutional cooperation and involvement of social stakeholders in these processes together with the factors of socioeconomic and cultural contexts create important inter-country differences of qualifications. These differences include the different structure and contents of designed qualifications, as well as the differences in the contents between designed qualifications (occupational and VET standards) and provided/acquired knowledge and skills. The research tries to identify these influences and to analyse their importance to the comparability of qualifications. Another important question of research is how the national qualifications frameworks and the European Qualifications Framework help to consider these influences and differences of qualifications originated from the processes of their design and provision. The objectives of research are:

1. To compare the socioeconomic and political-economic reasons and conditions of the designing of qualifications in the project partners countries.
2. To compare the institutional models of designing of qualifications in the partners’ countries.
3. To compare the methodological approaches in the designing of qualifications in the partners’ countries and their influence to the structure and contents of the descriptors of qualifications.
4. To compare the foreseen reforms and changes in the designing of qualifications in the partners’ countries.
5. To analyse the impact of the specificities of curriculum design, training organisation and applied methods and forms of training in VET and higher vocational education to the structure and contents of provided (acquired) qualifications in the selected countries.

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