Governing education and training; the case of qualifications frameworks

Abstract

SUMMARY The EQF is a meta-framework that forms a translation device between different national qualification systems. Each qualification system needs to link to the EQF levels if the translation is to be made easier across all countries. The move towards NQFs has been rapid and seems to some extent to have been triggered by the EQF proposal. It also reflects a general acceptance that lifelong learning requires a focus on learning outcomes rather than learning inputs and that the links between different subsystems of education and training need to be strengthened. Thus, development of NQFs cannot exclusively be explained by the emergence of the EQF. This article emphasises the distinction between national qualifications systems and national qualifications framework. It reviews the development of NQFs in the EU, EEA and candidate countries up to April 2007 and addresses the issue of European cooperation in education and training and its future.