Developing a National Qualifications Framework in Austria The

Developing a National Qualifications Framework in Austria

The National Qualifications Framework (NQF) 2006 – Government’s decision to implement an NQF in Austria – Working groups were set up to prepare an NQF 2007 – – – National steering group was established First „fact-finding phase“ Information and public awareness work Analysis by ordering diverse studies Preparing a consultation paper April 16, 2010 BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank 1

The National Qualifications Framework (NQF) 2008 – Public consultation process until 11/2008, all stakeholders have been involved – Commentaries‘ evaluation by experts: The report identified a number of open questions and challenges for the further NQF development. – Report to the national steering group which presented the conclusions and recommendations end 2008 April 16, 2010 BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank 2

The National Qualifications Framework 2009 Preparation of a policy paper of the both ministries involved to devise the strategy for the Austrian NQF implementation in October 2009. April 16, 2010 BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank 3

The National Qualifications Framework until end 2010 - Decision about a general framework - Classification of all formal qualifications to the NQF - First steps to present informal and non formal qualifications - Establishing a national contact point April 16, 2010 BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank 4

NQF presentation Higher education Vocational education EQF 8 Level 8 EQF 7 Level 7 EQF 6 Level 6 EQF 5 EQF 4 Level 5 EQF 5 Level 4 EQF 3 Level 3 EQF 2 Level 2 EQF 1 Level 1 EQF 1 April 16, 2010 BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank 5

Organisation National steering group – Representatives of all ministries and social partners and the Länder – Defines general framework and guidelines – A subgroup of the national steering group is established April 16, 2010 BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank 6

Organisation Advisory board in the BMWF – Representatives of the tertiary education sector – Exchange of information – Defining general strategy to follow April 16, 2010 BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank 7

Aims of the NQF (1) - Easier transparent allocation to the EQF levels - Instrument to support the qualifications system - Sustainable enhancement through learning outputs on national level - Neutral benchmark, who makes transparency and comparability of qualifications possible, which were gained in different systems and at different levels April 16, 2010 BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank 8

Aims of the NQF (2) - Strong position for Austrian qualifications through the NQF and EQF in the national and European labour market - Exploratory function for better qualifications comparability - Qualifications are allocated not competences or persons April 16, 2010 BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank 9

Aims of the NQF (3) - Neither NQF nor EQF are models to present individual competence profiles - Implementation in cooperation with all stakeholders on basis of a broad consensus April 16, 2010 BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank 10

Thank you for your attention! For more information: http: //www. bmwf. gv. at/wissenschaft/national/nqr/ Mag. Florian Pecenka M. A. S. Federal Ministry of Science and Research Section I/6 c EU-Rechtsangelegenheiten florian. pecenka@bmwf. gv. at phone ++43 1 53120 -5812 April 16, 2010 Mag. Elisabeth Frank Federal Ministry of Science and Research General Directorate I elisabeth. frank@bmwf. gv. at phone ++43 1 53120 -2546 BMWF - Florian Pecenka/Elisabeth Frank 11