From 2008, EU member states are conducting so-called referencing processes in order to refer all existing qualifications in the specific countries to the eight levels of the common European Qualifications Framework. The European Qualifications Framework will be used by people applying for a job or for studies, both at home and abroad. Its purpose is to make qualifications within Europe understandable and comparable.
Through the EQF, a qualification level achieved in one of the countries may be compared with qualifications in other countries, hence employers can find out what the candidates can do and what kind of job they can manage. "The European Qualifications Framework follows from the results of learning, from real knowledge and skills", explains Milada Stalker from the EQF Coordination Point.
What you can really do is important
The EQF greatly supports lifelong learning. It is not only important to learn at school. What you learn when you finish school, during your working career and during your life really matters. Thus the EQF level may reflect the knowledge and competences which have been acquired in practical life, when studying in courses or seminars, providing that they are verified by means of a standardized examination.
In spring 2011, specialised seminars took place in seven regions in the Czech Republic, where representatives of schools, educational institutions and employers were introduced to the European Qualifications Framework, including the advantages and impacts for graduates from schools and candidates for jobs abroad. The implementation of this tool was greatly appreciated by the participants of the seminars as they considered it beneficial. For example, Mgr. Jiří Holý, Director of the Educational Institute of the Central Bohemia Region said at the seminar in Prague that the implementation of the European Qualifications Framework will help to solve the problem which graduates from tertiary technical schools encounter – at present, if they want to work or study abroad, it is difficult for them to explain what level their qualifications are. According to him, at present it is difficult for Czech authorities to deal with requests for nostrification of certificates and final reports from abroad as often they do not know which level the qualifications should be referred to. The common qualification framework will help with all those issues.
How to achieve comparability of qualifications
At first sight, referencing all existing qualifications to eight levels may seem easy. However, the referencing processes are rather complicated as different education systems are being put together – and the systems differ in structure and in the duration of the education at specific educational levels. When comparing Ireland and Malta, you can see that while Malta was able to match its 8 educational levels to the 8 EQF levels quite easily, Ireland had 10 levels to be referred to the eight EQF levels. What did they do? For example, they matched EQF Level 6 with two levels (types) of study in their bachelor's degree study programme. "Countries which have completed the referencing process thus demonstrate that educational systems can be interconnected internationally", says Lenka Chvátalová from the EQF Coordination Point.
As regards the Czech Republic, its initial position for the referencing process was very good. The principles on which the EQF had been created are included in the reform measures that have been applied to the Czech educational and qualification system since 2004. The Czech system of classification of the qualifications acquired during initial education (the system of branches of education and the principle of Classification of Core Branches of Education, CCBE), as well as the qualification levels used within the register of the National Qualifications System make referencing to the EQF levels possible since they follow from the results of learning.
EQF levels will be indicated in school reports
Most European countries, including the Czech Republic, will be able to complete the referencing process before the end of 2011. Starting in 2012, the reference to the relevant EQL level will be shown on all new certificates, school reports and documents included in the Europass. "In the future, the reference to the EQF level will be present on three Europass documents – on the CV, on the supplement to the certificate and on the supplement to the diploma", specifies employee of the National Europass Centre, Ester Franzová.
In the Czech Republic, the referencing to the EQF levels has been completed in qualifications acquired through secondary and higher education, as well as in partial qualifications acquired within the system of recognition of further education following from the National Qualifications Framework. Social partners and employers have joined the process of referencing qualifications to the common framework as well.
Referencing of the initial education levels in the Czech Republic to EQF levels
|
EQF Level |
Achieved education level |
|
8 |
higher education – doctoral studies |
|
7 |
higher education – master's studies |
|
6 |
higher – bachelor's studies, higher professional education (including conservatories) |
|
5 |
short-cycle study programmes (still to be developed in the Czech Republic) |
|
4 |
secondary education with final exam (maturita exam) (general, with professional training, vocational) |
|
3 |
secondary education with apprenticeship certificate (duration of studies: 3 years) |
|
2 |
primary education, secondary education without apprenticeship certificate, secondary education with apprenticeship certificate (duration of studies: 2 years) |
|
1 |
basics of education (special primary school) |
Partial qualifications are referenced to the EQF level too
When working, many people do not do the job they studied for or have been trained for. When they want to change job or start their own business, they have to demonstrate that they have proper qualifications. For example, although they have been working in catering for many years, they cooked and served in restaurants, they cannot have a trade licence and operate a restaurant if they have not graduated from the relevant vocational school and cannot demonstrate the qualifications required. "The National Qualifications Framework (NQF) offers those people a possibility to 'legalize' their qualifications regardless of the way they acquired the knowledge and the competences", explains Pavel Hradecký from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. This will be possible due to Act No. 179/2006 Coll. on the verification and recognition of the results of further education. Until now, 6,000 people have passed the examination and were granted the certificate on partial qualifications.
For more information go to www.eqf.cz and www.narodni-kvalifikace.cz.
The EQF NCP project, focused on implementation of the Czech qualification referencing process, is funded by the European Commission and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.
Lucie Šnajdrová