Global inventory of regional and national qualifications frameworks 2017
English
Information is gathered from other international organizations that promote skills development and the transition from education and training to work. The Interagency Group on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (IAG-TVET) was established in 2009 to share research findings, coordinate joint research endeavours, and improve collaboration among organizations working at the international and national levels.
Other sources
Experts from many international, regional and national agencies generously share their views, experiences and findings on skills, helping policy-makers among other stakeholders to understand the linkages between education, training and the world of work, and how to integrate skills into national development planning to promote employment and economic growth.
Lifelong learning
There is a critical need for a greater overall investment in education and training, particularly in developing countries. Education and training investments should be closely linked to economic and employment growth strategies and programmes. Responsibility should be shared between the government (primary responsibility), enterprises, the social partners, and the individual. To make lifelong learning for all a reality, countries will need to make major reforms of their vocational and education and training systems. School-to-work schemes for young people should integrate education with workplace learning. Training systems need to become more flexible and responsive to rapidly changing skill requirements. Reforms should also focus on how learning can be facilitated, not just on training for specific occupational categories.
Training quality and relevance
Case studies and good practices
Case studies that document good practices and illustrate the benefits and lessons learnt of particular approaches or methods in real practice.
Research papers
Working papers, reports, and other publications from international organizations, academic institutions and bilateral agencies. Research findings to stimulate informed debate on skills, employment and productivity issues.
Volume I: Thematic chapters
The global inventory 2017 further strengthens the knowledge base on developments in national and regional qualifications frameworks, as implemented by countries and regions, by end of 2016. It acts as an observatory of progress in establishing NQFs, as well as the challenges and success factors in implementation. The thematic chapters (Volume I) discuss key trends and policy issues emerging from qualifications frameworks and learning outcomes reforms and developments. Volume II consists of NQF case studies of 100 countries from all continents and seven regional qualifications frameworks (RQF).
The case studies look at the educational, social, economic and political context in which an NQF is embedded, main policy objectives, implementation of learning outcomes, stakeholder involvement and institutional arrangements. They also show how NQFs open for and link to validation arrangements, support recognition and learning pathways. They conclude with important lessons and future plans.
The global inventory draws on inventories from four agencies: the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop), the European Training Foundation (ETF), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), working and communicating with country officials and experts. It also draws on extensive international research in qualifications reforms, comparability of qualifications, and use of learning outcomes.