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Developing the framework was a collective and collaborative process by the whole of the FET sector, focussing on the needs of learners, who were also a key stakeholder and consulted during the process of drafting the framework.

A writing group was set up that included many different stakeholders in the FET Sector. This group was an important space to discuss ideas and challenges and was imperative for shaping the final content.

There was a 12-month development process, comprising four...

The project is a comprehensive initiative to update and develop educational materials for SAEK (Former IEK) programmes. It is expected to include three distinct actions:

1. Conducting a study to investigate the characteristics, specificities, and challenges in the field of initial vocational education.
2. Developing an educational methodology and producing training guides and educational materials based on it. This action includes the development of a training guide for both learners and trainers,...

The education ministry initiated new legislation instead of the originally proposed law on lifelong learning, which was previously recommended by the Lifelong learning and counselling strategy for 2021-30 and approved by the government. Although the strategy suggested drafting a new act on lifelong learning, the education ministry decided to submit an act on adult education. Since the development of comprehensive lifelong learning legislation covering learning from cradle to grave would...

The most comprehensive update of VET curricula in over two decades in Croatia began in 2018 with the adoption of the National Curriculum for VET and continued within the framework of the project Modernisation of the VET System, supported by EUR 17.7 million from the European Social Fund (ESF) and implemented by the Agency for VET and Adult Education from 2017 to 2023. The central features of the VET reform in Croatia include a modular structure of VET curricula and a strong focus on skills...

In response to the challenges affecting VET, the National Education System Development Plan for the period up to 2027 proposes a number of measures, building on key reform initiatives from the previous strategic period. The specific measures related to VET (Area 3 of the Plan) include:

3.1. Continuing the VET curricula reform and introducing new modular, outcome-oriented curricula to VET providers.

3.2. Supporting VET providers in implementing new curricula, programme profiling, and aligning...

Since 2023, the modular VET system has supported the development of a more open and flexible VET. This initiative allows students to dedicate three to six weekly lessons to one or more vocational modules, depending on their duration and credit value, while also gaining first-hand experience with VET school facilities and training programmes.

An individual learning plan is developed in cooperation between the student, their general education school, and a VET institution. Upon completing a VET...

The Modernisation of vocational education and training (VET) (hereinafter Modernisation of VET) project is co-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) through the operational programme Education 2021 -27 with direct beneficiary the education ministry. This project is designed to contribute to make VET more agile, responsive to labour market needs and to enhance its attractiveness. The education ministry manages the project activities and ensures the institutionalisation of key developments....

The Modernisation of VET project is currently being implemented for the period 2022-26 by the Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for VET (CPI) in cooperation with other public institutions and social partners. It has five components.

Competences and qualifications for the digital and green transitions

The project, in the dialogue with social partners, defines a new development period for VET in Slovenia in the direction of greater connection with the labour market, the needs of the circular...

Following the evaluation of the CPU system, a new vocational pathway was designed in 2021. On 20 July 2022, the Government of the French Community approved the decree redrawing the learners' path in vocational education and implementing PEQ.

PEQ applies to all secondary learners of qualification education (technical and artistic) and vocational education, either school based or in the dual system and includes those VET programmes offered to learners with special education needs. The pathway...

The System of vocational qualifications (SVQ) is based on Vocational qualification standards (VQS) developed by the Human Resource Development Authority of Cyprus (HRDA) with the assistance of vocational qualifications technical committees. The SVQ assesses in real or simulated working conditions the ability of a person to carry out specific tasks according to a VQS. At the same time, the SVQ sets out the framework for the design and development of training activities to prepare the...

Educated Romania underlines the commitment to adjusting the education system to current and emerging challenges. Education and skills-related measures and actions are to be implemented with the support of State budget and EU funds. The strategy foresees adopting a legislative package ensuring implementation of the vision and goals.

The National Centre for TVET Development, responsible for the organisation and implementation of IVET, contributes to the implementation of the goals set at...

According to the Government Strategic Analysis Centre (STRATA) study University, college or vocational training institution?, based on data retrieved from the 2013/14 school year to the 2018/19 school year, the number of students who chose to study in vocational education institutions together with second part of the basic education programme education has doubled. The number of students who chose to study only according to initial vocational education programmes (ISCED 2) has been...

There are continuing discussions on national level about definition, concept and approach to the microcredentials based on the Council Recommendation on a European approach to microcredentials for lifelong learning and employability.

The INE/GSEE implemented the project Support to quality development of industrial vocational training and its alignment with employee certification (regardless of age), under the priority, Development and update of occupational profiles and framework curricula, under the operational programme, Competitiveness, entrepreneurship and innovation, during 2017-21.

The occupational profiles are based on a methodology for developing occupational standards in line with the Hellenic Qualifications...

The Labour ministry is redesigning its approach to vocational education and training (VET) especially to RRF-funded continuing VET (CVET) programmes.

The main philosophy and rationale of the approach is that VET programmes should upskill and/or reskill unemployed individuals in high-demand specialties, in digital and green skills. Another aspect of the renewed approach is that after completion of training, certification by independent and international awarding bodies should be obligatory.

To...

The initiative is funded by the ESF under the operational programme (OP): Human resource development 2014-20, and is implemented through two components.

Component one has been implemented by the labour ministry and component two by the national employer organisations. A unified toolkit has been developed in component 1, including methodologies and requirements for job research and identification of the digital skills required for the development of digital skills profiles in key positions and...

The EDCL offers many benefits for citizens, employers, and organisations, enabling:

1. students to prove the validity of their diploma or certificate;
2. training institutions across Europe to issue diplomas and other certificates of learning in a format that is easy to generate;
3. authorities (employers, universities, etc.) to easily check the authenticity of harmonised documents;
4. a common understanding of qualifications and certification across and beyond the European Union;
5. the recognition of...

Diplom+ is a customised training programme bridging the transition between school and employment or higher education targeting recent graduates at EQF 4 (both general and vocational programmes), neither in employment or higher education. Diplom+ is a cycle of individually certifying training modules on transversal skills in high demand on the labour market, skills applicable in higher education and everyday life skills. Participants are accompanied on demand by individual coaching sessions....

A national commission of enquiry was set up in 2018 with a mission to propose a grading system that would increase incentives for learners to study more advanced courses in a subject and to reduce stress by replacing the current course-based grading system with a subject-grading system in which the grade for the last and highest-level module in a subject would be used for calculating the average grade. In the new system, a grade will be given for a subject as a whole not for each course in...

VET provision, curricula, examination

In December 2016, the ESF project 'Development of sectoral qualifications system for vocational education development and quality assurance' was launched to develop new occupational standards and modular VET programmes for most of professional qualifications (sectoral qualifications).

In 2017, amendments to the Vocational Education Law specified the legal framework for the modularisation of VET programmes. VET modules were included in the State vocational...

A new Act on VET was adopted in June 2017 and entered into force in January 2018. The focus of the implementation of this latest reform is on the following elements:

1. a single Act on VET, i.e. VET for young people and adults within the same framework;
2. a single licence to provide education and to award qualifications;
3. flexible application and admission systems;
4. a clearer range of qualifications that better meets the needs of working life;
5. a single competence-based approach to completing...

As a part of the larger and continuous updating of VET qualifications, which is caused by the changes in working life, the Finnish National Agency for Education is preparing optional competence modules for sustainable development, financial literacy and economic understanding to be included in vocational upper secondary qualification requirements.

Amendments to the law should allow students to receive a State-recognised partial vocational qualifications, thus promoting a competence-based approach in VET.

Introducing modular VET programmes should significantly reduce the time needed to respond to labour market skill demands. The content of the developed modular vocational education programmes needs to be flexible in vocational basic education, pre-secondary vocational education, vocational secondary education, vocational continuing...

There are four main areas of development envisaged in the national education strategy 2021-27:

Highly competent educators

Highly competent educational staff implies the training, attraction and retention of outstanding teachers and academic staff, as well as systematic and purposeful professional development, methodological and consultative support. Stimulating the motivation of teachers and academic staff is also important.

Availability of quality education to everyone

Quality education...

From March 2015 until June 2016, HZZ developed and conducted occupational standards survey for 50 occupations. The results were used as an analytical basis for the development of occupational standards and disseminated through 60 workshops throughout Croatia. From August 2016 until October 2018, the survey questionnaire was adapted and the implementation of the occupational standards survey was conducted for further 40 occupations.

In 2018, the ministry in charge of labour (MROSP) produced the CROQF web portal (currently: portal for advanced labour market monitoring), the central portal of labour market and education indicators. The portal offers insights into current labour market trends, rather than forecasts for the future. It integrates data on employment from the Croatian Pension Insurance Institute (HZMO), data on unemployment from the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ), enrolment in secondary and higher education...

The Quality of the accreditation and retraining system (Kvalita systému akrediatací a rekvalifikací, KVASAR) project was prepared during 2016-17 by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and was launched in October 2017. It pilots the modularisation of retraining courses. The project also tests solutions for funding the modular system of retraining, and proposes guidelines for employers' participation in the whole process.

In 2018, a public tender procedure was launched to contract a...

A national ECVET portal was developed in 2016. A growing number of Croatian institutions are recognising the benefits of ECVET. Amendments to the VET Act from 2018 stipulated that VET students can acquire learning outcomes during periods of international mobility. This is intended to support VET schools in setting up longer periods of VET student mobility.
Six workshops were organised in 2018 for around 230 teachers and school directors. The participants were introduced to different aspects...

The amendments aligned the curricular framework for VET to the Croatian qualifications framework (CROQF). They provided the necessary framework for the introduction of the National curriculum for VET, sectoral curricula and VET school curricula, and defined roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in drafting and adopting curricular documents. The amendments set the framework for the development of modular and outcome-based curricula on sectoral and sub-sectoral levels, as well as tailored...

The Ministry of Education and Research adopted, in November 2017, a regulation formalising the overall position and status of the NKR. A range of stakeholders were involved (including the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT), the Norwegian Association of Higher Education Institutions and the National Union of Students in Norway. A reference group was established with representatives from higher education, upper secondary schools, vocational schools, social partners,...

Modules and options have been set up to increase adult training flexibility and tailor it to the needs of learners. This is expected to allow adult learners to combine training with work and caring responsibilities. From 2017 to 2022, the Directorate for Education and Training was piloting modularised VET curricula for adults in a limited number of subjects. Each subject is organised into five to seven modules. Completing all modules is a condition for qualifying for taking the trade or...

In 2017, Portuguese legislation introduced a National credit system for VET in line with ECVET principles, which was intended to support permeability between VET pathways and higher education, as well as mobility within Europe. A major priority is that the system supports adult qualifications. It applies to level 2, 4 and 5 qualifications of the national qualifications framework, QNQ (Quadro Nacional de Qualificações). It also applies to certified training programmes/courses, which are...

In 2015, the National Agency for Qualification and VET (ANQEP) introduced a new methodology for designing qualifications based on learning outcomes. It applies to VET qualifications at levels 2, 4 and 5 of the NQF.

Since 2016, ANQEP has been organising and monitoring several training courses for coordinators and trainers from professional schools where qualifications will be developed according to this new methodology. It has also been carrying out training sessions for the different VET...

During the fourth quarter of 2018, the National Institute of Qualifications (INCUAL) carried out a review of the entire national catalogue of occupational standards. It aimed to set up a 2019 work plan that would accommodate the need for updating occupational standards and (where appropriate) designing new ones which could have greater significance or impact on employment.

The INCUAL is responsible for defining, updating and adapting the Spanish national catalogue of occupational standards...

In 2019, Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) introduced the Community social responsibility (CSR) programme. CSR is a programme aiming at providing all learners with the opportunity to enrich their studies with experiences that add value to their knowledge base. Learners participating in the MCAST CSR have the opportunity to enhance their educational experience, profile and CV during their study period at MCAST. A diverse range of opportunities is provided by MCAST, in...

The 2015 National vocational education and training policy proposed measures to:

1. mainstream modular structures (as they allow for unit transfer) by 2017;
2. use ECVET for MQF/EQF levels 1 to 4 and ECTS for VET and academic qualifications at levels 5 to 8;
3. base validation processes and assessment on ECVET.

All courses at EQF/MQF levels 1 to 4, including part-time ones, are modular-based on units and follow ECVET recommendations. Similarly, courses at EQF/MQF levels 5 to 8 are modular-based and...

In 2016, the National Commission for Further and Higher Education (NCFHE) published the fourth revised edition of the referencing report that sets the parameters for all qualifications and awards that can be conferred in Malta. It reflects on the range of current reforms representing a move towards a more modular based concept as building blocks for qualifications. Such an approach is intended to allow for and promote lifelong learning for non-traditional learners. It calls for better...

The compulsory education system has reviewed all its curricula in terms of learning outcomes and will be introducing them as from the academic year 2019-20.

Since 2016 the National Centre for Education (VISC) has been developing sectoral qualifications frameworks as part of vocational education reform supported by a 2016-21 ESF project. The frameworks have been developed in cooperation with sectoral experts and correspond to national qualifications framework levels 2 to 7. The project includes the development of:

1. occupational standards;
2. vocational education content;
3. modular vocational education programmes;
4. teaching/learning aids;
5. assessment...

The national strategy to reduce early school leaving in Romania was adopted in June 2015. It is based on prevention, intervention and compensation in thematic/policy areas and addresses the following directions of action/pillars:

1. ensuring access to quality education for all children;
2. ensuring the completion of compulsory education by all children;
3. reintegration into the education system of people who left school early;
4. developing adequate institutional support.

The strategy targets children...

The so-called 'shortened studies' (ISCED 353) were put in place in 2015/16 in line with the Act on VET (61/2015). They target young people and adults who want to broaden or deepen their qualification or acquire another one to improve their employability. Based on the mainstream three-year programme, they focus on occupation-related areas and last either one or two years, depending on learners' previous field of study. Two-year studies lead to a certificate of apprenticeship; participants of...

In September 2017, the education ministry published the Learning Slovakia strategy paper, following a public discussion on a draft version from March 2017. The VET-related chapter of this strategy paper for the first time in the official documents clearly defines and distinguishes between the diverse forms of work-based learning: dual VET, as set in the 2015 Act on VET; work-based learning within VET school-enterprise agreements but without individual learning contracts; short-term...

A 5-year project Reform of upper-secondary vocational education, funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), started in November 2016.

The project includes the following activities:

1. test and identify the tools and methods to create a sustainable system to match the needs of the labour market;
2. develop flexible and individualised teaching methods and learning pathways;
3. support companies to engage in work-based learning;
4. test and evaluate the apprenticeship system;
5. define learning outcomes for...

In 2018, the regulatory framework for validation and recognition was revised with a view to introducing QA measures for validation and recognition. Specific criteria for certification of evaluator and external evaluator competences and additional requirements for assessment and certification, organised by the assessment centres, were introduced in legislation. By 2019, there were 37 fully functioning local assessment centres that could validate prior learning of candidates, mainly in...

In 2013-16, the training standards for IVET (131 initial VET qualifications at EQF level 3 and 69 qualifications at level 4) were revised and, in 2016, were approved by ministerial order.

The professional training standards have been adapted to new technological developments and labour market needs; they include learning outcomes. They were developed/updated for improved articulation between the stages of schooling and to support mobility in education and vocational training from the...

An amendment to the Education Law endorsed in November 2016 (Ordinance No 81/2016) introduced a dual form of initial VET for qualifications at EQF/ROQF (Romanian national qualifications framework) levels 3, 4 and 5.

Implementation of dual IVET programmes started in 2017/18 for qualifications at EQF level 3. Over 2 500 learners from the first generation of students with access to dual VET programmes enrolled in dual IVET. Setting up a methodology for organising and conducting entrance...

In 2014, the Portuguese confederation of tourism (CTP) commissioned the project Competence-based qualifications for the tourism sector. It aimed to develop qualification standards based on a diagnosis of skills needs in the tourism sector.

In 2015, the Commerce and Services Confederation of Portugal (CCP) launched the study Strategic training programme on trade and services 2014-20. This analysed qualifications and skills dynamics and trends in the sector of commerce and services.

In 2018, the...

The 2015 Law introducing the Polish qualifications framework (PQF) provided a formal definition of validation and specified the requirements for bodies conducting validation and certification ('awarding bodies'), along with the principles for quality assurance in validation. An important element of this system is the ability to validate learning outcomes achieved outside of schools and higher education, including through non-formal and informal learning.

Also, new rules on the recognition of...

In 2016, a unit on employability skills and personal development training was piloted at MCAST's Institute of Community Services and Institute of Engineering and Transport at MQF/EQF level 2, with learners studying for a qualification in electrical and electronics engineering. This unit, comprising 30-hours of training complemented by work placements related to the field of study, covered several themes: communication skills, problem solving, personal management, organisational skills,...

Since 2015-16, the following technician programmes have been offered in the form of apprenticeships:

1. Technician in administration and business (three initial years at school and during the last year three days per week in a company);
2. Technician in market gardener (the first year at school, two days per week in a company during the second and third years, and three days per week in a company during the last year);
3. Technician in logistic services: the first year at school and during the last...

In spring 2015, the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport decided that formal IVET and CVET programmes would consist of mandatory (85%) and elective (15%) modules grouped into introductory, professional and final categories. These would be competence-based and in line with sectoral qualifications standards, while a credit system would be introduced, with one academic year corresponding to 60 credits. More than 60 modular programmes were finalised by 2016, prepared by expert groups...

A new VET Law was adopted on 14 December 2017, with some of its articles coming into force on 1 February 2018 and others on 1 January 2019. The law emphasised the importance of workplace learning and apprenticeship, clarifying the regulation on apprenticeships. It also enhanced the role of sectoral professional committees, in particular with respect to the planning of apprenticeships and the coordination of qualifications systems at a sectoral level. In addition, the law redefined the rules...

In 2016, the education ministry adopted the multi annual National plan for digital education (PNSD). The plan has coordinated government, region and municipality digital resources, as well as managed all the projects focusing on digital education and innovation. The plan can be seen as a consequence of the Good school Law which emphasises the development of digital skills.

The plan aims to link education institutions with lifelong learning and life-wide learning in formal, informal and...

Skill sets are 'homogeneous and coherent sets of competencies that contribute to the autonomous exercise of a professional activity, which can be evaluated and validated'. Reforming vocational qualifications into skill sets (blocks de compétences) started in 2016. The first qualifications restructured into skill sets through legislation (decrees 2016-771, 2016-772 and 2016-1037) are the professional skills certificate (CAP, EQF level 3), the vocational baccalaureate (Bac-pro, EQF level 4)...

The transformation of the vocational high school, which began in 2018, aims to improve the link between apprenticeship and the academic path. It is a systemic transformation (covering content and pedagogy, organisation of pathways, evolution of the training offer) in order to make vocational education more effective and more attractive; it aims to involve VET further in preparing learners for promising future jobs, especially in digital technology and the energy transition. Measures include:

...

The new government, in power since June 2018, reorganised the administration. The change of name in the education administration state, now the Education and Vocational Training ministry (previously Education, Culture and Sports), reflects the new strategy to promote VET. In October 2018, the Government presented the Strategic plan for vocational training under education authorities. In February 2019, the Council of Ministers published the Agenda for change (Agenda del Cambio). The agenda...

Dual VET is being developed in cooperation with the Autonomous Communities. The ministry of education and vocational training (2018), in cooperation with the main stakeholders, is pursuing the regulatory work necessary to develop dual VET at national level, also monitoring and assessing the results of regional pilot experiences so as to meet the needs and characteristics of the Spanish business world.

The initial draft was presented to social partners in May 2018, but the new government...

The programme was adopted in 2015. It is implemented through a single measure (Correspondence between lifelong learning opportunities and the needs of the labour market and increased participation in learning). Its main activities are:

1. developing the quality and organisation of vocational education;
2. planning of volumes of studies, provision of study places and students´ support measures;
3. regional distribution of curriculum groups in vocational education institutions and modernisation of the...

Partial qualifications (Teilqualifikationen, TQ) are educational offers, which allow learners to gain vocational qualifications through systematic, successive qualifications based on the dual training regulations. Once the total of the partial qualifications is completed, the learner can take an examination for external candidates. The work on procedures for certifications and the development of training modules is continuing. There are several current projects on TQ, including:

1. the employer...

The 2014 Education strategy for 2015-20 supports upper secondary VET learners acquiring skills and knowledge (including basic skills) at a level allowing them to pursue a career and to continue learning. The subsequent 2015-20 long-term plan for education promotes foreign language learning and development of transversal competences that help people be flexible and adapt to changing social, economic and environmental conditions. The plan also promotes civic education based on democratic...

The national project MOV (Modernisation of VET) aims at improving the quality of VET through modernising initial VET. The MOV project was launched on 1 May 2017. It focuses on the vocational and general components of secondary vocational education in order to promote the employability of graduates. It emphasises supporting students' key competences for employability, lifelong learning, linking IVET to CVET through the National register of qualifications, and cooperation with employers. The...

Proposals for legislative and institutional changes aiming to improve the transition from school to labour market by extending the duration of in-company training; in EQF 4 programmes, workplace internship usually takes two weeks only, hence the proposal for extension to eight weeks.

Some schools, especially those offering hospitality and tourism programmes, have already extended the length of practical training in their curricula. Proposals prepared by the Pospolu project will be further...

In 2018, updated curricula were adopted for upper secondary education (grades 11 and 12). The learning objectives are set for both general education and VET learners, including a learning module on 'civil education' aimed at the acquisition of social and civic competences. A strong focus on the development of political culture seeks to support young people in taking self-dependent and responsible decisions. The implementation of the new curricula starts in school year 2020/21 for grade 11...

VET programmes are designed based on framework programmes approved by the education minister. New framework programmes were adopted in March 2017, including:

1. general provisions in relation to the regulatory basis and aims;
2. requirements: entry (age, medical condition, previous education and qualification level), career and education pathways, form(s) of training (day, full-time, evening, part-time, individual, distance, dual, self-learning);
3. curriculum;
4. training module content (theoretical...

The certification by learning-outcomes units (CPU) divides upper-secondary VET tracks into different CPU. Learners receive the qualification certificate when all the learning-outcomes units are validated. Those who fail get a second chance in a complementary year with a personalised support from teachers.

The Minister of Education decides which training will be implemented in CPU; hence this certification approach is being gradually implemented.

In 2017, certification by learning-outcomes...

The public debate on the attainment targets/learning outcomes for secondary education, including vocational-oriented secondary education (initial VET) took place in between February and June 2016. It involved around 40 000 participants, half of which were young learners. In January 2018, the Decree on the renewal of the learning outcomes for compulsory education (for all pupils) was adopted by the Flemish Parliament. The decree was set up by the Flemish Ministry of Education and Training and...

The policy development refers to a comprehensive process for aligning master craftsperson qualifications to the requirements of the NQF. The concept includes the definition of learning outcomes, the preparation of training documents, the development of guidelines for the design of examinations, the preparation of examiners and the provision of information to potential candidates and companies. The approach is intended to ensure compatibility with both the NQF and the trade regulations...