The publications are part of a string of Cedefop comparative studies, analyses and activities on various aspects of qualifications and qualifications systems, such as the shift to learning outcomes, the changing role of qualifications, curricular implications of the learning outcomes approach, the relationships between credit transfer and qualifications frameworks, etc.
The significance of qualifications
Qualifications are diplomas, certificates and titles allowing holders access to further education and professional activity. Their purpose is to cover the needs of individuals for employment and of enterprises for skilled personnel. To do so, they must accurately reflect the requirements of each profession as these change over time, and be clearly understood across the single labour market of the EU. The question explored in these publications, as in the conference, is: How can national and European policy-makers ensure that this is indeed the case? And how can Europes citizens benefit?
Today, the national and European frameworks which govern qualifications are increasingly focused on linking general, vocational and higher education, and on incorporating both formal systems of education and training and other forms of learning. Learning outcomes what the learner knows and can do, rather than in which institution or for how long she studied are becoming the cornerstone of many qualification systems. This has repercussions for both policy-makers and individuals. For policy-makers, it means that components of the education and training systems can no longer be treated as separate entities, but must be part of a lifelong learning strategy. For individuals, it means putting all their learning to use and demonstrating that they possess the required knowledge and skills.
A conference to bring together policy-makers and researchers
The Agora conference which is to take place in Thessaloniki on 5-6 October, Qualifications for lifelong learning and employability, will build upon Cedefops ongoing research and provide an opportunity to reflect on how its findings might influence future policy and research priorities.
The Agora will examine several aspects of how qualifications are changing: whether qualifications now better reflect the changing demands and realities of the labour market; to what extent these changes affect all European countries; and what their implications are for future policy cooperation in education and training. The conference discussions will be led by Cedefop experts, who have long taken a leading role in exploring and analysing the issue of qualifications.
A full account of the conference outcomes will be included in next months Cedefop News.