Countries
Use the interactive map or the countries grid to display information on NQF developments across Europe. It is possible to compare countries based on reporting year, stage of development and whether the NQF has been linked to EQF.
Detailed information on developments in Georgia and Moldova will be available in the next update of the tool in 2025.
- Explorative stage
This stage is characterised by initial discussions on policy challenges and potential ways to address them through the development of an NQF.
- Design stage
The activities that countries perform at this stage include: negotiating NQF objectives, designing the structure of the framework, designing governance structures, elaborating learning-outcomes-based level descriptors, and (in some cases) pilot testing.
- Adoption stage
Countries officially set up or formally adopt an NQF, for example, by introducing a specific NQF act or government decision, or by amending existing laws and regulations. Implementation roles and responsibilities are often formally defined.
- Activation stage
In this stage the implementation structures and the criteria and procedures for allocation of qualifications to levels have been set, and the main instruments are being put in place (e.g. databases, quality assurance arrangements); awareness of end-users is gradually growing.
- Operational stage
NQFs at this stage provide a map of recognised qualifications and a reference point for development and review of standards and curricula; NQF levels are indicated on certificates and diplomas, qualifications registers/databases are functional, and quality assurance mechanisms are in place.
- Review stage
This stage runs in parallel with the day-to-day implementation of the NQFs. Countries often monitor and evaluate their frameworks to define, for instance, if they have achieved their objectives, the extent of their user outreach, and if adopted structures and procedures are still relevant to the country’s needs.