An Act on the integrated qualification system (IQS) came into force in January 2016, covering formal education and supporting raising the quality of non-formal qualifications. It improves access to qualifications by making available information on existing qualifications.

An Act on the integrated qualification system (IQS) came into force in January 2016, covering formal education and supporting raising the quality of non-formal qualifications. It improves access to qualifications by making available information on existing qualifications.

The act defines a qualification and sets the rules for inclusion of a qualification in the IQS. Full qualifications of general, vocational and higher education that are awarded with certificates that confirm the attainment will indicate a level presented in Roman numerals. The levels of partial qualifications that are awarded in vocational and non-formal education are presented in Arabic numerals. The act defines three types of qualification:

  • formal education qualifications (including higher);
  • regulated qualifications (may be included in the IQS by ministers responsible for a given area);
  • market qualifications (not regulated, partial only, may be included in the IQS by ministers responsible for a given area).

The IQS comprises:

  • the Polish qualifications framework,
  • the integrated qualifications register (all qualifications’ register www.rejestr.kwalifikcje.gov.pl since October 2016)
  • quality assurance and validation principles.

 

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