Montenegro 2024

The MQF is advanced in implementation and has reached an operational stage. 1,062 qualifications are placed in the MQF.

The legal basis and governance structures for MQF implementation are in place and operational, significant progress has been made with the development and inclusion of qualifications in the national qualifications database. Efforts are continuing to review and redefine existing qualifications and educational programmes and develop new ones based on the learning outcomes approach, at all MQF levels.

The MQF is seen as part of the wider set of economic, labour market and education policies to support human capital development. Its aims are aligned with policy priorities for education development outlined in the national strategic documents.

Montenegro is a candidate for EU accession and a full member of the EQF Advisory Group. The MQF was referenced to the EQF and self-certified against the QF-EHEA in 2014.

NQF and EQF levels are indicated on almost all documentation for nearly all qualification types, that is on certificates, diplomas, degrees etc. and certificate and diploma supplements.

Tools to facilitate promotion and use of the MQF include:

1. the Handbook, 'National Qualifications Framework in Montenegro'.
2. a video with basic information about the framework, its alignment with the EQF, and its benefits for individuals, employers, and educational Institutions.
3. a flyer, which contains basic information about the MQF and the EQF, including referencing of the MQF to the EQF, with a diagramme of the comparability of the MQF and EQF levels; plus how the MQF can support citizens, employers and educational institutions.
4. the NQF website. It publishes notes and decisions of MQC meetings, regulations and other formal documents adopted by competent authorities and bodies in Montenegro, plus links to the qualifications database.

Qualifications adopted by the Qualifications Council are entered in the database of qualifications. The qualifications database, the MQF Registry, currently includes more than 417 qualifications from formal VET (diplomas) and from the national vocational qualifications system (certificates) at MQF levels 2-5. Qualifications are classified according to type, size, MQF level and sector, and ISCED.

The VET Centre is working towards publishing occupational standards, VET programmes and curricula, and adult education programmes on the governmental portal ([12]Standardi zanimanja, obrazovni programi, ispitni katalozi - Centar za stručno obrazovanje (www.gov.me) ).

Qualifications in the MQF Registry are presented in Montenegrin, and some in English. Data fields for the electronic publication of information on qualifications with an EQF level adhere to Annex VI of the EQF Recommendation, and so include title of the qualification, EQF level, knowledge and skills, description of learning outcomes, credits, further information on qualifications, expiry date, and relationship to occupational fields.

Recognition of foreign qualifications is based on the comparison of a qualification with the corresponding qualification standard in Montenegro[13]Law on Recognition of Foreign Educational Documents and Equalization of Qualifications. Official Gazette of Montenegro, No. 57/2011 and 42/2016. wapi.gov.me.doc (live.com) . Qualifications recognition bodies use the NQF as a basis when recognising foreign qualifications, in particular to ensure that foreign qualification standards correspond to national levels and are recognised in the context of the EQF.

The responsibility for recognizing foreign certificates and endorsements has been transferred from the adult education organizers to the VET Centre. This change will enable a more centralized and coordinated approach to the process of recognizing foreign qualifications.

The Centres for professional information and counselling of the Employment Agency of Montenegro provide information on occupations, secondary school curricula, and on learning and employment opportunities. NQF levels are used in job descriptions to indicate the required level of a qualification. The National Europass Centre promotes the implementation of Europass in the country.

The NQF levels are used to present information about qualifications to labour market stakeholders and individuals, including job descriptions, employment statistics by the Employment Agency of Montenegro, or information related to the labour market needs in qualifications. Information about relevant MQF principles and procedures for qualification development is available for education and labour market stakeholders ([14]European Commission and Cedefop (2020). Survey on implementation, use and impact of NQF/EQF [unpublished].).

Awareness and use of the MQF of course varies by user group.

Decision-makers at the national level, including the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Dialogue, the Employment Agency and other relevant institutions, show a very high level of awareness of the MQF and EQF. These frameworks are an integral part of strategic documents, education reforms, employment policies and human resources development. The NQF and the EQF are used as tools to improve the quality of qualifications, labour mobility and transparency of education and training systems.

As can be expected, the Centre for Vocational Education and the Agency for Quality Control and Assurance in Higher Education engage daily with the qualification system, playing a key role in the implementation of the MQF and participate in its further development and application. The quality assurance bodies use the NQF and EQF level descriptors as a basis for the accreditation of qualifications, ensuring that qualifications are aligned with national and international standards. They analyse whether qualifications correspond to the appropriate level within the NQF and whether they meet the stipulated criteria for the quality of education and training.

Educational institutions, including schools, universities, other higher education institutions and adult education providers are very often familiar with the NQF and EQF, as these frameworks are key to the development of programmes and the recognition of qualifications. These institutions are involved in the process of developing qualifications.

Students focus primarily on academic content and qualifications that are relevant to their immediate educational goals and are usually not fully aware of the MQF. Awareness may be higher among VET or AE students/learners as their programmes are more directly linked to the recognition of qualifications and mobility between countries. At higher education levels, greater use of the MQF and EQF is expected for the purposes of comparability of degrees and mobility.

Employers involved in the dual education system are familiar with the MQF. Representatives of the business sector are involved in the work of the Qualifications Council and sectoral commissions, as well as in working groups working on the development of occupational standards and qualification standards.

Trade unions participate in certain advisory bodies and working groups dealing with education and the labour market.

Employment services often work with educational institutions, employers and policymakers to match skills needs in the labour market with the supply of qualifications. The NQF and EQF help them assess the level and relevance of candidates' qualifications, especially when it comes to international workforce or recognition of prior learning.

The Employment Agency of Montenegro provides information on occupations, secondary school curricula, as well as on education and employment opportunities. The levels of the MQF are used in job descriptions to indicate the required level of qualifications.

Employees and job seekers are often not fully aware of the NQF and EQF unless they are directly involved in sectors or industries that are relevant to VET or retraining. Awareness levels may be higher among those interested in international mobility or seeking internationally recognised qualifications. Most employees and job seekers will not be fully aware of these frameworks unless they are directly relevant to their employment opportunities or career progression.

Although qualification levels have become an important tool in identifying and matching skills to labour market needs, most citizens are still not fully aware of the ways in which they can use the framework. Citizens use information about qualification levels (both MQF and EQF levels) in building their CVs.

Parents, the general public and policymakers in Montenegro still have a moderate understanding and use of the NQF and EQF. Parents are usually not familiar with the specific qualification levels or framework system, while the general public is often unaware of its role in the education system and the labour market.

No systematic evaluation of the NQF's use or impact has been carried out ([15]European Commission and Cedefop (2020). Survey on implementation, use and impact of NQF/EQF [unpublished].).

Based on experience so far, the framework has played a key role in improving the qualifications system and improving education and training programmes. It has influenced the review, renewal, and quality assurance of qualifications. Processes and procedures for qualification development have become more transparent. It has also supported dialogue and cooperation between stakeholders across education and training sectors, and between education and the labour market ([16]European Commission and Cedefop (2020). Survey on implementation, use and impact of NQF/EQF [unpublished].).

The MQF plays an important role in improving the transparency of qualifications, both nationally and internationally. Through the NQF, Montenegro has established clear standards for all qualifications, which means that qualifications recognised within the system must be aligned with national criteria. qualifications at all levels, from primary education to higher education qualifications, are subject to uniform quality standards.

The implementation of the MQF has had a significant impact on promoting the use of learning outcomes in education broadly. In qualifications, it has sharpened the orientation of qualifications, since each one that is developed and included in the NQF must have clearly defined learning outcomes that relate to the specific knowledge, skills, and competences that the candidate should possess after acquiring the qualification.

The MQF significantly contributes to improving vertical and horizontal progression within and beyond the education system. By introducing a single framework that covers all levels of education and training - from primary to higher education, including formal, non-formal and informal learning - the MQF enables better linking of different education sectors, as well as establishing clear pathways for transition between them. Units have become credit-evaluated and transferable from one qualification to another.

Though its guidance for defining standards, which must be described in outcomes, the framework allows all forms of learning to be valued regardless of the way in which they were acquired, formal, non-formal or informal.

The Employment Service of Montenegro uses the MQF as a basis for better understanding the competences of unemployed persons and guiding them towards appropriate training and occupations. Employers recognize the role of the MQF in job advertisements and internal recruitment procedures. The unemployed and students use the MQF and EQF to assess their qualifications on the national and international market.

Qualification levels in Montenegro are linked to EQF levels, which allows qualifications acquired in Montenegro to be more easily recognized and valued abroad. The NQF and EQF levels are indicated in the diploma supplement and other educational documents, which helps employers and educational institutions in the EU to recognize the level of knowledge and skills of citizens from Montenegro.