Changing qualifications

A review of qualifications policies and practices

COVID-19 and hard copy dissemination - Due to the pandemic, Cedefop has decided to suspend distribution of all hard copy publications and flyers for as long as special measures are enforced by Member States.
We encourage you to visit our website, where all published titles are available online.
Please note that you can subscribe to alerts for new content by registering here.

In modern societies, qualifications fulfil many functions. They serve to signal an individual’s personal, social and professional status, but they also control access to education, training and the labour market. Moreover, these functions change in line with wider social changes.

This review examines how the role and functions of qualifications are changing Europe. Covering a wide range of sources, including an overview of Cedefop’s own work and case studies of countries, it outlines four possible scenarios for developments in the next ten years, and identifies the cornerstones for a reform strategy.