- 2017Implementation
- 2018Implementation
- 2019Implementation
- 2020Implementation
- 2021Implementation
- 2022Implementation
- 2023Implementation
- 2024Implementation
Background
The current transnational peer review (TPR) initiative builds on the peer review concept developed in the 2000s by revising the methodology for transnational peer reviews (TPRs) in line with the new developments in VET and in consideration of the EQARF and its additional components (EQAVET+) and the VET system development programme 2016-20 (goal 2.1., measures 2.2. and 2.4.).
Objectives
TPR is primarily aimed at strengthening the capacities of EQAVET national reference points (NRPs) and VET providers in quality assurance at European and national levels. It complements national quality assurance mechanisms and also drives reflection on the national quality assurance framework based on the transnational exercise.
Description
The Agency for VET and Adult Education (ASOO) is involved in a transnational peer review exercise in cooperation with three other EQAVET NRPs. In 2017, five quality areas along with the corresponding quality criteria were examined in one transnational peer review meeting and follow-up consultations. In 2018, four quality areas were revised (Pedagogical framework and planning the pedagogical process, Teaching and learning, Assessment and certification, and Learning results and outcomes) and a new one (Work-based learning outside the school) was drafted in two transnational peer review team meetings. A team of Croatian teachers was formed and trained, and conducted the first transnational peer review in one Croatian VET school, thus testing two revised quality areas. One Croatian peer reviewer also participated in a transnational peer review in Finland.
From 2017-19, one TPR visit to a VET provider was conducted per participating country and a feedback report was delivered to the VET provider. In the period 2019-21, ASOO will continue the TPR initiative in partnership with Estonia, Slovenia and Finland. The consortium proposes to review a further 10 quality areas of the initial peer review concept from the 2000s in line with the latest developments in VET and EQAVET+.
ASOO continued the transnational peer review (TPR) initiative in partnership with Estonia, Slovenia and Finland. A TPR visit was conducted in one VET provider in each participating country. 10 quality areas were revised and piloted in TPR visits to VET providers; with the previous five quality areas revised from 2017-2019, the 15 quality areas now form an updated, comprehensive set of criteria for conducting TPRs.
ASOO continued the transnational peer review (TPR) initiative in partnership with Estonia, Slovenia and Finland. Six representatives of ASOO and vocational schools from Croatia participated in the final online conference on international peer review with national reference points from Slovenia, Finland and Estonia. An information brochure about international peer review was developed and published (online). A plan for the promotion of international peer review in national and European contexts was developed.
Collaboration with Estonia, Finland and Slovenia continued. The partners organised a training consisting of two sessions to train stakeholders in TPR . The training was attended by three members of ASOO and six representatives of vocational schools who would act as peers and/or hosts in the TPR. A total of two representatives from Croatia participated in TPR in Slovenia, one from ASOO in the role of observer and one from a vocational school in the role of peer. In 2022, as part of the EQAVET NRP activities, Croatia initiated its first national peer reviews based on the methodology, instruments, and quality criteria developed through the transnational peer review activity. The national peer reviews involved three IVET providers of different profiles (industry, manufacturing, and medicine). Eight national peers participated in the peer review visits, trained and supported by the Agency for VET and Adult Education, which acts as the EQAVET NRP and coordinating body responsible for self-assessment in VET in Croatia. During the final evaluation meeting, VET providers and peers expressed satisfaction with their involvement in the peer reviews, highlighting the benefits of peer exchange and mutual learning, which contributed to the development of a culture of quality at their schools. The pilot peer reviews in the national context confirmed that the peer review methodology represented a suitable form of peer evaluation, which could easily be adapted to examine specific areas of interest for VET providers.
In 2023, Croatia conducted a transnational peer review of a VET provider in the field of healthcare, focusing on the quality area of external relations. This involved continued collaboration with Estonia, Finland, and Slovenia, with a Finnish peer reviewer participating in the on-site visit to the Croatian provider. As a result of the peer review, the VET provider received useful feedback on cooperation with external stakeholders, with recommendations for improvement. The international perspective was seen as a specific added value of transnational peer reviews. The criteria for the quality area were discussed, emphasizing the importance of striking the right balance between specific, yet sufficiently broad, description of the criteria to ensure clarity of the criteria and possibilities for flexible interpretation that accommodates different perspectives.
In 2024, a new cycle of collaboration with Estonia, Finland, and Slovenia in transnational peer reviews began. Preparations started for reviews to be conducted in each participating country across 2025-2026. Based on the experience from previous years, a revision of quality areas and criteria for transnational peer reviews was initiated. Based on the feedback of peers, all quality criteria were revised in terms of the readability and clarity of criteria and indicators, especially regarding the criteria on sustainability. Simultaneously, the second cycle of national peer reviews commenced, involving six Croatian VET providers in peer reviews planned for 2024-2025.
Bodies responsible
- Agency for VET and Adult Education (ASOO)
Target groups
Education professionals
- Teachers
- School leaders
Entities providing VET
- VET providers (all kinds)
Thematic categories
Governance of VET and lifelong learning
This thematic category looks at existing legal frameworks providing for strategic, operational – including quality assurance – and financing arrangements for VET and lifelong learning (LLL). It examines how VET and LLL-related policies are placed in broad national socioeconomic contexts and coordinate with other strategies and policies, such as economic, social and employment, growth and innovation, recovery and resilience.
This thematic category covers partnerships and collaboration networks of VET stakeholders – especially the social partners – to shape and implement VET in a country, including looking at how their roles and responsibilities for VET at national, regional and local levels are shared and distributed, ensuring an appropriate degree of autonomy for VET providers to adapt their offer.
The thematic category also includes efforts to create national, regional and sectoral skills intelligence systems (skills anticipation and graduate tracking) and using skills intelligence for making decisions about VET and LLL on quality, inclusiveness and flexibility.
This thematic sub-category refers to further development of national quality assurance (QA) systems for IVET and CVET, for all learning environments (school-based provision and work-based learning, including apprenticeships) and all learning types (digital, face-to-face or blended), delivered by both public and private providers. These systems are underpinned by the EQAVET quality criteria and by indicative descriptors applied both at system and provider levels, as defined in Annex II of the VET Recommendation. The sub-category concerns creating and improving external and self-evaluation of VET providers, and establishing criteria of QA, accreditation of providers and programmes. It also covers the activities of Quality assurance national reference points for VET on implementing and further developing the EQAVET framework, including the implementation of peer reviews at VET system level.
European and international dimensions of VET
This thematic category covers both European and international cooperation in initial and continuing VET, aimed at promoting EU VET systems as a European education and training area and making it a reference for learners in neighbouring countries and across the globe.
Expanding opportunities and increasing participation of VET learners, young and adult, and staff in international mobility for learning and work, including apprenticeship and virtual and blended mobility, account for most initiatives in this thematic category.
Apart from established and financially supported EU cooperation, VET opens up to cooperation and promotion of European values and national practices beyond the EU, which is becoming a trend. This thematic category also encompasses internationalisation strategies, transnational cooperation projects and initiatives – including those where joint VET programmes, examinations and qualifications are developed – and participation in international skills competitions that promote the image of VET. Using international qualifications – awarded by legally established international bodies or by a national body acting on behalf of an international body – in the national VET systems and recognising them towards national qualifications is also in focus.
This thematic sub-category refers to developing internationalisation strategies supporting a strategic approach to international cooperation in VET and lifelong learning, including going beyond the EU.
Subsystem
Further reading
Country
Type of development
Cedefop, & ReferNet. (2025). Peer reviews at VET provider level: Croatia. In Cedefop, & ReferNet. (2025). Timeline of VET policies in Europe (2024 update) [Online tool].
https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/sk/tools/timeline-vet-policies-europe/search/28818