- 2018Design
- 2019Design
- 2020Completed
Background
The Act on the Finnish national framework for qualifications and other competence modules (Act 93/2017) and the related government Decree (120/2017) entered into force on 1 March 2017. The framework covers the entire education/qualifications system. In this framework, the qualifications, syllabuses and other extensive competence modules of the Finnish national education system are classified into eight levels based on learning outcomes. The referencing to the EQF was completed in December 2017.
Objectives
To expand the national framework for qualifications and other competence modules.
Description
In March 2018, the Ministry of Education and Culture set up a working group for the preparation and coordination of the expansion of the national framework for qualifications and other competence modules. The task of the working group was to specify in more detail the criteria specified in the Act on the national framework for qualifications and other competence modules (93/2017) and to formulate a proposal for the required legislative amendments.
In 2018, the education ministry’s working group specified the expansion criteria for the inclusion of other competence modules in the framework and identified the competence modules in various administrative branches meeting the criteria.
In 2019, the working group continued its work to prepare the proposal on expansion of the national qualifications framework.
The framework was expanded with the inclusion of several competence modules at various levels of the framework in February 2020. The following competence modules were added:
- preparatory education for working life and independent living (TELMA) at level 2;
- preparatory studies for general upper secondary school (LUVA), preparatory education for vocational training (VALMA), and an advanced syllabus for basic education in the arts at level 3;
- a basic course for border guards and a basic study module for non-commissioned officers at level 4;
- a general level (levels 1 and 2) study module for non-commissioned officers and a master level study module for non-commissioned officers at level 5;
- professional specialisation programmes provided by universities and universities of applied sciences (UASs) intended for holders of a bachelor's degree or a UAS bachelor’s degree, a specific qualification on prescribing medicines, and a specialised training and pastoral qualification provided by the church at level 6;
- professional specialisation programmes provided by universities and universities of applied sciences intended for holders of a master degree or a UAS master degree, an advanced pastoral qualification, a senior staff officer course, and further studies in war economy and technology at level 7.
Bodies responsible
- Ministry of Education and Culture
Target groups
Learners
- Learners in upper secondary, including apprentices
- Learners at risk of early leaving or/and early leavers
- Adult learners
Education professionals
- Teachers
- Trainers
- Adult educators
Entities providing VET
- VET providers (all kinds)
Thematic categories
Transparency and portability of VET skills and qualifications
European principles and tools, such as EQF, ESCO, ECTS, Europass and ECVET, provide a strong basis for transparency and portability of national and sectoral qualifications across Europe, including the issuing of digital diplomas and certificates.
This thematic category looks at how individuals are supported in transferring, accumulating, and validating skills and competences acquired in formal, non-formal and informal settings – including learning on the job – and in having their learning recognised towards a qualification at any point of their lives. This is only possible if qualifications are transparent and comparable and are part of comprehensive national qualifications frameworks. Availability of qualifications smaller than full and acquirable in shorter periods of time is necessary; some countries have recently worked on developing partial qualifications, microcredentials, etc.
This thematic sub-category concerns all developments related to national qualification frameworks (NQFs). As in most countries NQFs are in place and referenced to the European qualifications framework (EQF), the thematic sub-category covers updating and expanding the frameworks, developing new qualifications and using NQFs as catalysts for other reforms.