The document provides an overview of EQAVET (European Quality Assurance in Vocational Education and Training). It discusses the history of quality assurance frameworks for vocational education in Europe beginning in 2002. Key events included establishing the Common Quality Assurance Framework (CQAF) in 2004 and the European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for VET (EQARF) in 2009. EQAVET replaced the European Network for Quality Assurance in VET in 2010. The framework establishes a quality assurance cycle and criteria at both the system and provider levels focused on planning, implementation, evaluation, and review. Descriptors are provided for each quality criterion.

1. EQAVET
overview
Piraeus 15-16 November 2012
Natassa Kazantzidou

2. www.bequal.info
History
 Barcelona European Council, 2002 : target to
make Europe’s education and training
systems a world quality reference by 2010.
 The Copenhagen declaration, 2002 sets the
basis for the development of a Common
Quality Assurance Framework for VET in
Europe (CQAF).

3. www.bequal.info
History
 May 2004, the European Council endorsed
the CQAF
 October 2005, establishment of the European
Network for Quality Assurance in VET
(ENQA-VET)
 2009, Recommendation on establishment of
a European Quality Assurance Reference
Framework for VET (EQARF)

4. www.bequal.info
History
 2010, European Quality Assurance in
Vocational Education and Training (EQAVET)
replaced ENQA – VET
 The Bruges Communiqué 2010 reviewed the
strategic approaches and priorities of the
Copenhagen process and set the roadmap
for VET for 2011-2020.

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Quality in VET context
 Quality assurance is linked with and facilitates
adoption of European instruments and tools of
the Copenhagen process, i.e. ECVET, EQF,
validation of non-formal and informal learning
and Europass.
 All these instruments have as objective the
facilitation of mobility, through transparency of
qualifications and quality assurance is an
important factor for building mutual trust.

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Quality and EQF
 The referencing of NQF to EQF has two
criteria relevant to quality assurance:
 5 “The national quality assurance system(s) for
education and training refer(s) to the NQFk or system
and are consistent with the relevant European
principles and guidelines
 6 The referencing process shall include the stated
agreement of the relevant quality assurance bodies”.

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Quality and ECVET
 ECVET recommendation invites MS to apply
the common principles for quality assurance
in VET when using ECVET.
 Quality assurance is a core issue for building
mutual trust in ECVET partnerships and
quality assurance principles and criteria are
documented in ECVET documents, i.e.
Memorandum of Understanding and Learning
Agreements.

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Validation of non-formal
and informal learning
 Obligation of the stakeholders to establish
appropriate quality mechanisms for the
identification and validation of non –formal and
informal learning.
 Quality assurance mechanisms should underpin
processes, procedures and criteria for validation,
in order to build confidence and trust. Member
States and European Commission are invited to
support the development of quality assurance
mechanisms.

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Europass
 Europass can be used as a quality assurance
framework for the identification and
documentation of learning outcomes and
transparency of qualifications.
 Quality assurance is an important factor in
the use of Europass documents, especially
Europass Mobility, in order to facilitate
understandability of qualification

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The EQARF
Recommendation
 Develop the European Quality Assurance Reference
Framework (the Framework), quality criteria, indicative
descriptors and reference indicators
 Devise an approach aimed at improving quality
assurance systems at national level
 Participate actively in the European Quality Assurance
Reference Framework network
 Establish a Quality Assurance National Reference Point
for VET

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The Framework
 Quality assurance and improvement cycle
(planning, implementation, evaluation/
assessment and review/revision) based on a
selection of quality criteria, descriptors and
indicators applicable to quality management
at both VET-system and VET-provider levels.

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The framework
 A‘toolbox’, from which the various users may
choose those descriptors and indicators that
they consider most relevant to the requirements
of their particular QA system.
 The proposed descriptors and indicators are
provided as guidance only and may be selected
and applied by users of the Framework in
accordance with all or part of their requirements
and existing settings.

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Quality Criteria
 Planning reflects a strategic vision shared by
the relevant stakeholders and includes
explicit goals/objectives, actions and
indicators
 Implementation plans are devised in
consultation with stakeholders and include
explicit principles

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Quality Criteria
 Evaluation of outcomes and processes is
regularly carried out and supported by
measurement
 Review
 Descriptors for each criterion at VET system
and VET provider level

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Descriptors at VET
level
 Planning
 European, national and regional VET policy
goals/objectives are reflected in the local targets
set by the VET providers
 Explicit goals/objectives and targets are set and
monitored
 Ongoing consultation with relevant stakeholders
takes place to identify specific local/ individual
needs

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Descriptors at VET
level
 Responsibilities in quality management and
development have been explicitly allocated
 There is an early involvement of staff in planning,
including with regard to quality development
 Providers plan cooperative initiatives with other
VET providers
 The relevant stakeholders participate in the
process of analysing local needs

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Descriptors at VET
level
 VET providers have an explicit and transparent
quality assurance system in place
 Implementation
 Resources are appropriately internally aligned/
assigned with a view to achieving the targets set in
the implementation plans
 Relevant and inclusive partnerships are explicitly
supported to implement the actions planned

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Descriptors at VET
level
 The strategic plan for staff competence development
specifies the need for training for teachers and
trainers
 Staff undertake regular training and develop
cooperation with relevant external stakeholders to
support capacity building and quality improvement,
and to enhance performance

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Descriptors at VET
level
 Evaluation
 Self-assessment/self-evaluation is periodically
carried out under national and regional
regulations/frameworks or at the initiative of VET
providers
 Evaluation and review covers processes and
results/outcomes of education including the
assessment of learner satisfaction as well as staff
performance and satisfaction

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Descriptors at VET
level
 Evaluation and review includes adequate and
effective mechanisms to involve internal and
external stakeholders
 Early warning systems are implemented
 Review
 Learners’ feedback is gathered on their individual
learning experience and on the learning and
teaching environment. Together with teachers’
feedback this is used to inform further actions

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Descriptors at VET
level
 Information on the outcomes of the review is
widely and publicly available
 Procedures on feedback and review are part of a
strategic learning process in the organisation
 Results/outcomes of the evaluation process are
discussed with relevant stakeholders and
appropriate action plans are put in place

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Thank you for your attention!