Global Inventory of Regional and National Qualifications Frameworks, Volume II: National and Regional Cases

‘The Global Inventory of Regional and National Qualifications Frameworks (NQFs) is highly significant. It showcases and analyses how countries use learning outcomes-based NQFs as reference points and as sources of quality assurance for recognition and certification processes,’ Arne Carlsen, Director of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL).

Now available online, the 2015 edition of the Global Inventory of Regional and National Qualifications Frameworks Volume II: National and Regional Cases serves as an observatory of progress made in the area of national qualifications frameworks (NQFs). Seven regional qualifications frameworks and the national cases of eighty-six countries, highlighted in the publication, illustrate that learning outcomes are useful tools for reforming education and training and promoting lifelong learning systems.

The national cases covered in this edition illustrate qualifications developments with regard to key policy objectives, stakeholder involvement, frameworks adopted for implementation, learning outcomes and the use of level descriptors. They also consider the ways in which the validation of non-formal and informal learning is carried out, and how this relates to NQFs.

Benefits of qualifications frameworks

The national and regional cases covered in this second volume complement the thematic chapters in Volume I of the Global Inventory. The chapters in Volume I discuss key trends and policy issues emerging from qualifications framework reforms, such as the impact of NQFs, the links between NQFs and the validation of non-formal and informal learning, and how NQFs link to skills development in the informal sector. Other themes include reforms of qualifications systems, changes in legal and institutional arrangements resulting from these reforms, and the development of world reference levels of learning outcomes.

The Global Inventory of Regional and National Qualifications Frameworks is the result of collaborative work between the European Training Foundation (ETF), the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop), the UNESCO HQ and the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL). This work has involved extensive communication with country officials and experts. It has also drawn upon research undertaken by inter-agency units within the field of qualifications. The next update by the inter-agency units is scheduled for 2016–2017.

National qualifications frameworks (NQFs) are a major global phenomenon in education and training, and they will play an important role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.