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Qualifications Framework Higher Education Label or process?

7 October 2010

Dr Marlies Leegwater

Ministry of Education, Culture & Science Directorate Higher Education & Student finance

Rijnstraat 50m.e.leegwater@minocw.nl 2500 BJ The Hague

The Netherlands

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OUTLINE

1. Qualifications framework Higher Education2. Implementation3. Quality assurance4. Providers – (LLL)learners5. Label or process?

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BachDublin descriptors Ma Dr1st cycle 2nd cycle 3rd cycle

180-240 ECTS 60- 90 -120 ECTS

+ Possibility of Short cycle

part of - linked to – 1st cycle

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Qualifications frameworksModels - descriptors

EQF-LLL(2008)Level1

Level 2

Level 3

Level4

Level5

Level6

Level7

Level8

QF-EHEA(2005)

Short Cycle

ECTS120

FirstCycleBaECTS180-240

Second CycleMaECTS90-120

Third CycleDr4 jr

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QF-EHEA – “Dublin”descriptors

•Have demonstrated knowledge and understanding that..•Can apply their knowledge and solve problems•Make judgements•Can communicate•Demonstrate learning skills

www.jointquality.org www.ehea.info documents

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Bach Dublin descriptors Ma Dr1st cycle 2nd cycle 3rd cycle

180-240 ECTS 60-120 ECTS

+ Possibility of Short cycle

part of - linked to – 1st cycle

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Key elements NQF - EHEA

•National Qualifications - linked to QF-EHEA•Learning outcomes - linked to Dublin descriptors•ECTS 60 per year•Granting quality of standards/levels•Assessments of LO•Diploma Supplement (European model)

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Evidence based

Key-importance for NQF’s:

Demonstrating - learning outcomes reality matches learning outcomes of model

- Curricula - intended learning outcomes- Exams/tests - achieved learning outcomes

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Institutions and more

St.groupQA

Bol exp

gov

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Implementation NLCommunication

2005

•Board of HEI’s - Minister - seminar

•BP-steering group Rectors conf -ministry , employers, students, QA… 2 x p •Writing group: gov, QA, Rectors Conf

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Implementation NL Communication

2005 – 2008

•Personnel HEI’s internationalisation•Personnel HEI’s quality assurance Bologna experts + ministry workshops

+•QA personnel - Accreditation organisation •Board of HEI’s - Minister - seminar -OK

Self-certification of the Dutch National Qualifications Framework

NVAO - Titel van de presentatie - 2010 13

Time line• 2008 September:

NVAO installed 1 committee independent international experts for certification Dutch & Flemish NQFs

• Committee members from: ENQA-Finland, USA, Ireland, Netherlands, Flanders, Secretary

• 2008 November: site visits in The Hague & BrusselsMeeting all stakeholders

• 2009 February: final committee report and stated agreement NVAO to Dutch and Flemish Ministers

• March 09: on websites Bologna, CoE, NVAO

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NVAO - Titel van de presentatie - 2010 14

Time line• 2009 March: on websites Bologna, CoE, NVAO

Advise: brochure

• 2009: consultations with Bologna experts

• 2010 Beginning: brochure printed co-production Dutch Ministry and NVAO

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NVAO - Titel van de presentatie - 2010 15

Contents brochure• European context and Bologna• Dutch NQF

o Summary NQF (visualised)o Admission to HEo Transfers within HE

• What will change after the NQF? Highlights importance of:o Learning outcomeso Quality assurance (NVAO accredits Ad, Ba, Ma)o ECTSo Diploma supplement

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NVAO - Titel van de presentatie - 2010 16

Maintenance of NQF

NVAO maintains NQF on behalf of Ministry:o Publications (website and written materials)o Answering questionso Proposing updates and changeso Annual roundtable with stakeholderso NVAO advises; Ministry decides (ownership)

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Implementation Netherlands

LO in accreditation framework – DS Eur Lawwebsite www.nvao.net

brochure 2010 joint productaccreditation organisation NVAO

& Ministry of Education

http://www.nvao.net/nqf-nl/download.php?id=704

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Implementation in general

Actors dependent on country system: Government

Education institutionEmployersStudentsProfessional bodies

Quality Assurance (organisation)

either/or or jointly

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Quality assuranceLearning outcomes Description - by whom, after consultation of, why..

Achievement - assessment !! - criteria - relevance of methods

Content - cogent communication - written/oral presentation - performance music, dentistry…… In QA criteria !!!

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Assessment Independent of delivery methods

ICTInformal – non-formal learning

Recognition of Prior (Applied) Learning

Assessment of achieved learning outcomes Same criteria for all.

QA act/evaluate !!

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Label or process?

St.groupQA

Bol exp

gov

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Process at institutional level

Description of learning outcomes – link model knowledge, skills, competencies

Curricula/programmes existing/new

modules internships thesis performance E C T S tests, portfolio's, exams

Achieved learning outcomes !!QA!!

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Process at European levelProgrammes – EHEA - Learning outcomes

Joint actions cross border Example: Tuning educational structures Chemistry www.jointquality.org descriptors Music Polifonia www.aecinfo.org Engineers www.enaee.eu Humaniora integrating EQF-LLL+QF-EHEA... .........QA: AISHE-QA-criteria for learning for sustainability

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Diploma Supplement European Model

ENQA ENIC/NARIC RecommendationsAutomatically, free of charge, all graduates, all cyclesContent - learning outcomes - from bodies responsibleProcedure compiling, issuing

- central/by faculties/departments Course certificate for hopping learners:Level,ECTS

! Process and content DS to be quality assured !

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Implementation fitting purpose

Minor linking - Major overhaul

Partnerships: Actors – Stakeholders

Learning Outcomes - AssessmentsQuality Assurance

Legislation

Fruitful implementation!