Quality and Qualifications System in Estonia

Maris VahtEstonian Qualifications Authority

Kutsete süsteemi arendamist toetab Euroopa Liit

Guiding Principles

• Qualifications system is an interface between society and the system for lifelong learning

• Occupational qualifications system is an interface between labour market and the system for lifelong learning (subsystem of qualifications system)

• Qualifications system in Estonia follows integrated qualifications system model

• Qualifications system is a quality assurance system

2

Competence circle

TasksTasksQualif-nQualif-n

stan-stan-dardsdards

Natio-Natio-nalnal

curri-curri-culacula

StudyStudypro-pro-

grammesgrammes

Assessment Assessment of LOsof LOs

Assessment ofAssessment ofcompetencecompetenceValidationValidation

Qualif-nQualif-ncerti-certi-

ficatesficates

SSOOCCIIEETTYY

Com-Com-peten-peten-

cesces

Expected competence

Actual competence

QUALIFICATIONSQUALIFICATIONSSYSTEMSYSTEM

Assess-Assess-mentmentstan-stan-dardsdards

Institutions involved in quality and qualifications system

• Ministry of Education and Research http://hm.ee/en:– Strategic management of the system– Keeping the register of formal education qualifications– Licensing of education end training providers

• Estonian Qualifications Authority (Kutsekoda) http://kutsekoda.ee/en/kutsekoda

• Estonian Higher Education Quality Agency (EKKA) http://ekka.archimedes.ee/quality-agency

• Foundation Innove http://www.innove.ee/en

Estonian Qualifications AuthorityEstablished in 2001 based on Occupational Qualifications Act

•Kutsekoda is:– developing occupational qualifications system

(development of occupational standards)– organising and coordinating the activities of sector skills

councils– providing counselling and assistance for awarding bodies

(awarding of occupational qualifications)– keeping the register of occupational qualifications

•NCP for the EQF implementation•Europass centre

K U T S E K O D AK U T S E K O D A

Awarding Body111

Occupational Qualifications Committee

160

Assessment Committee

Professio-nal

Associa-tions

Employeesorgani-sations

Employersorgani-sations

Sector Skills Council16

21.4.2023 7

21.4.2023 8

Examples of occuptional qualifications

• EstQF level 2: Cook assistant, …• EstQF level 3: Carpenter, …• EstQF level 4: IT specialist, …• EstQF level 5: Master carpenter, construction site

manager, …• EstQF level 6: Engineer, …• EstQF level 7: Diploma engineer, diploma architect, ... • EstQF level 8: Chartered engineer, chartered architect, ...

21.4.2023 10

Formal education qualifications Formal education qualifications (2015)(2015)EstQFEstQFlevels levels

Basic education certificate based on curriculum for students with moderate Basic education certificate based on curriculum for students with moderate and severe learning disabilities and severe learning disabilities

1

Basic education certificate based on simplified curriculum asic education certificate based on simplified curriculum VET VET level 2 level 2 certificatecertificate

2

Basic education certificateBasic education certificateVET VET level 3 level 3 certificatecertificate

3

Upper secondary general education certificate Upper secondary general education certificate Upper secondary VET certificateUpper secondary VET certificate

VET VET level 4 level 4 certificate certificate

4

VET VET level 5 level 5 certificatecertificate 5

Diploma of Bachelor's degreeDiploma of Bachelor's degreeDiploma of professional higher education Diploma of professional higher education

6

Diploma of Master's degreeDiploma of Master's degree 7

Diploma of Doctoral degreeDiploma of Doctoral degree 8

Thank you for your attention!

www.kutsekoda.ee kutsekoda@kutsekoda.ee

21.4.2023