Kalle ToomHead of Vocational Division

Department of Vocational and Adult EducationMinistry of Education and Research of Estonia

Accreditation in VET. Estonian case

Why accreditation?

National monitoring system for conformity of education and training activities to legislation

VET-institutions Quality Award Model (based on EFQM) for organisational excellence (voluntary)

Mandatory internal assessment for continuous improvement of educational institutions

Core curricula (VET programmes) for homogenising learning content

Qualification requirements for pedagogical staff to be well prepared

… 2

Lot of attention to management and organisational issues of VET-institution

Lack of feedback on quality of implementation of study programmes

But education and training is core process of the educational institution!

3

Time line

Full conception and materials of the accreditation 2009-2010

Preparations for implementation and piloting2011

Implementation the model to whole initial VET and carrying out full round of accreditations

2012-2015

4

Pilot round

Voluntary!

Two curriculum groups:

-accommodation and catering

-construction and civil engineering

Number of engaged VET institutions 24

Number of single accreditations 37

5

Principles

Active involvement of employers/industry

Homogenised approach to all VET institutions

Fulfilment of legislative requirements is prerequisite to go for accreditation

Accreditation by curricula groups

Based on self-evaluation and followed with external evaluation

6

Focus of evaluation …

… is on the quality and sustainability of …

1. Teaching and training

2. Leadership and management

3. Management of human resources

4. Partnership and co-operation with stakeholders

5. Management of resources7

Evaluation of teaching and training

- Development of teaching and training process- Provision of training, incl. practicing- Pedagogical approach and activities- Guidance and support for students- Completion rate (drop outs)- Share of graduates working in occupations

relevant to studies- Share of graduates who continue studies- Results of professional examinations- Creation of training opportunities for different

target groups8

Evaluation aspects

9

Accreditation process

Self-evaluation by VET-institution and report

Approval to start with accreditation

Forming of ad hoc evaluation commission

Work with documents and site visit (interviews etc.)

External evaluation report

Decision of Evaluation Council (of VET)

Issuing the act of Minister for pro-longing the right to conduct training

10

Results

11

Accreditation in VET is a quality assurance tool

used to create a confidence on educational

quality of VET for stakeholders – primarily for

students, for those who order training and for

employers/industry

12

Thank you!