vocational education and training workshop - erasmus+ uk annual conference 2015
TRANSCRIPT
VET Workshop Overview
This session will look at how VET transparency and recognition tools within the Erasmus+ programme can be used to promote lifelong learning and employability within projects. The workshop will mainly be delivered by experts in the fields. It will focus on ECVET, EQAVET, EQF and Europass and will provide practical examples and templates for these initiatives.
Agenda • Welcome and Introduction to workshop
• Introduction to ECVET
• Introduction to EQF & EQAVET
• Introduction to UK NARIC and EUROPASS
• Close
• It is NOT an organisation
• It is NOT a qualification
• It is NOT an Awarding Body
• It is NOT a quality standard (like IIP)
What ECVET is NOT!!
ECVET is a system for the transfer, recognition and accumulation of the learning outcomes achieved by an individual with a view to achieving a qualification.
So what is ECVET?
ECVET Terminology
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Statements of what a learner knows, understands and is able to
do on completion of a learning process
UNITS
Components of qualifications; a coherent set of knowledge, skills
and competences that is able to be assessed and validated
ECVET POINTS
Numerical representation of the overall weight of learning outcomes and of the relative weight of units in
relation to a qualification.
CREDIT
For units which have been assessed and which can be
accumulated towards a qualification or transferred to other
learning programmes or qualifications
• UK Government is committed to implementing ECVET • Units, Learning Outcomes and Credit already in use • All four countries in UK have established qualification
and credit frameworks • Core focus is on facilitating learning recognition for those
involved in geographical mobility • FOUR National Coordination Points
What’s the UK position?
ECVET Coordination Points The FOUR ECVET National Coordination Points in the UK: ENGLAND: ECCTIS www.ecctis.co.uk/ecvet SCOTLAND: Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership www.scqf.org.uk/ecvet WALES: Colegau Cymru - Colleges Wales www.collegeswales.ac.uk/en-GB/europe-269.aspx NORTHERN IRELAND: Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) www.rewardinglearning.org.uk/accreditation/european/ecvet/ Plus a national team of ECVET Experts managed by the UK National Agency for Erasmus+ (Ecorys UK) www.ecvetexperts.org.uk
A team of 13 experts, from across the UK, each committed to:
• Raising awareness and promoting ECVET
• Developing information and guidance resources
• Hosting conferences and events to allow wider discussion (and knowledge sharing) on ECVET
• Working with other countries to identify best practice
ECVET Experts: UK
An agreement between organisations that formalises the ECVET Partnership and which outlines (or confirms):
• qualifications, sectors and programmes associated with planned mobility programmes - with direct reference to qualification levels and using the EQF as a tool for comparison and translation
• targeted learning outcomes
• assessment, validation and recognition processes (and roles)
• acceptance of existing quality assurance processes and criteria
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
Learning Agreement (LA) An individual document for each learner that explains (or confirms):
• Information on a specific mobility period
• Learning outcomes that the learner is expected to achieve
• Details on planned assessment mechanisms (confirming tools and approaches, timing and required documentation)
• Details on the partner roles and responsibilities confirming
Who will assess and where and when
• What evidence is require to ensure recognition on return home
VET Learner and staff mobility Application form
Section F1: Learning Outcomes
• Europass, ECVET and Youthpass
Section G2: Project Management
Memorandum of Understanding, Learning Agreement
KA1 Guide for Applicants, p27-28
• ECVET , European instruments
Practical links with Erasmus+ Applications
Steps to Recognising Mobility
Reflection on
Current Practice
Memorandum of
Understanding
Learning Delivery
and Assessment
Learning
Agreements
Validation
Personal
Transcript
Recognition
Resources and Support EXAMPLES: • Completed Memorandum of Understanding • Completed Learning Agreements (e.g. DECViP Project) GUIDANCE MATERIALS: • Getting the Credit your Learners Deserve • Guidance for Awarding Organisations: ECVET Explained • ECVET Toolkit EVENTS: • Targeted workshops held across the UK • National ECVET Conference FURTHER INFORMATION AND SUPPORT www.ecvetexperts.org.uk
www.ecvet-toolkit.eu
www.erasmusplus.org.uk
Why use ECVET? • acknowledgement and recognition of achieved
learning outcomes (knowledge, skills, competence) giving value to all learning experiences
• improved employability
• No duplication of learning!!
Benefits for Learners
• capacity-building for staff: insight into different teaching delivery and assessment techniques in other European countries
• improved profile and greater visibility through participation in European VET partnerships
Benefits for VET
Institutions
• improved knowledge and understanding among employees, including through exposure to new and different work practices
• attractiveness of workforce development practices among employees
Benefits for Employers
EQF Recommendation
The recommendation establishing the EQF came into force in April 2008. The recommendation proposes that member states:
relate their national qualifications systems to the EQF by 2010, in particular by referencing, in a transparent manner, their qualification levels to the levels of the EQF
adopt measures, as appropriate, so that, by 2012, all new qualification certificates, diplomas and ‘Europass’ documents issued by the competent authorities contain a clear reference, by way of national qualifications systems, to the appropriate EQF level
MAIN FEATURES OF THE EQF
• 8 levels defined through learning outcomes – knowledge, skills and competence
• Translation device for comparing qualifications
• Reference tool based on learning outcomes
• A meta framework • EQF has two main aims; to
facilitate trans-national mobility and lifelong learning
EQF Level 8
EQF Level 7
EQF Level 6
EQF Level 5
EQF Level 4
EQF Level 3
EQF Level 2
EQF Level 1
EQF Implementation and the UK
• Implementation of the EQF is voluntary, all EU member states are proceeding.
• Each member state has a National Coordination Point for EQF implementation
• 38 countries are working towards EQF referencing
• 28 NQFs have been formally adopted (18 have reached operational stage, 7 are fully operational and 11are at early stages)
• There are two main stages to implementation of the EQF. The first is to reference national qualification levels to EQF levels. 26 countries have submitted referencing reports
• The UK presented its report on referencing the Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales (CQFW), the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) to the EQF in January 2010.
• The second main stage is to ensure that stakeholders across the UK understand the EQF and are aware of its potential uses and benefits. From 2010 the UK EQF NCPs have collaborated in a programme of EQF implementation activities using EU grant money.
• EQF levels on qualification certificates – the second milestone 2013
UK EQF National Coordination Points (NCPs)
• There are four EQF NCPs in the UK: ENGLAND: Ofqual www.ofqual.gov.uk [email protected] SCOTLAND: Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership www.scqf.org.uk [email protected] WALES: Colegau Cymru - Colleges Wales www.collegeswales.ac.uk [email protected] NORTHERN IRELAND: Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) www.ccea.org.uk [email protected]
Referencing Criteria
• All competent bodies involved
• Level to level justification
• Learning outcomes, credit and validation
• Allocating qualifications to NQF levels
• QA processes
• QA bodies sign up
• International experts involved
• One voice, one report
• Levels on certificates
• Portal visibility
Joint portal on learning opportunities and qualifications
• The qualifications portal provides information on the EQF, NQFs and how they compare as well as information on qualifications in Europe with the facility to search by subject field, level of education or country.
• The learning opportunities portal provides information and links on opportunities to learn or study in another EU country with the facility to search by subject field, level of education or country.
• Most European countries plan to have completed the process to link their national qualifications systems to EQF levels by end 2015. The results of this linking (or ‘referencing’) process is available on the qualifications Portal under ‘Compare National Qualifications Frameworks’.
• Further information on the EQF is available at the Learning Opportunities and Qualifications in Europe Portal http://ec.europa.eu/ploteus/en.
Some effects of the EQF
NQF developments (overarching NQFs)
Lifelong learning integrating functions
Stimulating work on learning outcomes
The quality of referencing
Making quality assurance explicit
Validation of non-formal and informal learning
Registers of national qualifications
EQF Animation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=M
BGQuyYy7qA
Eqavet: A Tool for Transparency
The European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for Vocational
Education and Training
Caroline Egerton
CCEA Accreditation
The Eqavet Recommendation
• Published in 2009, the Recommendation invites member
states to:
– Use and develop the Eqavet framework, which comprises quality criteria, indicative descriptors and reference indicators
– Develop a quality improvement approach
– Actively participate in the Eqavet network
– Establish a national reference point (one each has been established for England, NI, Scotland & Wales)
– Review implementation every four years
The Eqavet Framework
• Based on a cyclical ‘Plan – Do (implement) – Check (evaluate) – Act (review)’ model to support quality assurance at system and provider levels
• Quality criteria presented for each phase of this cycle
• Ten recommended quality indicators, e.g. completion and achievement rates, destination data, use of skills in the workplace
• Framework is intended to be used as a ‘toolbox’, adapted to users’ own context
Key elements
PLANNING: set up clear, appropriate and measurable goals and objectives IMPLEMENTATION: establish procedures to ensure the achievement of goals and objectives ASSESMENT and EVALUATION: design mechanisms for the evaluation of achievements by collecting and processing data in order to make informed assessment REVIEW: develop procedures in order to achieve targeted outcomes and/or new objectives after discussion and analysis with key stakeholders
Quality indicators
1. Relevance of quality assurance systems for VET providers
2. Investment in training of teachers and trainers
3. Participation rate in VET programmes 4. Completion rate in VET programmes 5. Placement rate in VET programmes 6. Utilisation of acquired skills at the
workplace 7. Unemployment rate 8. Prevalence of vulnerable groups 9. Mechanisms to identify training needs in
the labour market 10. Schemes used to promote better access
to VET
Deepening a culture of quality assurance
Role in Transparency and Mobility
• The framework can be used to enable users to compare each others’ quality assurance systems, supporting mutual trust and understanding
• However, this depends on widespread use of the framework across member states
• No requirement to adopt the system as a whole
• Commission report (2014) noted a lack of use to date in support of mobility, and a lack of synergy with the EQF, ECVET and Europass
• Joint Eqavet/ECVET working group established in response
Role in Quality Improvement
• The Eqavet framework provides a set of good practice examples the use of which can support the development of an effective system, based on existing practice across the EU
• Also useful tool for benchmarking, self-evaluation and improvement of existing systems
• Adopting the cyclical approach and using relevant indicators will strengthen your project management and reporting systems
Eqavet, ECVET and Erasmus+ • References to Eqavet are an occasional feature of Erasmus+ mobility
applications
• Use of the Eqavet framework in proposals should reflect its use as a transparency tool – a name-check isn’t sufficient
• The Eqavet framework can be used as a tool to better understand the nature of Erasmus+ partners’ activities, and help to engender mutual trust
• Many opportunities for testing the value of Eqavet principles and framework through mobility episodes – take them!
• EQAVET also complements the work of ECVET: the use of ECVET for geographical mobility must also be underpinned by quality assurance (QA) procedures. EQAVET provides support for structuring these procedures
• The Eqavet quality cycle can be applied to specific learner experiences in mobility programmes and also, more broadly, to ECVET partnerships
• For more details see the ECVET toolkit at:
http://www.ecvet-toolkit.eu/site/ecvettoolkit/qualityassurance
Finally!
• Eqavet animation
https://youtu.be/7A2OaR3fejg
• Many materials available on eqavet.eu including online toolkits:
-QA for VET systems - http://www.eqavet.eu/index.html
- QA for VET providers - http://www.eqavet.eu/index2.html
Frazer Wallace – UK NEC Coordinator
01242 260225
September 2015
The Documents:
The component parts are distinct and separate and can be used individually or in association with one another.
European Skills
Passport
Lang.
Pass.
Dip
Suppl.
Cert.
Suppl.
Mobility
Other docs.
NEW Europass Portfolio
CV
Cover
Letter
Europass Mobility
• Often used to record work placements, academic or Erasmus + placements
• Completed by the
organisations responsible for organising and hosting the experience
• Helps individuals to identify
key skills when applying for work and study
• Intended for any person
undergoing a mobility experience whatever their age or level of education
Year 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Number 68 1,309 2,321 1,799 2,575 2,959 3,019
Percentage Increase on
previous year N/A N/A 1,825% 77% -22% 43% 15% 2%
Cumulative total 68 1,377 3,698 5,497 8,072 11,031 14,050
Europass Certificate Supplement
• A supplement to a vocational qualification certificate. • Specific to the qualification rather than the individual. • Can be issued in paper format on graduation, or made available from
an online database. • Provides additional information on the degree or diploma, in
particular: • Content, key skills and grading, • Level with in the NQF and information on the issuing awarding
body, • The function of the qualification and any professional status.
• Aids recognition of qualifications. • Helps employers and education providers understand the level and
content of qualifications.
ReferNet
Decentralised information exchange – producing and reporting on: Comparative information about VET systems Developments within VET Policies in the context of the Copenhagen Process
30 members, representing the EU countries and Iceland and Norway.
Main outputs: ReferNet comparative reports (country-by-country) Policy survey – new developments Spotlight brochures (brief summary of VET system) Specific articles (thematic news) – determined on year-by-year
http://www.naric.org.uk/ReferNet/
Erasmus+ is the European Union programme for education, training, youth and sport. The Erasmus+ UK National Agency is a partnership between the British Council and Ecorys UK.
Contact Details
Michael Trueman Team Leader Erasmus+ UK National Agency Ecorys UK T. 0121 212 8864 M. 07823 520088 | Helpline. 0121 212 8947 [email protected]