Sunday, January 30, 2011

Quality assurance in European vocational education & training

With the formulation of a joint quality strategy, the European Union seeks to fostering the overall attractiveness of vocational education & training (VET) in Europe. In order to promote this process, a set of new policy instruments were implemented, such as CQAF (Common Quality Assurance Framework) and EQARF (European Quality Assurance Reference framework), each of which shall contribute to the establishment of a common quality assurance policy and quality culture in VET throughout Europe. Furthermore the new policy instruments shall allow for an increased transparency and mutual trust between national VET systems.

In line with the European quality strategy, the member states subsequently have implemented national structures (QANRPs: reference points for quality assurance in VET), who closely collaborate with national stakeholders in order to meet the requirements and priorities of the national VET systems and support activities to training providers in order to guarantee the implementation and commitment at all levels. At European level, the cooperation between QANRPs will be ensured through the EQAVET network.

Over the past few years, with financial support of the European Union as well as the EU member states, numerous pilot initiatives have been developed, most of which are concerned with the promotion and development of quality in VET throughout Europe. Examples can be found in the project database ADAM, which keeps comprehensive information about innovation & transfer projects sponsored by the EU.

A practical example might be seen in the BEQUAL project, which has developed a benchmarking tool for training providers, who with the help of the online-tool can benchmark their quality performance in line with the CQAF quality process model. Furthermore the project offers a database with European good practice on quality assurance in the field of vocational education & training.

    * Online Benchmarking Tool For Vocational Training Institutes
    * European Quality Assurance in Vocational Education & Training

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