TVETipedia Glossary

Regional qualifications framework (RQF)

You can find an overview of regional qualifications frameworks here in TVETipedia. Note that most of them are in “developmental stage”, while only 3 are considered to be fully operational (see ETF 2021, “Comparing regional qualifications framework initiatives around the globe”).

For national qualifications frameworks (NQFs), please view UNESCO-UNEVOC’s TVET Country Profiles.

A framework that consists of a set of agreed principles, practices, procedures and standardised terminology intended to ensure effective comparability of qualifications and credits across countries in a region.

Source:
ILO, An Introductory Guide to National Qualifications Frameworks, 2007
ILO, An Introductory Guide to National Qualifications Frameworks, 2007
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(Glossary starting p. 63)
"There are surprisingly few documents which spell out, in a practical way, what an NQF can achieve realistically, what are the preconditions and potential pitfalls and how it can be developed. NQFs have been much discussed and with much enthusiasm, but it may be questioned whether their technical and institutional complexity are well understood.
This Guide attempts to respond to these concerns, and by doing so, to assist policy makers in making informed judgments as to whether and how they can pursue the development of an NQF in meeting the specific needs of their training systems."

Set of agreed principles, procedures and standardised terminology intended to ensure effective comparability of qualifications and credits within a particular region.

Source:
SADC, Glossary, 2011
SADC, Glossary, 2011
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(Glossary starting p. 26)
Concept Paper and Implementation Plan for the SADC Regional Qualifications Framework (Original document developed by the SADC Technical Committee on Certification and Accreditation in Maseru in 2005. This is an updated and amended version of the original document).