Organised range of mechanisms, structures and activities which enable citizen access to education and training, leading to qualifications adapted to needs and giving access to employment, recognition of skills and qualifications, lifelong guidance and lifelong learning.

Comment

A qualifications system requires the following elements:

- legal framework;

- institutional framework to develop:

• a qualification policy;
• standards and qualifications;
• education and training programmes and curricula;
• procedures for assessment and certification, validation of formal, non-formal and informal learning, recognition of learning outcomes;
• a national register of qualifications;
• a qualifications framework;
• funding mechanisms;
• lifelong guidance;
• quality assurance and regulation mechanisms;

• education and training providers;
• teachers and trainers;
• civil society: employer and worker organisations, professional bodies and sectoral organisations, * community and voluntary organisations, student, teacher and trainer associations;
• awarding and accreditation bodies;
• researchers working on education and labour force issues;
• quality assurance agencies;
• career guidance practitioners;
• government departments and agencies;
• trainers of teachers and trainers;

• policy and governance;
• qualification standards;
• education and training provisions;
• assessment, validation and certification;
• data collection and analysis (skill supply and demand).

Cedefop; European Training Foundation, 2016

All aspects of a country's activity that result in the recognition of learning.