Qualifications framework
Parent term: Qualification
9 child terms
 The structure into which accredited qualifications are placed, allowing learners, training providers and employers to gain information about the broad equivalence of qualifications. Source: UNESCO 1984, Global
| Organisation: | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) , UN |
| Source: | Terminology of Technical and Vocational Education (1984) |
| Description: | This publication is a practical terminology in the field of technical and vocational education for the purposes of international communication. After use of the original English/French version for over five years in numerous regional and international meetings, conferences, seminars and workshops held in those two languages, it was felt that publication of the guide in additional international languages would permit Unesco to contribute further to a better understanding in Member States of the Revised Recommendation concerning Technical and Vocational Education (1974), would facilitate the implementation of this instrument and would foster a more effective exchange of information in the field of technical and vocational education.UNESDOC |
A system for placing qualifications that meet certain standards of quality on one of a series of hierarchical levels. Source: ILO 2006, Global
An instrument for the development and classification of qualifications (e.g. at national or sectoral level) according to a set of criteria (e.g. using descriptors) applicable to specified levels of learning outcomes. Source: CEDEFOP 2008, Europe
| Organisation: | European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP), Europe |
| Source: | Terminology of European education and training policy (2008) |
| Description: | This multilingual glossary of terms used in education and training policy is intended for researchers and more generally for all those involved in education and training policy. It does not represent an exhaustive inventory of the terminology used by specialists; rather it identifies a selection of key terms that are essential for an understanding of current education and training policy in Europe. This glossary is an updated and extended version of the Terminology of vocational training policy, published by Cedefop in 2004. [...]
This glossary was prepared in cooperation with the European Training Foundation (ETF), The European Commission (DG Education and Culture) and Eurydice (The information network on education in Europe). p. 14 (Introduction) |
A structure for setting out the levels at which vocational qualifications accredited by regulatory authorities can be recognized. Source: UNEVOC/NCVER 2009, Global
| Organisation: | UNESCO-UNEVOC, National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), UNESCO/Australia |
| Source: | TVET glossary: some key terms (2009) |
| Description: | This glossary has been published in the "International Handbook of Education for the Changing World of Work" (Vol. 1, chapter 5)
"The glossary aims to reflect the terminology found in the recent literature of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) research, policy and practice internationally. The most common and significant terms (including acronyms) are listed and, in some cases, national and regional variations have been included. To maintain an international perspective, other national and international glossaries and thesauri were consulted in conjunction with current TVET literature from around the world. Where definitions have been written by other organizations, the source of that definition is acknowledged. Unattributed definitions were created in-house at the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). For some terms, where, for example, there are regional differences, more than one meaning has been provided." p. 59 (International Handbook of education vol 1) |
The hierarchical classification of the levels of formal learning programmes and their associated qualifications and certificates.(Comment: More advanced NQFs can also play a role in facilitating stakeholder interactions, creating coherent qualifications systems, ensuring fit-for-purpose qualifications, supporting wider quality assurance processes, recognizing learning gained outside formal education and training and for driving broader educational reforms. They also make national qualifications systems more transparent to
foreigners.) Source: UNESCO 2015, Global
Child terms
 European qualifications framework for lifelong learning (EQF)A reference tool for the description and comparison of qualification levels in qualifications systems developed at national, international or sectoral level. Source: CEDEFOP 2008, Europe
| Organisation: | European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP), Europe |
| Source: | Terminology of European education and training policy (2008) |
| Description: | This multilingual glossary of terms used in education and training policy is intended for researchers and more generally for all those involved in education and training policy. It does not represent an exhaustive inventory of the terminology used by specialists; rather it identifies a selection of key terms that are essential for an understanding of current education and training policy in Europe. This glossary is an updated and extended version of the Terminology of vocational training policy, published by Cedefop in 2004. [...]
This glossary was prepared in cooperation with the European Training Foundation (ETF), The European Commission (DG Education and Culture) and Eurydice (The information network on education in Europe). p. 14 (Introduction) |
Linked (qualifications) frameworkA National Qualifications Framework in which the different sectors (secondary schools, VET and higher education) are in distinct tracks but (as against a tracked system) there is an emphasis on identifying similarities and equivalence and establishing credit transfer between tracks.
(See also: Tracked system and Unified framework) Source: ILO (SED) 2007, Global
| Organisation: | International Labor Organization (Skills and Employability Department), UN |
| Source: | An Introductory Guide to National Qualifications Frameworks (2007) |
| Description: | Glossary p63
"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."p. iii (Preface) |
Loose (qualifications) frameworkA National Qualifications Framework based on general principles, with essentially a communicating and enabling role. In a loose framework differences in approach are accepted where thought necessary (as against a tight framework). Source: ILO (SED) 2007, Global
| Organisation: | International Labor Organization (Skills and Employability Department), UN |
| Source: | An Introductory Guide to National Qualifications Frameworks (2007) |
| Description: | Glossary p63
"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."p. iii (Preface) |
National qualifications framework (NQF)The comprehensive system, approved by the Minister: HET, for the classification, co-ordination, registration, and publication of articulated and quality-assured national qualifications and part qualifications. The South African NQF is a single integrated system comprising three co-ordinated qualifications subframeworks for: General and Further Education and Training; Higher Education; and Trades and Occupations. Source: SAQA 2013, South Africa
| Organisation: | South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) , South Africa |
| Source: | TVET Standard Glossary of Terms (2013) |
| Description: | This standard glossary of terms defines and clarifies the core terminology relating to the development and implementation of the South African National Qualifications Framework (NQF).
As a direct result of the many changes in the education and training landscape between 1995 and 2013, a wide range of terminology and definitions have emerged, often causing confusion and leading to ambiguity in the system. This glossary has been developed to bring consistency to the use of terminology in the broader education and training context, including legislation, policy and everyday usage by the public. Website |
Set of agreed principles, procedures and standardised terminology intended to ensure effective comparability of qualifications and credits within a particular country Source: SADC 2011, Southern Africa
| Organisation: | Southern African Development Community (SADC) , Southern Africa |
| Source: | SADC Glossary (2011) |
| Description: | Glossary starting at p26.
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). Front page |
An instrument for the development, classification and recognition of skills, knowledge and competencies along a continuum of agreed levels. It is a way of structuring existing and new qualifications, which are defined by learning outcomes, i.e. clear statements of what the learner must know or be able to do whether learned in a classroom, on-the-job, or less formally. The Qualifications Framework indicates the comparability of different qualifications and how one can progress from one level to another, within and across occupations or industrial sectors (and even across vocational and academic fields if the NQF is designed to include both vocational and academic qualifications in a single framework). Source: ILO (SED) 2007, Global
| Organisation: | International Labor Organization (Skills and Employability Department), UN |
| Source: | An Introductory Guide to National Qualifications Frameworks (2007) |
| Description: | Glossary p63
"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."p. iii (Preface) |
Regional qualifications frameworkSet of agreed principles, procedures and standardised terminology intended to ensure effective comparability of qualifications and credits within a particular region. Source: SADC 2011, Southern Africa
| Organisation: | Southern African Development Community (SADC) , Southern Africa |
| Source: | SADC Glossary (2011) |
| Description: | Glossary starting at p26.
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). Front page |
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 (SED) 2007, Global
| Organisation: | International Labor Organization (Skills and Employability Department), UN |
| Source: | An Introductory Guide to National Qualifications Frameworks (2007) |
| Description: | Glossary p63
"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."p. iii (Preface) |
Tight (qualifications) frameworkA National Qualifications framework that has detailed rules about qualification design and quality assurance and tends to apply common rules and procedures across all qualifications (as against a 'loose framework') Source: ILO (SED) 2007, Global
| Organisation: | International Labor Organization (Skills and Employability Department), UN |
| Source: | An Introductory Guide to National Qualifications Frameworks (2007) |
| Description: | Glossary p63
"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."p. iii (Preface) |
Unified (qualifications) frameworkA National Qualifications framework that has detailed rules about qualification design and quality assurance and tends to apply common rules and procedures across all qualifications.
(See also Linked framework and Tracked system) Source: ILO (SED) 2007, Global
| Organisation: | International Labor Organization (Skills and Employability Department), UN |
| Source: | An Introductory Guide to National Qualifications Frameworks (2007) |
| Description: | Glossary p63
"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."p. iii (Preface) |
| |
Go further
|
