Rationale behind this proposal The recent economic developments have shown the importance of having a highly skilled workforce. The Member States, in their recent Council conclusions on the role of education and training to economic recovery and growth, have highlighted the importance of strong vocational education and training (VET) systems in attaining a high level of skills relevant to the labour market. The Commission’s Communication ‘Rethinking Education’, adopted in November 2012, confirms this approach. It encourages Member to raise the quality of vocational education and the role of EQAVET framework as a tool of quality improvement is clearly emphasised in the Rethinking Education Communication. However, according to a report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for Vocational Education and Training 28 January 2014, it clearly states that: “In general, VET providers tend to make less use of the descriptors than is evident at system level. VET providers often go through an accreditation and external or internal reviews process, but widespread use of the EQAVET cycle is not common. This shows that there is still room for improvement in reaching the VET provider level, notably through multipliers.” And further it declares that: “The EQAVET criteria, descriptors and indicators do not provide specific guidance on quality assurance” And it concludes: “The Commission plans to undertake, involving the relevant national authorities and stakeholders, the following action towards a more comprehensive implementation of EQAVET: – Develop descriptors, indicators and related guidelines to better address the quality and the appropriate level of outcomes acquired by learners in VET. This requires coordination with other quality assurance initiatives and transparency instruments, and cooperation with the relevant bodies and networks.” By other words, what the Commission want to say is that the there is little awareness about EQAVET at provider level and those providers who want to use EQAVET find it difficult to apply the criteria, descriptors and indicator of EQAVET. The reason supposed to be lack of involvement of provider when EQAVET was developed. Further this has been a problem for all the quality assurance project that were developing tools, methods and processes based on these criteria, descriptors and indicator and thereby preventing them to become mainstreamed. Although 39 projects among hundred were selected as best practice, almost no one of them has been spread beyond the partnership members or at best been practiced by some few providers in follow-up projects. These shortcomings has been noticed by coordinators of 3 prior quality assurance projects developed on the basis of EQAVET. They conclusions were: a) There is a need of and a necessity for a Common European Common Quality Assurance Framework if we want to implement European Credit Transfer in VET (ECEVET) and a Common European qualification Framework (EQF). These instrument requires that we have a transparent VET education and for accomplishing this transparency we must use a common quality framework. b) The existing EQAVET is a very good step forward. However, if we strictly use the available description of EQAVETs criteria, descriptors and indicator we will find it difficult to apply it at provider level. The must be a flexibility to adapt them to existing national quality framework or/and quality models used by providers. c) Additionally, both through these 3 projects but also the available reports and surveys show that awareness is very limited among VET providers. Proposed project The partnership of this proposal consist of partners from 3 projects among above 39 best practices, covering all 3 quality areas. We aim to develop guidelines for interpretation of EQAVET’s criteria to national framework at provider level. Thereby give EQAVET secretariat the needed input from providers for implementation of EQAVET at national level.. The objectives of the projects “EQAVET in Practice” are: I. Develop web-based interactive guidelines for interpretation of EQAVET criteria, descriptors and indicators according to national VET context II. Update existing tools, methodologies and quality procedures according to above guidelines Output A. Report on usage of existing criteria, descriptors and indicators in quality assurance at provider level in participating countries as an input for implementation of EQAVET at national level. B. Web-based interactive guidelines for adapting criteria, descriptors and indicators of EQAVET to national VET system C. Update and mainstream the improved already elaborated products from these 3 prior projects as an integrated tool for self-assessment, quality management and improvement process. The functionality of the tool will enable VET providers to approach the quality cycle of EQAVET with consideration to national QA.
European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for VET (EQAVET) is one of the four instruments (Europass, EQF, ECVET and EQAVET) with the aim to increase the transparency, consistency and transferability of VET providers across Europe. It provides a common reference framework to VET providers to improve, monitor and evaluate their quality assurance policies and practices. Since the EQAVET indicators were developed by minimal provider involvement, little attention was paid regarding their practical implementation at provider level. This project aimed to address the issue of adaptation of EQAVET criteria, indicative descriptors and quality indicators to national requirements at provider level. The specific goal of the project was elaboration of interactive web-based guidelines for implementation of EQAVET criteria at provider level. The project consortium consisted of 8 partners with the following profiles: 1. Folkuniversitetet is a national Adult Education Association which offers a wide range of VET and adult education training courses throughout Sweden and in several European countries. 2. USR Veneto represents one of the regional branches of the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research. USRV is divided into 3 departments performing tasks at regional level and 5 local branches. 3. Yrkeshögskoleförbundet is Swedish Association of Higher Vocational education providers is a non-profit organisation aiming to promote providers in higher vocational education. The association deals with such issues as legal framework for providers of education, more training seats and a stable, long-term development of higher vocational education. At present it has 448 members. 4. IES Hermanos Machado is a state VET provider depending on the Regional Educational Authority in Andalucía and located in Seville. 5. Revalento is a consultancy that offers services on the cross roads of training, education, labour market and organization. 6. Effebi Association is a non-profit Association which since its foundation in 1976 has been a reference point for people involved in the management and development of HR and organizational models in the banking & financial sector. Members of the Association are the leading Italian Banking groups and banks. 7. DIMITRA is one of the leading VET organisations at national level in Greece holding extensive experience and unique competencies in both methodology development and production of practical solutions matching specific vocational and professional development needs. 8. FACO offers a wide range of services within quality in different types of education. FACO have been involved in international activities within education since 2000 and Kim Faurschou have been one of the key experts behind the development of the different quality models within vocational education and training resulting in the EQAVET Recommendation at European level. He is also member of the expert group of EQAVET. The main activities undertaken were: Activity 1 - Project coordination Activity 2 – Research on quality indicators currently in use by VET providers and level of their alignment with EQAVET Activity 3 - Development of the web based guidelines on adaptation and implementation of EQAVET at provider level Activity 4 - Updating already elaborated result of 3 prior project both technically and according to guidelines Activity 5 – Dissemination and valorisation Activity 6 – Quality control and monitoring and evaluation Through these activities the following results were attained: A. Report on usage of existing criteria, descriptors and indicators in quality assurance at provider level in participating countries as an input for implementation of EQAVET at national level. B. Web-based interactive guidelines for adapting criteria, descriptors and indicators of EQAVET to national VET system C. Updated and mainstreamed the improved already elaborated products from 3 prior projects as an integrated tool for self-assessment, quality management and improvement process (“Quick Scan”). The functionality of the tool enables VET providers to approach the quality cycle of EQAVET with consideration to national QA The project activities have generated multiple impacts on different target groups: 1. The results on the outcome of implemented research (O1) increased the awareness concerning EQAVET and its criteria, descriptors and indicators and their current use 2. The developed web based guidelines give providers tool for interpretation and adaptation of EQAVET criteria descriptors and indicators to both national quality framework and the environment and conditions of the VET institute. 3. The updated QA integrated web based tool gives providers a self-assessment, planning of quality improvement instrument for implementation and adaptation of whole EQAVET quality cycle. 4. The guidelines developed has given EQAVET secretariat the needed input from providers for implementation of EQAVET at national level.