EQF is acting as a translation device to make qualifications more readable and more understandable across different systems and countries in Europe.
A presentation film about the European Qualifications Framework, consisting of a brief presentation and explanation of the essential characteristics of the European Qualifications Framework, may be viewed by clicking the link below.
The European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning (EQF) is a common European reference framework bringing together qualification systems from various countries, acting as a translation device to make qualifications more readable and more understandable across different systems and countries in Europe. It has two principal objectives: to promote citizens’ mobility between countries and to facilitate their lifelong learning.
The Recommendation of the European Parliament and Council on the Establishment of the European Qualifications Framework entered into force in April 2008 and set 2010 as the recommended target date for the countries to relate their qualification systems to the EQF, while 2012 was determined as the deadline for countries to ensure that individual qualification certificates bear a reference to the appropriate EQF level.
The EQF will relate different national systems and qualifications framework together around a common reference point – its eight reference levels. The levels span the full range of qualifications, from basic (Level 1, for example school leaving certificates) to advanced (Level 8, for example Doctorates) levels. The eight levels are described in terms of learning outcomes and are defined as a statement of what a learner knows, understands and what he/she is able to do on completion of a learning process. Learning outcomes are divided into three categories – knowledge, skills and competences – so as to enable the comparison between different countries and institutions.
The majority of the EU Member States (including candidate countries) and the European Economic Area (EEA) countries are in the process of developing their National Qualifications Framework (NQF). By the end of 2015, 26 countries, among them also Slovenia, completed the referencing process and formally linked their national qualifications levels do the EQF.
