Understanding the National Framework of Qualifjcations (NFQ) - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

www.QQI.ie www.nfq.ie Understanding the National Framework of Qualifjcations (NFQ)

www.QQI.ie www.nfq.ie NFQ Diagram What is the NFQ? Development of the NFQ USING THE NFQ UNDERSTANDING THE NFQ THE NFQ AND MOBILITY LEARNERS L EVELS META-FRAMEWORKS ADVISORS M AJOR AWARDS EQF E MPLOYERS N ON-MAJOR AWARDS E HEA - BOLOGNA AND RECRUITERS N A R IC PROVIDERS A WARDING BODIES E UROPASS I R EL A ND The NFQ and Quality and Further Quality Assurance Qualifications Ireland Information

www.QQI.ie www.nfq.ie MENU NFQ Diagram AWARDING BODI E S AWARDS IN THE FRAME WORK

What is the Irish National Framework of Qualifjcations (NFQ)? www.QQI.ie www.nfq.ie NFQ MENU What is the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ)? A framework for the development, recognition » and award of qualifjcations in Ireland One framework to encompass all awards for » all aspects of education and training A simple, transparent frame of reference »

Development of the NFQ www.QQI.ie www.nfq.ie NFQ MENU Development of the NFQ Promote the transparency of Ireland’s qualifjcations system » Need for a more fmexible system of qualifjcations » Need for portability of qualifjcations – into and out of country » European policy trends and agreements – Lisbon, Copenhagen » and Bologna, European Qualifjcations Framework (EQF)

Using the NFQ www.QQI.ie www.nfq.ie NFQ MENU USING THE NFQ E MPLOYERS LEARNERS ADVISORS PROVIDERS AND RECRUITERS AWARDING BODI E S AWARDS IN THE FRAME WORK

Learners USING THE NFQ www.QQI.ie www.nfq.ie NFQ LEARNERS MENU Help plan education and training and » career progression Make informed choices, know progression » routes available Qualifjcations in the NFQ are recognised » nationally and internationally

Advisors USING THE NFQ www.QQI.ie www.nfq.ie NFQ ADVISORS MENU Support learners to make their existing level » knowledge, skill or competence visible and valuable Use the NFQ to explain Ireland’s system of national » qualifjcations Assist learners to identify pathways toward the » qualifjcations that they are interested in achieving

employers and rec USING THE NFQ www.QQI.ie www.nfq.ie NFQ EMPLOYERS AND RECRUITERS MENU Understand Ireland’s system of qualifjcations » and how qualifjcations can be compared Use the NFQ to indicate qualifjcations » requirements associated with work performance Provide fair recognition of qualifjcations and so » improve the quality of recruitment processes

providers USING THE NFQ www.QQI.ie www.nfq.ie NFQ PROVIDERS MENU Providers can use the NFQ to develop courses » and qualifjcations that are nationally and internationally recognised Providers can use the NFQ to signal confjdence » in the quality of their courses and qualifjcations Providers can use the NFQ as a reference point » for validating prior learning and achievement

UNDERSTANDing the NFQ www.QQI.ie www.nfq.ie NFQ MENU UNDERSTANDING THE NFQ M AJOR N ON-MAJOR N A MED LEVELS AWARDS AWARDS AWARDS AWARDING BODIES > > > > INSTITUTES OF S TATE EXAMINATIONS QUALITY AND QUALIFICATIONS U N IVERSITIES TECHNOLOGY (IOTS) COMMISSION (SEC) IRELAND (QQI) AWARDING BODI E S AWARDS IN THE FRAME WORK

LEVELs UNDERSTANDING THE NFQ www.QQI.ie www.nfq.ie NFQ LEVELS MENU CLOSE LEARN MORE... The NFQ is a system of levels for relating different » qualifjcations (i.e. awards) to one another These levels are described in terms of general » (non-subject-specifjc) indicators of a person’s knowledge, skill and competence (i.e. standards for their learning achievements). AWARDING BODI E S AWARDS IN THE FRAME WORK

MAJOR AWARDs UNDERSTANDING THE NFQ www.QQI.ie www.nfq.ie NFQ MAJOR AWARDS MENU CLOSE LEARN MORE... a central element in the Framework concept » a class of named awards – e.g. Honours Bachelor Degree, or » National Craft Certifjcate (pre-Framework award) one or more award-types at each level in the Framework » an initial set of 16 major award-types defjned » AWARDING BODI E S AWARDS IN THE FRAME WORK

NON-MAJOR AWARDs UNDERSTANDING THE NFQ www.QQI.ie www.nfq.ie NFQ NON-MAJOR AWARDS MENU CLOSE LEARN MORE... Major Awards: named in the outer rings, are the » principal class of awards made at a level. Minor Awards: are for partial completion of the » outcomes of a Major Award Supplemental Awards: are for learning that is additional » to a Major award Special Purpose Awards: are for relatively narrow or » purpose-specifjc achievement AWARDING BODI E S AWARDS IN THE FRAME WORK

NAMED AWARDs UNDERSTANDING THE NFQ www.QQI.ie www.nfq.ie NFQ NAMED AWARDS MENU A ‘named award’ is what a learner receives » A named award is for achievement in a specifjc fjeld of learning – » e.g. Honours Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering, or Level 5 Certifjcate in Early Childhood Care and Education A named award is associated with a level in the Framework » through the award-type to which it belongs Named awards are developed by the awarding bodies »

AWARDING BODIES UNDERSTANDING THE NFQ www.QQI.ie www.nfq.ie NFQ AWARDING BODIES MENU CLOSE LEARN MORE... An awarding body is a national body that has the » power to grant a qualifjcation in order to recognise learning. There are a number of national awarding bodies that have their awards included in the NFQ. AWARDING BODI E S AWARDS IN THE FRAME WORK

State Examinations Commission UNDERSTANDING THE NFQ www.QQI.ie www.nfq.ie NFQ STATE EXAMINATIONS COMMISSION MENU CLOSE LEARN MORE... The State Examinations Commission (SEC) makes school awards. » These include the Junior Certifjcate (NFQ Level 3) and the Leaving Certifjcate (NFQ Level 4 and 5). For information on the SEC please see: www.examinations.ie » AWARDING BODI E S AWARDS IN THE FRAME WORK

Quality and Qualifjcations Ireland UNDERSTANDING THE NFQ www.QQI.ie www.nfq.ie NFQ QUALITY AND QUALIFICATIONS IRELAND MENU CLOSE LEARN MORE... » Quality and Qualifjcations Ireland (QQI) makes awards in further and higher education and training. » For information on QQI please see: www.QQI.ie AWARDING BODI E S AWARDS IN THE FRAME WORK

Institutes of Technology UNDERSTANDING THE NFQ www.QQI.ie www.nfq.ie NFQ INSTITUTES OF TECHNOLOGY MENU CLOSE LEARN MORE... There are thirteen Institutes of Technology which are designated under » the Institute of Technology Act, 2006. Each of these has been delegated the power to make awards to varying » levels on the NFQ (and at least up to Level 8) by QQI. For information on the Institutes of Technology please see: www.ioti.ie » The Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) awards its own qualifjcations » under the Dublin Institute of Technology Act, 1992. See: www.dit.ie AWARDING BODI E S AWARDS IN THE FRAME WORK

UniversitIES UNDERSTANDING THE NFQ www.QQI.ie www.nfq.ie NFQ UNIVERSITIES MENU CLOSE LEARN MORE... There are seven universities in Ireland; » For information on the universities see: www.iua.ie » AWARDING BODI E S AWARDS IN THE FRAME WORK

Tie NFQ and Mobility www.QQI.ie www.nfq.ie THE NFQ AND MOBILITY EUROPASS META-FRAMEWORKS EQF EHEA N A R IC I R EL AND

Meta-Frameworks THE NFQ AND MOBILITY www .QQI.ie www.nfq.ie NFQ META-FRAMEWORKS MENU Framework for Qualifjcations of the European » Higher Education Area, the ‘Bologna Framework’ » Verifjcation of compatibility with the Irish national framework – completed November 2006 European Qualifjcations Framework for Lifelong » Learning (EQF) » Irish Referencing process completed in May 2009

European Qualifjcations Framework THE NFQ AND MOBILITY www .QQI.ie www.nfq.ie NFQ EUROPEAN QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK MENU CLOSE LEARN MORE... Overarching Framework to facilitate comparison of » qualifjcations and qualifjcation levels To promote citizens’ mobility between countries and to » facilitate their lifelong learning The core of the EQF consists of 8 qualifjcations levels, which » are described through learning outcomes (knowledge, skill and competence)

European Higher Education Area THE NFQ AND MOBILITY www .QQI.ie www.nfq.ie NFQ EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION AREA ‘BOLOGNA’ FRAMEWORK MENU CLOSE LEARN MORE... The Bologna Declaration Three cycles of higher education » » fundamental to development of established under Bologna higher education in Europe: Process, known as Bologna or EHEA Framework: » put in motion a series of reforms, of both the sector and higher education » First cycle institutions, needed to make European (incorporating a short cycle higher education more compatible and within fjrst cycle) comparable, more competitive and more » Second cycle attractive for Europeans and for students and scholars from other continents. » Third cycle