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

Understanding the National Framework of Qualifjcations (NFQ)

www.nfq.ie www.QQI.ie

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 LEVELS META-FRAMEWORKS ADVISORS MAJOR AWARDS EQF EMPLOYERS AND RECRUITERS NON-MAJOR AWARDS EHEA - BOLOGNA PROVIDERS AWARDING BODIES The NFQ and Quality Assurance Quality and Qualifications Ireland Further Information EUROPASS NARIC IRELAND

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NFQ Diagram

AWARDING BODI E S AWARDS IN THE FRAME WORK

MENU

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What is the Irish National Framework

• f 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

What is the Irish National Framework of Qualifjcations (NFQ)? NFQ MENU

www.QQI.ie www.nfq.ie

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)

Development of the NFQ NFQ MENU

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AWARDING BODI E S AWARDS IN THE FRAME WORK

USING THE NFQ

Using the NFQ NFQ MENU

LEARNERS ADVISORS EMPLOYERS AND RECRUITERS PROVIDERS

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USING THE NFQ

LEARNERS

» Help plan education and training and career progression » Make informed choices, know progression routes available » Qualifjcations in the NFQ are recognised nationally and internationally

Learners NFQ MENU

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USING THE NFQ

ADVISORS

» 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

Advisors NFQ MENU

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USING THE NFQ

EMPLOYERS AND RECRUITERS

» 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

employers and rec NFQ MENU

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USING THE NFQ

providers

PROVIDERS

» 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

NFQ MENU

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AWARDING BODI E S AWARDS IN THE FRAME WORK

UNDERSTANDING THE NFQ

UNDERSTANDing the NFQ MENU NFQ

AWARDING BODIES

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LEVELS MAJOR AWARDS NON-MAJOR AWARDS NAMED AWARDS

STATE EXAMINATIONS COMMISSION (SEC) QUALITY AND QUALIFICATIONS IRELAND (QQI)

INSTITUTES OF TECHNOLOGY (IOTS) UNIVERSITIES

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LEVELS

UNDERSTANDING THE NFQ

AWARDING BODI E S AWARDS IN THE FRAME WORK

LEVELs NFQ MENU

» 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).

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UNDERSTANDING THE NFQ

AWARDING BODI E S AWARDS IN THE FRAME WORK

MAJOR AWARDS

MAJOR AWARDs NFQ MENU

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» a central element in the Framework concept » a class of named awards – e.g. Honours Bachelor Degree, or National Craft Certifjcate (pre-Framework award) »

• ne or more award-types at each level in the Framework

» an initial set of 16 major award-types defjned

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UNDERSTANDING THE NFQ

NON-MAJOR AWARDS

NON-MAJOR AWARDs

AWARDING BODI E S AWARDS IN THE FRAME WORK

NFQ MENU

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» 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

• utcomes 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

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UNDERSTANDING THE NFQ

NAMED AWARDS

» 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

NAMED AWARDs NFQ MENU

AWARDING BODI E S AWARDS IN THE FRAME WORK

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UNDERSTANDING THE NFQ

AWARDING BODIES

AWARDING BODIES NFQ MENU

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» 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.

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UNDERSTANDING THE NFQ

STATE EXAMINATIONS COMMISSION

State Examinations Commission NFQ MENU

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» 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

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AWARDING BODI E S AWARDS IN THE FRAME WORK

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UNDERSTANDING THE NFQ

QUALITY AND QUALIFICATIONS IRELAND

Quality and Qualifjcations Ireland NFQ MENU

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» Quality and Qualifjcations Ireland (QQI) makes awards in further and higher education and training. » For information on QQI please see: www.QQI.ie

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UNDERSTANDING THE NFQ

INSTITUTES OF TECHNOLOGY

Institutes of Technology NFQ MENU

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» 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

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UNDERSTANDING THE NFQ

UNIVERSITIES

UniversitIES NFQ MENU

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» There are seven universities in Ireland; » For information on the universities see: www.iua.ie

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THE NFQ AND MOBILITY

Tie NFQ and Mobility

META-FRAMEWORKS EQF EHEA EUROPASS NARIC IRELAND

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THE NFQ AND MOBILITY

META-FRAMEWORKS

» 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

Meta-Frameworks NFQ MENU

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THE NFQ AND MOBILITY

EUROPEAN QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK

European Qualifjcations Framework NFQ MENU

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» 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)

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THE NFQ AND MOBILITY

EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION AREA ‘BOLOGNA’ FRAMEWORK

European Higher Education Area NFQ MENU

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» The Bologna Declaration fundamental to development of higher education in Europe:

» put in motion a series of reforms, of both the sector and higher education institutions, needed to make European higher education more compatible and comparable, more competitive and more attractive for Europeans and for students and scholars from other continents.

» Three cycles of higher education established under Bologna Process, known as Bologna or EHEA Framework:

» First cycle (incorporating a short cycle within fjrst cycle) » Second cycle » Third cycle

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THE NFQ AND MOBILITY

EUROPASS

EuropASS AND NARIC IRELAND NFQ MENU

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» Aims to help people make their skills and qualifjcations clearly and easily understood in Europe, facilitating the mobility of both learners and workers. » Europass consists of a portfolio of fjve documents as follows; each document has been designed to help people chronicle their skills and competences in a coherent manner. » The Irish National Europass Centre (NEC) is located within Quality and Qualifjcations Ireland. » Two documents which individuals can complete independently

» Europass Curriculum Vitae (CV) » Europass Language Passport

» Three documents which are completed by the competent organisation on behalf

• f the individual

» Europass Mobility » Europass Certifjcate Supplement » Europass Diploma Supplement

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THE NFQ AND MOBILITY

NARIC IRELAND

NARIC IRELAND (NARIC: National Academic Recognition Information Centre)

NFQ MENU

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» NARIC Ireland, at QQI, facilitates the academic recognition of foreign qualifjcations in Ireland using the NFQ as the basis for comparison. » NARIC Ireland Database of Foreign Qualifjcations contains Comparability Statements for hundreds of qualifjcations from many countries - designed to help individuals understand their qualifjcation in the context of the Irish education system and may help employers, institutions and other bodies with recognition decisions. » NARIC Ireland also provides information on Irish education and training system, promotes recognition of Irish qualifjcations abroad. » Represents Ireland on European network of centres ENIC/NARIC (higher education); acts as National Reference Point (NRP) for Vocational Education and Training.

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» The NFQ sets out trusted pathways through our national qualifjcations system. » All qualifjcations included in the NFQ are underpinned by robust quality assurance arrangements. » QQI quality assures providers of courses leading to NFQ awards. » You can be sure that your NFQ award will be recognised at home and abroad.

Tie NFQ and Quality Assurance

THE NFQ AND QUALITY ASSURANCE

NFQ MENU

www.QQI.ie www.nfq.ie

» QQI is responsible for maintaining Ireland’s NFQ » QQI is Ireland’s Designated National Coordination Point for the European Qualifjcations Framework » QQI is Ireland’s National Europass Centre » QQI is Ireland’s National Academic Recognition Information Centre providing advice on the recognition of foreign qualifjcations

About Quality and Qualifjcations Ireland (QQI)

ABOUT QUALITY AND QUALIFICATIONS IRELAND (QQI)

NFQ MENU

www.QQI.ie www.nfq.ie

» www.nfq.ie » www.europass.ie » www.naric.ie » www.QQI.ie

Further Information

FURTHER INFORMATION

NFQ MENU