VETNET Forum at ECER'06: The role of EQF for European VET research (advance information)
11-September-2006
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- European Qualification Framework
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VETNET Memorandum - Working note
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Once again the VETNET network has decided to organise "VETNET Forum" session (see session 6: Thursday 10.30 - 12.00). The aim of the VETNET Forum is to analye recent developments in European VET policies and the contribution of VET researchers. At ECER'05 in Dublin the VETNET Forum concentrated on the follow-up of the Lisbon Summit and on the researchers' conribution to the follow-up (the "Maastricht study"). At ECER'06 in Geneva the VETNET Forum focuses on the current situation in preparing the European Qualification Framework (EQF) based on the proposal of the European Commission.
During the last few months the VETNET network has had some internal discussion how to approach the theme 'European Qualification Framework' (EQF). This discussion has been overshadowed by the following factors:
1) The European Commission has completed the public consultation phase and finalised its own proposal for EQF on the 5th of September. This proposal will be examined by the European Parliament and by the Council.
2) The European Cmmission has launched tendering processes to support the further development of EQF with a focus on national or sectoral qualification frameworks or systems and in accordance with a credit transfer system (ECVET). These tendering processes are moving to the selection phase.
3) The decision of the European Commission sets a time frame for the EU Member States to relate their national qualification frameworks (or qualification systems) to the EQF by 2009.
Given these measdures, it is clear that several things are moving in the relations between national, sectoral and European frameworks. In this respect it is unfortunate that the prior consultation phase did not lead to road participation of researchers in the discussion on future directions. Moreover, it is symptomatic that the EQF was discussed as a meta-framework that was not supposed to push forward harmonisation. Yet, it is not clear what kind of impact the adopted framework will have on national and sectoral policies.
In the light of the above the VETNET Forum tries to build a bridge from the issues that have been raised during the public consultation to possible working perspectives in the next phase. The first invited speaker, Dr. Jörg Markowitsch discusses the current phase in the making of the EQF and related methodological issues. The second invited speaker, Prof. Georg Spöttl, shifts the emphasis to sectoral and national policy contexts.
In addition the VETNET Forum will discuss a proposal to launch a joint process to monitor the further policy development and to draw conclusions on the implications for researchers. This proess would be organised by a specific working group of the VETNET network and it should be finalised as a "VETNET Memorandum" document at ECER'07 in Gent, Belgium.
In order to support the discussion I attach a working note that presents the proposal and the first ideas how the monitoring process could be organised. This completes the preparatory task that has been given by the VETNET board and hands the matter over to open discussion at the VETNET Forum session.
Pekka Kämäräinen
1) The European Commission has completed the public consultation phase and finalised its own proposal for EQF on the 5th of September. This proposal will be examined by the European Parliament and by the Council.
2) The European Cmmission has launched tendering processes to support the further development of EQF with a focus on national or sectoral qualification frameworks or systems and in accordance with a credit transfer system (ECVET). These tendering processes are moving to the selection phase.
3) The decision of the European Commission sets a time frame for the EU Member States to relate their national qualification frameworks (or qualification systems) to the EQF by 2009.
Given these measdures, it is clear that several things are moving in the relations between national, sectoral and European frameworks. In this respect it is unfortunate that the prior consultation phase did not lead to road participation of researchers in the discussion on future directions. Moreover, it is symptomatic that the EQF was discussed as a meta-framework that was not supposed to push forward harmonisation. Yet, it is not clear what kind of impact the adopted framework will have on national and sectoral policies.
In the light of the above the VETNET Forum tries to build a bridge from the issues that have been raised during the public consultation to possible working perspectives in the next phase. The first invited speaker, Dr. Jörg Markowitsch discusses the current phase in the making of the EQF and related methodological issues. The second invited speaker, Prof. Georg Spöttl, shifts the emphasis to sectoral and national policy contexts.
In addition the VETNET Forum will discuss a proposal to launch a joint process to monitor the further policy development and to draw conclusions on the implications for researchers. This proess would be organised by a specific working group of the VETNET network and it should be finalised as a "VETNET Memorandum" document at ECER'07 in Gent, Belgium.
In order to support the discussion I attach a working note that presents the proposal and the first ideas how the monitoring process could be organised. This completes the preparatory task that has been given by the VETNET board and hands the matter over to open discussion at the VETNET Forum session.
Pekka Kämäräinen
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