EQAVET
EQAVET is a European umbrella organization founded in 2010 with the aim of ensuring and developing quality in vocational training.
From ENQA-VET to EQAVET
In the course of the Bologna Process (1999), the idea of working more closely with one another at European level also arose in the context of quality assurance . The intention was to develop Europe into a knowledge-based and dynamic economic area. Initially, this project related to the creation of a common university area. Shortly afterwards, however, a common space for vocational training developed after it was recognized at EU level that quality assurance is also important and necessary in vocational training. This is the only way to guarantee the free movement of people within the European Union (cf. Maastricht Treaty, 2004). In the Copenhagen Declaration, the European education ministers laid down the first principles. On March 15 and 16, 2002, the “Education and Training 2010” work program was adopted in Barcelona. In terms of content, it is about becoming a global quality reference by 2010, improving quality and creating mutual, transnational trust in terms of qualifications and training. In November 2002, with the start of the Copenhagen Process, these projects were given concrete form. The European dimension in vocational training is to be strengthened through transparency, recognition of qualifications and cooperation. As a result, the first joint platform, ENQA-VET (European Network for Quality Assurance in Vocational Education and Training) was created in October 2005, from which a stronger, Europe-wide cooperation was sought. The aim was to develop a common understanding of quality and to exchange methods for quality assurance in vocational training . To achieve this, a recommendation was made to set up national reference points (QANRP - Quality Assurance National Reference Point).
In order to be able to establish a comparison between qualifications, the development of a European qualifications framework was recommended on March 28, 2008 ( EQF - European Qualification Framework). This tries to map Europe-wide qualifications on an eight-step reference level and thus to carry out a uniform and understandable assessment. A credit point system ( ECVET - European Credit Transfer System for Vocational Education and Training), which was decided in May 2009, is intended to have qualifications recognized and credited across Europe. This project is still in a test phase until 2012, which is being checked in ten pilot projects (cf. Germany DECVET). A more extensive reference framework for Europe-wide quality development and quality assurance is given by EQARF (European Quality Reference Framework). On May 11th, 2009, the next step was taken with this reference framework to bring mobility, transparency, trust and recognition of qualifications more into the focus of vocational training policy. Since the “Education and Vocational Education 2010” concept is only planned until 2010, a new strategic framework was developed on May 12, 2009, which makes four new goals central. ET2020 (Education and Training 2020) is committed to promoting lifelong learning, improving quality and efficiency, as well as promoting justice, social cohesion and active citizenship. In addition, the focus is on innovation and creativity.
EQAVET
Emergence
EQAVET (European Quality Assurance for Vocational Education and Training) will replace the ENQA-VET network from January 2010 as a new European network for quality assurance in vocational education. The members of EQAVET are the 27 EU countries, the EEA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, as well as the two candidate countries Croatia and Turkey. To date, most of these countries have set up a national reference point for quality assurance in vocational training. In Germany this is the German reference point for quality assurance in vocational training - DEQA-VET . It is based at the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) in Bonn.
aims
The main goal of EQAVET is to develop a common, Europe-wide understanding of quality. In order to achieve this goal, a well-functioning understanding on quality assurance in vocational training should be developed between the member states, the social partners and the European Commission . EQAVET also aims to promote mobility and transparency within the EU. This should be done through the above-mentioned ECVET credit point system and the EQF qualifications framework. Another concern is lifelong learning, which EU citizens should be enabled to do. Furthermore, EQAVET has the mandate to implement the European reference framework (formerly EQARF). To this end, EQAVET supports the national reference points in developing concepts for implementing the European reference framework.
Tasks and procedure
The European umbrella organization for quality assurance in vocational education pursues many strategies to achieve the above-mentioned goals. This process is shaped by the basic principles of voluntariness, participation and subsidiarity. Annual forums are held to enable effective communication (so far in Madrid, 2010 and Budapest 2011). There are working group phases between the annual forums. These deal regularly with the implementation of the European reference framework and quality assurance. Working group 1 (WG1) focuses on developing guidelines and methods to implement the European Framework of Reference nationally and to improve quality assurance at national level. Working group 2 (WG 2) observes the use of the indicators for quality assurance and wants to promote a culture of self-evaluation with the help of the indicators. In addition, sector seminars are held that deal with quality assurance in thematically related training occupations. Online reports and a newsletter can also be accessed via the EQAVET website or the reference points. EQAVET intends to create practice-relevant methods which serve to measure and ensure quality. For this purpose, an English-language tool was developed that can be used free of charge on the EQAVET homepage. The tool is aimed at the system level. The content of this tool may include a. the quality circle, which describes the four phases in the constant process of quality assurance: planning, implementation, evaluation, revision. The indicators of the EQAVET process are assigned to the individual phases. In addition to a glossary, the tool includes a collection of numerous European examples of good practice (case studies) of quality assurance in vocational education and training. A tool that is useful for the provider level - vocational schools, small and medium-sized companies - is currently being planned. The ten reference indicators according to the European reference framework:
- Relevance of quality systems for VET providers
- Investing in the education and training of teachers and trainers
- Participation rate in vocational training courses
- Graduation rate in vocational training courses
- Placement rate for graduates of vocational training courses
- Use of the knowledge acquired in the workplace
- Unemployment rate
- Prevalence of particularly vulnerable groups
- Mechanisms for identifying vocational training needs in the labor market
- Programs to improve access to vocational training
In addition, the EQAVET homepage offers so-called “building blocks” as an instrument for independent quality assurance and development. The “building blocks” are based on ten guidelines and are aimed at both the system and the provider level. These guidelines are intended to show how quality can be ensured and developed in vocational training, e. B. by clarifying the question of responsibilities.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Free movement for EU citizens. Retrieved September 12, 2011.
- ↑ Copenhagen Declaration. ( Memento of the original from November 26, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved September 12, 2011.
- ↑ ENQA-VET ( Memento of the original from November 24, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved September 12, 2011.
- ↑ DECVET (PDF; 165 kB) Retrieved September 12, 2011.
- ↑ ET2020 ( Memento of the original from October 29, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved September 12, 2011.
- ↑ Milestones on the subject of quality in European vocational training. ( Page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 85 kB) Retrieved September 12, 2011.
- ↑ EQAVET Annual Meetings ( Memento of the original from October 29, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved September 12, 2011.
- ↑ EQAVET working groups Accessed on 12 September 2011th
- ↑ EQAVET Sector Seminars ( Memento of the original from November 18, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved September 12, 2011.
- ↑ EQAVET Tool ( Memento of the original from November 29, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved September 12, 2011.
- ↑ EQARF reference indicators ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved September 12, 2011.
- ↑ EQAVET building blocks Accessed on 12 September 2011th
