National qualifications frameworks developments in Europe 2019
Cedefop - 14/12/2020
The European qualifications framework (EQF) for lifelong learning has existed for more than a decade and is considered the most advanced regional qualifications framework in the world (1). Entering into force in 2008 and revised in 2017 (2), the EQF has become a common reference point for comparing qualifications across institutional and national borders, aiming to increase the overall transparency, comparability, quality and portability of qualifications throughout Europe.
This booklet on the latest national qualifications frameworks developments, aims to summarise and illustrate the state of play of the 43 frameworks created to date in the EU, EFTA, candidate (Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein and Switzerland) and potential countries and the UK.
Luxembourg national qualifications framework (CLQ)(3)
(1) Other initiatives on regional qualifications frameworks include for instance the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Qualifica-tions Reference Framework (AQRF); the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Qualifications Framework (CQF); the Economic Community of West African States Qualifications Systems; the Pacific Qualifications Framework; the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Qualifications Framework; the Transnational Qualifications Framework for the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth (TQF VUSSC); and are ongoing on the African Continental Qualifications Framework (ACQF) and Gulf Qualifications Framework (GQF), etc.
(2) See Council of the European Union (2017)
(3) Table extracted from page 72 of referred document