Establishment of a European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for Vocational Education and Training

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Contents

  1. Current status
  2. Key information
  3. Key dates
  4. Legislative text
  5. Original proposal
  6. Sources and disclaimer
  7. Full version
  8. EU Monitor

1.

Current status

This recommendation has been published on July  8, 2009.

2.

Key information

official title

Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 on the establishment of a European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for Vocational Education and Training
 
Legal instrument Recommendation
Original proposal COM(2008)179 EN
CELEX number83 32009H0708(01)

3.

Key dates

Document 18-06-2009
Publication in Official Journal 08-07-2009; OJ C 155 p. 1-10
End of validity 31-12-9999

4.

Legislative text

8.7.2009   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 155/1
 

RECOMMENDATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

of 18 June 2009

on the establishment of a European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for Vocational Education and Training

(Text with EEA relevance)

2009/C 155/01

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 149(4) and Article 150(4) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (2),

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (3),

Whereas:

 

(1)

The transition to a knowledge-based economy (Lisbon European Council 2000) requires modernisation and continuous improvement of vocational education and training (VET) systems in response to rapid change in the economy and society, so that they can help increase employability and social inclusion and improve access to lifelong learning for all, including disadvantaged people.
 

(2)

The Barcelona European Council in 2002 set the target of making Europe's education and training systems a world quality reference by 2010.
 

(3)

The Lisbon Integrated Guidelines for Growth and Jobs 2005-2008 call upon Member States to develop affordable, accessible lifelong learning systems responsive to the changing needs of the knowledge-based economy and society. Adaptation and capacity-building of education and training systems is necessary to improve their labour market relevance. The objectives set in education and training policy should therefore increasingly complement those of economic and labour market policy in order to combine social cohesion and competitiveness.
 

(4)

Following the Council Resolution of 19 December 2002 on the promotion of enhanced European cooperation in vocational education and training (4) (the Copenhagen process), and as an outcome of subsequent cooperative work between the Commission, the Member States, social partners, the EEA-EFTA and the candidate countries on the Quality Assurance priority, a Common Quality Assurance Framework (CQAF) has been developed, taking account of existing experience and ‘good practice’ in the different participating countries.
 

(5)

According to the 2004 joint interim report of the Council and the Commission to the European Council on the Education and Training 2010 Work Programme (5), the CQAF for the VET (as part of the follow-up to the Copenhagen Declaration) and the development of ‘an agreed set of standards, procedures and guidelines on quality assurance’ (6) (in conjunction with the Bologna process and as part of the work programme on the objectives of education and training systems) should be top priorities for Europe.
 

(6)

The Education Council in May 2004 (7) endorsed the CQAF approach and invited Member States and the Commission, within their respective competencies, to promote it on a voluntary basis, together with relevant stakeholders.
 

(7)

The European Network for Quality Assurance in Vocational Education and Training (8) provided a European platform that made possible appropriate follow-up to the Council Conclusions of 2004 and the Helsinki Communiqué, and facilitated sustainable cooperation between countries.
 

(8)

In 2006, the Helsinki Communiqué underlined the need to further develop and implement common European tools specifically aimed at VET, by drawing on the principles underlying a CQAF, as referred to in the May 2004 Council Conclusions on quality assurance in VET, in order to promote a culture of quality improvement and wider participation in the European Network for Quality Assurance in Vocational Education and...


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This text has been adopted from EUR-Lex.

5.

Original proposal

 

6.

Sources and disclaimer

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7.

Full version

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8.

EU Monitor

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  • 1. 
    19 December 2002 (OJ 2003/C 13/02)

     
  • 2. 
    Adopted in Copenhagen on 29 and 30 November 2002

     
  • 3. 
    Council Conclusions on Quality Assurance in Vocational Education and Training, 18 May 2004

     
  • 4. 
    For further details, please see communities.trainingvillage.gr/quality

     
  • 5. 
    For the purposes of the Recommendation, definitions which apply are based on Cedefop's Glossary on Quality in Training (working paper, November 2003) communities.trainingvillage.gr/quality

     
  • 6. 
    ENQAVET was established in October 2005 by the European Commission following the favourable opinion of the Advisory Committee for Vocational Training. Its members have been designated by Member States, candidate countries, EFTA-EEA countries and the European Social
     
  • 7. 
    In most participating countries, ENQAVET relies on national quality assurance reference points that were established to provide active support to the implementation of the
     
  • 8. 
    Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 February 2006 on further European cooperation in quality assurance in higher education, 2006/143/EC, OJ L 64/60 of 4.3.2006.

     
  • 9. 
    Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 on transnational mobility within the Community for education and training purposes: European Quality Charter for Mobility, OJ L 394/5, 30.12.2006, (2006/961/EC)

     
  • 10. 
    Proposal for a Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning, COM(2006) 479 final, Brussels, 5.9.2006

     
  • 11. 
    Commission staff working document. 'European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training; a system for the transfer, accumulation and recognition of learning outcomes in Europe'; SEC (2006) 1431 - 31 October 2006

     
  • 12. 
    Conclusions of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on common European principles for the identification and validation of non-formal and informal learning, 9175/04 EDUC 101 SOC 220 18 May 2004

     
  • 13. 
    Council Decision of 12 July 2005 on Guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States (2005/600/EC), OJ L 205/21, 6.8.2005

     
  • 14. 
    Communication from the Commission, Cohesion Policy in Support of Growth and Jobs: Community Strategic Guidelines 2007-2013, COM (2005) 0299, 5.7.2005

     
  • 15. 
    European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training

     
  • 16. 
    European Training Foundation

     
  • 17. 
    'An European Guide on Self-assessment for VET providers', Cedefop, September 2003

     
  • 18. 
    'European Peer Review Manual for initial VET', Gutknecht-Gmeiner, Maria; Lassnigg, Lorenz; Stöger, Eduard; de Ridder, Willem; Strahm, Peter; Strahm, Elisabeth; Koski, Leena; Stalker, Bill; Hollstein, Rick; Alluli, Giorgio; Kristensen, Ole Bech (Vienna, June 2007)

     
  • 19. 
    'Peer Review Extended' (EAC/32/06/13m LE-78CQAF), www.peer-review-education.net ; 'Peer Review Extended' (EAC/32/06/13m LE-78CQAF), www.peer-review-education.net

     
  • 20. 
    For further details, please see communities.trainingvillage.gr/quality

     
  • 21. 
    For further details, please see communities.trainingvillage.gr/quality

     
  • 22. 
    OJ C , , p. .

     
  • 23. 
    OJ C , , p. .

     
  • 24. 
    OJ C , , p. .

     
  • 25. 
    OJ C , , p. .

     
  • 26. 
    19 December 2002 (OJ 2003/C 13/02).

     
  • 27. 
    "Education
     
  • 28. 
    'Realising the European Higher Education Area'. Communiqué from the Conference of Ministers responsible for higher education, Berlin, 19 September 2003.

     
  • 29. 
    Council Conclusions on Quality Assurance in Vocational Education and Training, 28 May 2004.

     
  • 30. 
    The European Network on Quality Assurance in VET was established in October 2005 by the European Commission following the favourable opinion of the Advisory Committee for Vocational Training. Its members have been designated by Member States, candidate countries, EFTA-EEA countries and the European Social
     
  • 31. 
    European Council 23-24 March 2006, Presidency Conclusions; Communication and Council Conclusions on Efficiency and equity in European education and training systems COM (2006) 481 and OJ 2006/C 298/03.

     
  • 32. 
    OJ C , , p.

     
  • 33. 
    Commission staff working document. 'European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training; a system for the transfer, accumulation and recognition of learning outcomes in Europe'; SEC (2006) 1431 - 31 October 2006.

     
  • 34. 
    Conclusions of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on common European principles for the identification and validation of non-formal and informal learning, 9175/04 EDUC 101 SOC 220 18 May 2004.

     
  • 35. 
    For the purposes of the Recommendation, definitions which apply are based on Cedefop's Glossary on Quality in Training (working paper, November 2003) communities.trainingvillage.gr/quality.

     
  • 36. 
    A further specific set of quality indicators is detailed in Annex 2.

     
  • 37. 
    Initial Vocational Training.

     
  • 38. 
    Continuing Vocational Training.

     
  • 39. 
    Besides basic information on gender and age, other social criteria might be applied, e.g. early school leavers, highest educational achievement, migrant, ethnic minority, handicapped persons, length of unemployment, etc.

     
  • 40. 
    A period of 6 weeks of training is needed before a student is counted as a participant.

     
  • 41. 
    Definition according to ILO and OECD: individuals 15-74 without work, actively seeking employment and ready to start work.

     
  • 42. 
    19 December 2002 (OJ 2003/C 13/02)

     
  • 43. 
    Adopted in Copenhagen on 29 and 30 November 2002

     
  • 44. 
    Council Conclusions on Quality Assurance in Vocational Education and Training, 18 May 2004

     
  • 45. 
    For further details, please see communities.trainingvillage.gr/quality

     
  • 46. 
    For the purposes of the Recommendation, definitions which apply are based on Cedefop's Glossary on Quality in Training (working paper, November 2003) communities.trainingvillage.gr/quality

     
  • 47. 
    ENQAVET was established in October 2005 by the European Commission following the favourable opinion of the Advisory Committee for Vocational Training. Its members have been designated by Member States, candidate countries, EFTA-EEA countries and the European Social
     
  • 48. 
    In most participating countries, ENQAVET relies on national quality assurance reference points that were established to provide active support to the implementation of the
     
  • 49. 
    Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 February 2006 on further European cooperation in quality assurance in higher education, 2006/143/EC, OJ L 64/60 of 4.3.2006.

     
  • 50. 
    Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 on transnational mobility within the Community for education and training purposes: European Quality Charter for Mobility, OJ L 394/5, 30.12.2006, (2006/961/EC)

     
  • 51. 
    Proposal for a Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning, COM(2006) 479 final, Brussels, 5.9.2006

     
  • 52. 
    Commission staff working document. 'European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training; a system for the transfer, accumulation and recognition of learning outcomes in Europe'; SEC (2006) 1431 - 31 October 2006

     
  • 53. 
    Conclusions of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on common European principles for the identification and validation of non-formal and informal learning, 9175/04 EDUC 101 SOC 220 18 May 2004

     
  • 54. 
    Council Decision of 12 July 2005 on Guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States (2005/600/EC), OJ L 205/21, 6.8.2005

     
  • 55. 
    Communication from the Commission, Cohesion Policy in Support of Growth and Jobs: Community Strategic Guidelines 2007-2013, COM (2005) 0299, 5.7.2005

     
  • 56. 
    European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training

     
  • 57. 
    European Training Foundation

     
  • 58. 
    'An European Guide on Self-assessment for VET providers', Cedefop, September 2003

     
  • 59. 
    'European Peer Review Manual for initial VET', Gutknecht-Gmeiner, Maria; Lassnigg, Lorenz; Stöger, Eduard; de Ridder, Willem; Strahm, Peter; Strahm, Elisabeth; Koski, Leena; Stalker, Bill; Hollstein, Rick; Alluli, Giorgio; Kristensen, Ole Bech (Vienna, June 2007)

     
  • 60. 
    'Peer Review Extended' (EAC/32/06/13m LE-78CQAF), www.peer-review-education.net ; 'Peer Review Extended' (EAC/32/06/13m LE-78CQAF), www.peer-review-education.net

     
  • 61. 
    For further details, please see communities.trainingvillage.gr/quality

     
  • 62. 
    For further details, please see communities.trainingvillage.gr/quality

     
  • 63. 
    OJ C , , p. .

     
  • 64. 
    OJ C , , p. .

     
  • 65. 
    OJ C , , p. .

     
  • 66. 
    OJ C , , p. .

     
  • 67. 
    19 December 2002 (OJ 2003/C 13/02).

     
  • 68. 
    "Education
     
  • 69. 
    'Realising the European Higher Education Area'. Communiqué from the Conference of Ministers responsible for higher education, Berlin, 19 September 2003.

     
  • 70. 
    Council Conclusions on Quality Assurance in Vocational Education and Training, 28 May 2004.

     
  • 71. 
    The European Network on Quality Assurance in VET was established in October 2005 by the European Commission following the favourable opinion of the Advisory Committee for Vocational Training. Its members have been designated by Member States, candidate countries, EFTA-EEA countries and the European Social
     
  • 72. 
    European Council 23-24 March 2006, Presidency Conclusions; Communication and Council Conclusions on Efficiency and equity in European education and training systems COM (2006) 481 and OJ 2006/C 298/03.

     
  • 73. 
    OJ C , , p.

     
  • 74. 
    Commission staff working document. 'European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training; a system for the transfer, accumulation and recognition of learning outcomes in Europe'; SEC (2006) 1431 - 31 October 2006.

     
  • 75. 
    Conclusions of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on common European principles for the identification and validation of non-formal and informal learning, 9175/04 EDUC 101 SOC 220 18 May 2004.

     
  • 76. 
    For the purposes of the Recommendation, definitions which apply are based on Cedefop's Glossary on Quality in Training (working paper, November 2003) communities.trainingvillage.gr/quality.

     
  • 77. 
    A further specific set of quality indicators is detailed in Annex 2.

     
  • 78. 
    Initial Vocational Training.

     
  • 79. 
    Continuing Vocational Training.

     
  • 80. 
    Besides basic information on gender and age, other social criteria might be applied, e.g. early school leavers, highest educational achievement, migrant, ethnic minority, handicapped persons, length of unemployment, etc.

     
  • 81. 
    A period of 6 weeks of training is needed before a student is counted as a participant.

     
  • 82. 
    Definition according to ILO and OECD: individuals 15-74 without work, actively seeking employment and ready to start
     
  • 83. 
    Deze databank van de Europese Unie biedt de mogelijkheid de actuele werkzaamheden (workflow) van de Europese instellingen (Europees Parlement, Raad, ESC, Comité van de Regio's, Europese Centrale Bank, Hof van Justitie enz.) te volgen. EURlex volgt alle voorstellen (zoals wetgevende en begrotingsdossiers) en mededelingen van de Commissie, vanaf het moment dat ze aan de Raad of het Europees Parlement worden voorgelegd.
     
  • 84. 
    EUR-lex provides an overview of the proposal, amendments, citations and legality.