Activites

• 2008/05/06 Final act published in Official Journal
  • EP/Council Recommendation 2008/506
  • OJ C 111 06.05.2008, p. 0001
• 2008/04/23 Final act signed
• 2008/04/23 End of procedure in Parliament
• #2848
• 2008/02/14 Council Meeting
• 2008/02/14 Act adopted by Council after Parliament's 1st reading
• #2829
• 2007/11/15 Council Meeting
• 2007/10/24 Results of vote in Parliament
  • Results of vote in Parliament
  • T6-0463/2007 summary

    The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Mario MANTOVANI (EPP-ED, IT) and made several amendments to the Commission’s proposal. The principal ones are as follows:- Recommendation 1: Member States should use the European Qualifications Framework as a reference tool to compare the qualification levels of the different qualifications systems and to promote both lifelong learning and equal opportunities in the knowledge-based society, as well as the further integration of the European labour market, while respecting the rich diversity of national education systems;- Recommendation 2: Member States should relate their national qualifications system to the European Qualifications Framework by 2010, (rather than 2011 as proposed by the Commission) in particular by referencing in a transparent manner their qualification levels to the levels set out in Annex II, and, where considered appropriate, by developing national qualifications frameworks in accordance with national legislation and practice;- Recommendation 3: Member States should adopt measures, as appropriate, so that, by 2012, (rather than 2011 as the Commission had proposed) all new qualification certificates, diplomas and “Europass” documents issued by the competent authorities contain a clear reference, by way of national qualifications systems, to the appropriate European Qualifications Framework level;- Recommendations 4: Member States should use an approach based on learning outcomes when defining and describing qualifications, and promote the validation of non-formal and informal learning in accordance with the common European principles agreed in the Council conclusions of 28 May 2004, paying particular attention to those citizens most likely to be subject to unemployment or insecure forms of employment, for whom such an approach could help increase participation in lifelong learning and access to the labour market;- Recommendation 5: Member States should promote and apply the principles of quality assurance in education and training set out in Annex III when relating higher education and vocational education and training qualifications within national qualifications systems to the European Qualifications Framework;- Recommendation 6: Member States should designate ▌national coordination points, linked to the particular structures and requirements of the Member States, to support and, in conjunction with other relevant national authorities, to guide the relationship between the national qualifications system and the European Qualifications Framework, in order to promote the quality and transparency of that relationship.Parliament substituted “national coordination points” are to be substituted for “national centres”.The list of the Commission’s Intentions was also amended:- Parliament stressed the exchange of good practice and testing - inter alia through voluntary peer review and pilot projects under Community programmes, launching information and consultation exercises with social dialogue committees - and developing support and guidance material;- the Commission should establish, within one year of the adoption of the Recommendation, a European Qualifications Framework advisory group (composed of representatives of Member States and involving the European social partners) responsible for providing overall coherence and promoting transparency of the process of relating qualifications systems to the European Qualifications Framework;- it should assess and evaluate, in cooperation with the Member States and after consulting the stakeholders concerned, the action taken in response to this Recommendation, including the remit and duration of the advisory group, and report, five years after its adoption, to the European Parliament and the Council on the experience gained and implications for the future, including, if necessary, the possible review and revision of the Recommendation;- a new Intention 4 states that the Commission should promote close links between the European Qualifications Framework and existing or future European systems for credit transfer and accumulation in higher education and vocational education and training, in order to improve citizens' mobility and facilitate the recognition of learning outcomes Lastly, some amendments are made to the Annexes. A list of definitions was inserted as Annex I.

• 2007/10/23 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
• 2007/06/19 Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
  • A6-0245/2007
• 2007/06/07 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
• 2007/01/18 Referral to associated committees announced in Parliament
• #2762
• 2006/11/13 Council Meeting
  • 2762
• 2006/10/12 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• 2006/09/05 Legislative proposal published
  • COM(2006)0479 summary

    PURPOSE: to establish a “European Qualifications Framework” for lifelong learning.PROPOSED ACT: Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council.CONTENT: the need for a continuous renewal of skills and knowledge is crucial for the EU to remain competitive. Lifelong learning is, however, complicated by a lack of co-operation between education and training providers. This lack of communication between the various educational authorities makes it hard to move within the European labour market. It also makes it difficult for those working in the EU to pursue genuine lifelong learning. Yet, lifelong learning is essential to transforming Europe into the most competitive and knowledge based society by the year 2010.The purpose of this Recommendation is the establishment of a “European Qualifications Framework” (EQF). Its primary objective is to act as a neutral reference point for comparing qualifications across different education and training systems. It will act as a tool to strengthen co-operation and mutual trust between the various educational authorities. Ultimately, it will facilitate translation between, and comparison of, qualifications awarded by national authorities.Concretely speaking, “transparency of qualifications” can be defined as: the degree to which the value of qualifications can be identified and compared on the labour market, in education and training and in a wider social setting. The EQF will allow individuals to judge the relative value of qualifications; allow them to pursue lifelong learning; facilitate employers’ ability to judge the profile and relevance of qualifications and allow education and training providers to compare the content of their own offers to those of other providers. As such it can help act as a quality assurance for both education and training.There are eight proposed reference levels. These cover the entire span of qualifications from those achieved at the end of compulsory education and training to those awarded at the highest level of academic, professional and vocational education and training. The proposed levels, listed in Annex, are as follows:-          Level 1: basic general knowledge; basic skills for completing simple tasks.-          Level 2: basic factual knowledge of a field of work or study; basic cognitive and practical skills required to use relevant information to solve tasks and routine problems.-          Level 3: knowledge of facts, principles, processes and general concepts; a range of cognitive and practical skills to accomplish tasks and solve problems by selecting and applying basic methods, tools, material and information.-          Level 4: factual and theoretical knowledge in broad contexts within a field of work or study; a range of cognitive and practical skills needed to generate solutions to specific problems in a field of work or study.-          Level 5: comprehensive, specialised, factual and theoretical knowledge within a field of work or study and an awareness of the boundaries of that knowledge; a comprehensive range of cognitive and practical skills needed to develop creative solutions to abstract problems.-          Level 6: advanced knowledge, involving a critical understanding of theories and principles; advanced skills, demonstrating mastery and innovations, required to solve complex and unpredictable problems in a specialised field of work or study.-          Level 7: highly specialised knowledge, being at the forefront of knowledge in a field of work or study; critical awareness of knowledge; specialised problem-solving skills needed in research and/or innovation and ability to integrate knowledge from different fields.-          Level 8: knowledge at the most advance frontier; the most advanced and specialised skills and techniques; knowledge of techniques to solve critical problems in research and innovation – ability to extend and redefine existing knowledge or professional practice.The Recommendation also states that Member States should use the EQF as a reference tool to compare qualification levels used in different qualifications systems, relate their qualifications systems to the EQF by linking qualifications levels to the corresponding EQF levels and, where appropriate, develop a national qualifications framework. Any new qualifications and “Europass” documents should contain a clear reference to the appropriate EQF level. However, in situations covered by Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications (for a summary of the Directive see COD/2002/0061), the reference levels will not apply. In other provisions, the Recommendation suggests that Member States use a learning outcomes based approach to defining qualifications. Learner-outcome meaning what a learner knows, understands and is able to do on completion of a learning process.  It is also recommended that Member States designate a national EQF centre to support and co-ordinate the relationship between the national qualifications system and the EQF; to establish an EQF advisory group ensuring overall coherence and to monitor the implementation of the EQF.Decisions on whether or not to use the EQF must be based on a commitment to quality assurance. Introducing systems for quality assurance at all relevant levels of education and training – and in relation to the co-operation process itself, is crucial to developing mutual trust. The implementation of the EQF must therefore take account of the European Parliament and Council Recommendation on further European co-operation in quality assurance in higher education.On a final point, the proposal recommends that national qualifications systems be related to the EQF by 2009 and that new qualifications and Europass documents contain a reference to the EQF level by 2011.

  • DG [{'url': 'http://ec.europa.eu/social/', 'title': 'Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion'}, {'url': 'http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/education_culture/', 'title': 'Education and Culture'}],

Documents

• Legislative proposal published: COM(2006)0479
• Debate in Council: 2762
• Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading: A6-0245/2007
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Results of vote in Parliament: Results of vote in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T6-0463/2007
• : EP/Council Recommendation 2008/506
• : OJ C 111 06.05.2008, p. 0001

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)