Strategies for National Qualification Frameworks –MEDA Countries (2005-2006)

Type of project/activity :

Technical assistance

Objectives :

The objective was to support the development of national qualifications strategies.

Background :

The European Training Foundation is implementing projects aimed to develop strategies for national qualifications frameworks in several partner countries. In this region the project is part of the five-year project on Education and Training for Employment (ETE). The objective of ETE is to support MEDA partners in improving the design and transparency of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) policies that can contribute to promoting employment through a regional approach. It addresses the need to reinforce and improve the educational capacities of the MEDA partners and to facilitate a more intensive exchange of good practices and cooperation between Euro-Med partners on TVET and labour market issues.

The approach taken with the ETF colleagues is to emphasise that there is no single model. The issues are about improving coherence, connectivity, quality and access for individuals in education and training systems. Taking as the starting point the existing national qualifications system in each country, the project worked with groups of key actors in each of the countries through a process of reflecting on the issues involved in moving from supplier-led to more demand-led approaches and the possible roles and contributions of qualifications frameworks. The aim was not to impose NQFs, but to consider them as one possible tool for enhancing the systems in the countries involved.

In 2005-2006 the project worked with nine countries: Algeria , Egypt , Israel , Jordan , Morocco , Syria , Tunisia , Turkey and West Bank/Gaza.

Partners :

The Institute provided expertise to the European Training Foundation on their regional programme in the ten MEDA countries.

Main activities :

- Development of guidelines for country assessments and a common report outline
- Assistance to the local experts in finalising assessments and drawing out issues
- Synthesis report for the five countries (2005)
- Participation in the workshop in Amman (presentation of the synthesis report to country ministries)
- Regional seminars and study visits to Ireland and Hungary (2006)
- Specific missions to Tunisia and Jordan on the national work plans
- Synthesis report 2006

Name of programme, funder or client :

European Training Foundation

Expected outcomes, reports/documents :

See above

For more information: Jean Gordon gordon@eiesp.org