European countries develop the quality of vocational education and training in the same direction and in line with the objectives of the European Commission’s education policy. High-quality vocational education and training (VET) supports competitiveness, social justice and resilience.


EQAVET-logo

The framework for quality management in Europe is the EQAVET recommendation (European Quality Assurance in Vocational Education and Training), which is based on the model of continuous improvement. The recommendation provides common principles for quality and quality assurance in VET. When applying the recommendation, it is possible to take into account the national special features. 

The implementation of the EQAVET recommendations is promoted by the EQAVET network consisting of the National Quality Assurance Reference Points, NRPs. Cooperation in the network is active. The Finnish National Agency for Education is the National Reference Point for Finland. The development work is guided by the European Commission. 

The EQAVET NRP project is a project funded by the European Commission for the period 2023–2026 to develop the practices of quality assurance in VET. The Finnish National Agency for Education is responsible for the project and the project is implemented in cooperation with education providers and the NRPs of other countries. 

The EQAVET NRP project (1 September 2023–30 August 2026) is aimed at developing the quality assurance and analysing methods, self-evaluation and peer learning.

The project consists of subprojects in which: 

  • the National Quality Network for VET is coordinated
  • a model will be developed for assessing the impacts of the reform of qualification requirements
  • the structural factors included in the Finnish National Agency for Education’s norms for VET and the steering and supervision conducted by the Agency, which contribute to the equitability of the education pathways of different learners, will be evaluated
  • a monitoring method will be developed for the implementation of a national sustainability roadmap for VET
  • a systematic model will be developed for publishing the analysed results of the national student and working life feedback
  • international peer reviewing of vocational institutions is promoted in cooperation with Croatia, Estonia and Slovenia
  • a study visit to a country in the EQAVET Network will be organised for education providers’ representatives 
  • an international co-creation workshop will be organised on the quality assurance of digital learning environments in VET
  • a national-level peer review will be organised in Finland and the project actors will participate in the national-level peer reviews in cooperation with the National Reference Points

We will publish results on this project website as the project progresses. 

 

The National Quality Network for VET is a voluntary cooperation network for persons responsible to the quality management of education providers and persons working in quality management. EDUFI organises meetings of the National Quality Network in cooperation with education providers. 

The network aims to:

  • share information on topical issues related to quality management
  • share good practices
  • promote peer learning
  • promote collegial networking
  • promote quality management in VET in line with common national and European goals. 
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In the project, a model will be developed in which the impacts of the changes planned and those already made to the qualification requirements’ of VET will be assessed before and after the changes. The model will be used to collect information and conduct an impact assessment from three points of view: economic impacts, environmental impacts (sustainability) and societal impacts. The impact assessment will be made part of the process of developing the qualification requirements. The aim is to enable the model to be also used to assess the impacts of other projects. 

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In the project, factors affecting equity in the educational pathways of different learners and the possible structural obstacles affecting them in the Finnish National Agency for Education’s official instructions and norms will be identified. Critical points and the knowledge base will be described to develop the qualification requirements and the steering of education. As a result, an evaluation report will be created, based on which a development plan will be drawn up for the Agency’s official processes. The aim is to make it possible to use the result more widely in the Agency’s official activities.

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In the project, a monitoring system and indicators will be developed for the different areas of the sustainability roadmap and for regional monitoring. The system will produce a situation picture and monitoring data on the education providers’ actions to promote the implementation of the sustainability roadmap. 

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In the project, a systematic model will be developed for publishing analysed data on the results of the nationally collected, qualitative student and working life feedback. Trends will be identified in the results and conclusions will be made from the point of view of education administration. 

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The project develops the use of international peer reviews as a quality management tool for education providers by providing information on and experiences of international peer reviewing. The project will be implemented as cooperation between Finland, Croatia, Slovenia and Estonia. One educational institution from each collaborative country will organise an international peer review and each project country will have participants in the peer review training and provide reviewers. 

The project will evaluate the usability of the international peer review criteria for VET in the evaluation of education providers’ activities to promote sustainable development. The criteria are updated on the basis of up-to-date information and a pilot conducted in the peer review events. The updated criteria will be published as a guide in spring 2026. 

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In the project, a study visit to a country in the EQAVET network will be organised for education providers’ representatives. The aim is to learn from peers and share good practices in quality management, digital learning environments and systems monitoring graduates. The project promotes the implementation of the objectives of the EQAVET reference framework. 

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In the project, an international co-creation workshop will be organised on quality assurance in the digital learning environments of VET. The workshop will be organised between the countries forming the EQAVET Network. The aim is to learn from peers and share good practices. Digital learning environments also make internationalisation possible, bringing additional value to reflecting on this theme together.

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The project will use a national-level peer review to develop the quality of VET. The Finnish National Agency for Education will organise an international peer review and participate in the reviews of other countries as a reviewer. The project is implemented in cooperation with the National Coordination Points of other countries.

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More information about the project: Riikka Vacker, Senior Advisor, Vocational Education and Training, riikka.vacker [at] oph.fi (riikka[dot]vacker[at]oph[dot]fi)

Co-funded by the European Union logo

Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

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