The national reference point for quality management project 2021–2023

The provisions on the qualification requirements issued by EDUFI ensure the quality of education and training and equality and non-discrimination in education and training. The qualification requirements provide a framework for how education leading to a qualification is organised, how the student's individual studies are planned and how competence is assessed. The qualification requirements are also a key means of ensuring that the learning outcomes and vocational skills requirements of qualifications meet the needs of workplaces or provide skills for further studies.

Quality assurance of qualification requirements was developed during the project from spring 2022 to spring 2023. Particular attention was paid to the opportunities of parties using the qualification requirements to participate in and influence the development and to provide feedback on the up-to-dateness and usability of the requirements. This work was carried out in cooperation with education and training providers, workplaces and business life, students and representatives of other key stakeholders. Additionally, development proposals were received from international VET experts who peer reviewed the quality assurance of the qualification requirements development process of EDUFI.

The development of the qualification requirements is continuous activity. EDUFI’s persons responsible for the specific fields monitor and collect qualification-specific information on the changes taking place in their field and on the subsequent changes in the competence needs. In addition, changes in generic competences are monitored and their significance for the need to reform all of the qualification requirements is assessed. If a need to update or renew individual qualification requirements is identified, a plan will be drawn up to start work on the requirements. The preparation of the qualification requirements begins on the basis of this plan. When the qualification requirements have been completed, the field-specific responsible person who has prepared the requirements will support the smooth implementation of the requirements in educational institutions. Feedback is collected on the effectiveness of the renewed requirements to make updates and renewal of the requirements possible when necessary. 

Based on customer feedback, the quality of the qualification requirements consists of the following factors:

• The qualification requirements meet the needs of the world of work. They are up to date and the units are workplace-oriented.
• The qualification consists of different units in a logical manner. The compulsory and optional units form a complementary entity. The competence required in several different work tasks or processes has been systematically written in the qualification requirements.
• The qualification requirements provide a framework for reliable and versatile assessment. Vocational skills requirements (learning outcomes) and assessment criteria are clear. Demonstration of competence is possible at different workplaces.
• The language used in the qualification requirements is clear. The terminology is clear and consistent. Fluent language.
• The publication format of the qualification requirements decision is accessible and clear. The requirement serves its users smoothly and in an illustrative manner.
• EDUFI provides support for the introduction of the qualification requirements

The quality assurance of the qualification requirements webinar on 30 March 2023 presented some results of the development work

The Finnish, Croatian, Estonian and Slovenian NRPs have promoted knowledge and use of the international peer review methodology in cooperation among vocational institutions in Finland, Croatia, Estonia and Slovenia.

Peer review is an excellent tool for developing the quality management in vocational institutions, while supporting self-evaluation. In international peer review, the group of evaluators consists of national and international assessors. The participating institutions felt that international cooperation brings added value and enriches the development of quality. At the same time, it is an opportunity to learn about the quality culture, practices and learning environments of another country and, of course, to meet colleagues.

International peer reviewers and institutions subject to the review were trained on the peer review method. The international instructor on the method was Keuda Vocational Education and Training Group, whose good practices and experiences were also shared with the participants. 

Practical experiences of international peer review were offered by coordinating assessment events that were carried out both on-site and remotely. In Finland, the peer review focused on Valkeakoski Vocational College (VAAO), which was evaluated by colleagues from Estonia, Tartu Kunstikool. The theme of the review was strategic planning and development. Similarly, Finnish peer reviewers from VAAO and Perho Culinary, Tourism and Business College visited vocational institutions in Croatia and Estonia.

The benefits, experiences and good practices of international peer review were presented and discussed in the international PLA webinar on 21 April 2023. Representatives of institutions and education administration from 16 different countries and experts from the EQAVET Secretariat participated in the event.

Initiative to develop an online service to find an international peer review partner

To make international peer reviews of vocational institutions possible for all European institutions on an equal basis and to expand their use, the institutions must find a foreign vocational institution that is well versed in the method and interested in cooperation. Seeking a quality management development partner in Europe is currently a practical issue, and the solution is to develop an open, simple and centrally maintained online service that would include the contact details of institutions interested in peer review cooperation.

The project mapped the views of the NPRs and vocational institutions as goals and content of the new Transnational Peer Review Partner Search System, based on which a Concept Note description was prepared. The initiative to develop the service and the description of the search service have been presented and submitted to representatives of the European Commission. The initiative also contains a proposal that the travel costs of international peer reviewers of these institutions could be eligible for EU financing.

The European peer review includes evaluation criteria for VET, which were published in 2021. The criteria cover 15 areas related to the organisation of education and training, each of which includes the principle of a quality cycle for continuous improvement. The European framework for quality management in VET and its supplements, EQAVET+, have been taken into consideration in the preparation of the criteria.

The publication European Peer Review Quality Areas and Criteria for VET is in English and covers the following areas of quality management:

• QA 1    Strategic planning
• QA 2    Quality assurance     
• QA 3    Knowledge management
• QA 4    Management and leadership
• QA 5    Management of infrastructure, facilities and finances
• QA 6    Planning and management of human resources
• QA 7    Equality and equal opportunities
• QA 8    Internal relations
• QA 9    External relations
• QA 10  Internationalisation
• QA 11  Pedagogical framework and planning the pedagogical processes
• QA 12  Teaching and learning
• QA 13  Work-based learning (WBL) outside the school
• QA 14  Assessment and certification
• QA 15  Learning results and outcomes

Criteria and brochure

More information on the national quality network and the EQAVET network

You can also request more information on the project by e-mail