Action Grant 2017 - Support to the European Quality Assurance in Vocational Education and Training National Reference Points (EQAVET NRP) Decision number - 2017 -0842/001-001 Project Nr 586540-EPP-1-2017-1-FI-EPPKA3-EQAVET-NRP

The key aim of the European Quality Assurance in Vocational Education and Training (EQAVET) National Reference Point (NRP) project 2017 is to support the development of quality management in vocational education and training (VET) both nationally and in cooperation with the other member countries of the EQAVET network. The nationally significant goal of the project is to support the quality management of Finnish VET so that it is in line with the new elements of EQAVET+ (EQAVET network paper on complementing European Quality Assurance Reference Framework) and VET reform in Finland.

The 2017-2019 National Reference Point project is comprised of nine activities. The key aims of the project are:

  • assembling a collection of recommendations and examples of good practices and methods for supporting quality management in the demonstration, assessment and verification of competence in everyday work
  • updating the peer review criteria in vocational education and training to correspond the new VET legislation, while taking into consideration the complementing paper on European Quality Assurance Reference Framework (EQAVET+)
  • updating the European peer review criteria and promoting mutual learning with the help of the European peer review framework
  • ensuring the availability of information and support materials on quality management and development for VET providers and other interest groups, and promoting networking in quality management
  • assembling good practices learned from peer learning activities and coming up with suggestions as to how they could be implemented in a national context
  • developing and disseminating the existing good practices in VET for the implementation of individual and flexible study paths, as well as providing capacity for their quality management
  • promoting mutual learning and finding new angles on quality management development for Finnish education providers

The Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI) is the agency responsible for the development of education in Finland. EDUFI is the National Quality Assurance Reference Point in Finland.

Action Grant 2017 - Support to the European Quality Assurance in Vocational Education and Training National Reference Points (EQAVET NRP) Decision number - 2017 -0842/001-001 Project Nr 586540-EPP-1-2017-1-FI-EPPKA3-EQAVET-NRP

The European Commission accepts no responsibility for the contents of the publication.

The aim of the seminar was to come up with recommendations for the planning, assessment and verification of qualifications in vocational education and training. The outcome was a report called Quality management of the demonstration, assessment and verification of competence.

The report explores important aspects of the demonstration, assessment and verification of competence to support development work in the field. Examples of methods and good practices in quality management are also presented to be used as part of VET providers’ quality management systems. The report was drafted taking into consideration the new legislation and EQAVET+ (EQAVET network paper on complementing European Quality Assurance Reference Framework). 

A committee was formed by the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI) to draft a report. The committee consisted of VET quality management personnel and other experts from EDUFI, the Ministry of Education and Culture, and the Finnish Education Evaluation centre. The report was created as a result of invitational seminars and online joint work.

The report has been published in Finnish and in Swedish.

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The Finnish National Agency for Education organised a seminar where the aim was to support education providers in the quality management of the demonstration, assessment and verification of competence, and to share experiences regarding it.

The seminar was aimed at personnel responsible for the demonstration, assessment and verification of competence, especially those working with education providers. The seminar was held on 26.11.2018 in EDUFI’s office spaces in Helsinki.

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As a part of the EQAVET NRP 2017 project, the Finnish National Agency for Education has updated the Peer Review criteria for VET to meet the new legislation and the EQAVET+ (EQAVET network paper on complementing European Quality Assurance Reference Framework) recommendations.

Previously, there were separate criteria for initial VET, competence-based qualifications, preparatory education for vocational education and apprenticeship training. The project developed uniform Peer review criteria for all vocational training based on reform policies and taking changes in the operating environment into consideration.

The peer review criteria were worked out in cooperation with representatives of vocational training providers in working seminars and distance meetings. In addition, peer review training was organized, after which the peer review criteria were piloted by education providers during spring 2018. 

Based on the feedback and comments from the piloting, the peer review criteria was further developed in June. Based on the feedback same feedback, the previously published European Peer Review Manual for VET was also complemented.

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The Finnish National Agency for Education updated the criteria for international peer review in cooperation with the Austrian, Slovenian and Croatian VET national reference points. The criteria were created taking the EQAVET+ framework complementation as well as other European VET policies into consideration. The piloting and the process of the peer review criteria were implemented in the spring of 2018 in Slovenia and Croatia, Finland and Austria. The peer review criteria were originally planned for initial vocational training but were subsequently extended to cover all VET (project “Peer Review Extended ll”). The European Peer Review Manual for VET describes the European standard procedure for Peer Review in VET. 

Criteria related to the core activity of VET providers were updated and developed; criteria in the following five quality areas:

  • Quality Area 1: The pedagogical framework and planning the pedagogical processes
  • Quality Area 2: Teaching and learning
  • Quality Area 3: Assessment and Certification
  • Quality Area 4: WBL outside the school
  • Quality Area 5: Learning results and outcomes

Three meetings and several distance meetings were organised for working out the criteria, which have since been piloted in all participating countries. Peer Review training was organized in February 2018. The piloting of the peer review criteria and process took place in the spring of 2018 in Slovenia and Croatia, and in the following September in Finland and Austria.

In addition to the new criteria, each country has produced a video on international peer review and the implementation of the European peer review criteria.
 

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Within the framework of the project, four national quality network meetings were organized in cooperation with VET providers. The purpose of the gatherings was to ensure that information on quality management is available to VET providers and to promote networking in quality management. Additionally, information about the national reference point project was disseminated and the usage of the project’s results was encouraged.

7 February 2019

  • Organiser: Vocational Upper Secondary Education and Training School Optima, Pietarsaari
  • Theme: quality assurance of work-based learning

2 November 2018

  • Organiser: Häme University of Applied Sciences, Hämeenlinna
  • Themes: quality management in the Häme University of Applied Sciences, and cooperation between the Häme University of Applied Sciences and vocational education and training from the point of view of different actors, and the good practices and challenges related to it

7 May 2018

  • Organiser: YA! Vocational College of Ostrobothnia, Vaasa
  • Themes: risk management and safety as a part of quality management, and a look at the development of quality management over the years

9 November 2017

  • Organiser: Laatukeskus Excellence Finland, Espoo
  • Themes: leadership, self-evaluation, external evaluation, and education provider quality management
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Peer learning is a joint activity among four countries. Peer learning activities (PLAs) are attended by Finnish, Romanian, Italian and Greek quality assurance national reference points. As a result, reports on peer learning activities, good practices and suggestions will be published. The suggestions will address how good practices can be implemented in a national context.

The themes were:

  • quality assurance in work-based learning
  • peer review as a tool for quality assurance 
  • VET graduate tracking.

PLA Romania

A study visit on the topic of “quality assurance of work-based learning” was organised in Romania on 24–25 October 2017

PLA Italy

A study visit to Italy was arranged on 10-11 May 2018, with the topic of "Peer Review as a tool for quality assurance".

PLA Finland

The topic of the study visit to Finland was “VET graduate tracking”. The study visit took place on 25-26 October 2018.

PLA Greece

A study visit to Italy was arranged on 7-8 March 2019, with the topic of “VET graduate tracking”.
 

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The My Path to Competence seminar took place in Vuosaari, Helsinki on 3–4.5.2018. The aim of the seminar was to develop and disseminate the existing good practices in VET for the implementation of individual and flexible study paths, as well as aiming to provide capacity for their quality management. The seminar was specifically intended for teaching and guiding personnel, as well as being for those who are responsible for pedagogical activity and quality development.

The seminar focused on the following themes and quality management in them:

  • Applications and student admission
  • Planning, monitoring and updating a personal competence development plan
  • Competence acquisition
  • Demonstration, assessment and verification of competence
  • Productivity and effectiveness
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A study visit to Finland by a delegation from Czech Republic and Slovakia 

Topic of interest were, among others:

  • the VET reform in Finland, national qualification requirements and their use at the VET provider level
  • quality management on national and VET provider levels, self-evaluation and continuous improvement of quality
  • the results of the Finnish National Reference Point project (EQAVET-NRP project 2017-2019), especially in the national development of peer review and use of peer review to assess and develop the work of VET providers
  • VET providers’ quality culture and the Q-KULT-tool
  • the use of feedback from students and from working life in developing the quality of VET 

The Czech and Slovakian delegation visited the Finnish National Agency for Education on 11–12 March 2019. During the visit, attendees also got to know the operations of Omnia.

A study visit to Finland by a delegation from Hungary

Topic of interest were, among others:

  • the VET reform in Finland
  • quality management of work-based learning and in vocational education and training
  • the results of the Finnish National Reference Point project (EQAVET-NRP project 2017-2019), and the assurance and monitoring of flexible individual learning pathways 
  • the recognition of prior learning and validation in the Finnish VET system 

The Hungarian delegation visited the Finnish National Agency for Education on 4 February 2019 and Sataedu on 5 February 2019. 

A study visit to Finland by a delegation of the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science

Topic of interest were, among others:

  • the VET reform in Finland
  • working life cooperation
  • information processing and feedback systems in VET 
  • VET graduate tracking 

The Finnish National Agency for Education organized a study visit for the Bulgarian Education Administration, the Ministry and other delegations representing the authorities on 6–8 March 2018. 

Study visits organised by other national quality assurance reference points 

Within the framework of the project, the Finnish National Agency for Education took part in study visits in:

  • Slovenia, spring 2018, where the theme was the relationship between self-evaluation and external evaluation
  • Croatia, summer 2018, where the theme was quality culture in vocational education and training

Attendees of the study visits learned about VET in Finland and quality management in it.
 

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