Quality management of competence-based education

Competence-based education is delivered in various forms of vocational education and training from theoretical instruction to practical workplace learning. The awarding of qualifications is based on skills demonstrations, which means that their approved completion also serves as a criterion of the quality of a person's competence. Most of Western-European countries have implemented some form of competence-based education. Assessing the quality of vocational education in general therefore includes competence-based vocational education policies and practices. There are two mechanisms to assure quality in vocational education and training (VET): (1) outcome standards and targets measured in assessments and (2) accreditation of educational institutions and training providers. In this chapter VET quality management will be discussed, which includes the quality of the specific competence-based education issues. An integrated set of policies, procedures, rules, criteria, tools and verification instruments and mechanisms has been developed that together safeguard and improve the quality provided by VET institutions at the European level. These policies will be introduced in the chapter, together with examples from some [European Union] EU member states to illustrate approaches to quality assurance. The majority of information presented within this chapter is derived from past Cedefop work on the topic.

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