Some National Qualifications Frameworks (NQFs) are simply hierarchical classifications for levels of formal learning programmes and their associated qualifications and certificates. More advanced NQFs can also play a role in facilitating stakeholder interactions, creating coherent qualifications systems, ensuring fit-for-purpose qualifications, supporting wider quality assurance processes, recognising learning gained outside formal education and training and for driving broader educational reforms. They also make national qualifications systems more transparent to foreigners. Across the world
... Show more
Some National Qualifications Frameworks (NQFs) are simply hierarchical classifications for levels of formal learning programmes and their associated qualifications and certificates. More advanced NQFs can also play a role in facilitating stakeholder interactions, creating coherent qualifications systems, ensuring fit-for-purpose qualifications, supporting wider quality assurance processes, recognising learning gained outside formal education and training and for driving broader educational reforms. They also make national qualifications systems more transparent to foreigners. Across the world there has been a rapid take-up of NQFs and there has been associated development of regional frameworks that coordinate NQFs across wide geographical regions. The evidence for the success and reliability of NQFs is weak and this raises the question about what is driving the expansion of NQFs. What are they expected to do and how might they fulfil these expectations? In this paper the evolution of NQF development in 'first generation' NQFs, namely in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Australia, is used to analyse the policy rationales for NQFs, concrete experience of them and to chart the evolution of these NQFs over two decades. This analysis is then used to reflect on the future development of second and third generation NQFs as many of these new NQFs reach maturity. The paper concludes with a critical consideration of the extent to which the existing NQFs, as well as those being considered, are 'flying blind': Are NQFs being developed without the necessary evidence base for their continued existence, or are there legitimate policy rationales for this global trend that has grown exponentially over the last 20 years?
Published abstract reprinted by permission of the copyright owner.
Show less
