ENQA-VET Guidelines for Implementing the EQARF

Main Messages

1. The EQARF offers a comprehensive and coherent approach to quality assurance. All the pieces of the jigsaw need to be in place for a fully functioning system to operate. The whole system, each of the four stages of the EQARF cycle and the connections between them needs to be considered.

2. The planning and implementation stages of the EQARF cycle are more likely to be well developed at both provider and system level. The evaluation and assessment stage, the review and revise stage and the connections between each of the four stages in the cycle will need more attention.

3. As Member States are in the early stages of developing quality assurance arrangements that align with EQARF, there is much that can be achieved by building on existing systems and developing an incremental approach to implementation.

4. Much has already been achieved by Member States in developing quality assurance systems for VET and these can support the EQARF. While each Member State’s approach varies, there is a common focus,  i.e. the creation of an effective quality assurance system. The case studies, presented here, show a wide range of approaches to quality assurance, and each emphasises that it is the quality of the outcomes of VET (e.g. in terms of certificates and stakeholder satisfaction) that matters most in the design of any quality assurance system.

5. The development and implementation of a comprehensive, coherent and systematic quality assurance system cannot be taken for granted. It has to be nurtured, supported and regularly reviewed.

6. Effective quality assurance systems in VET are dependent on the strong involvement of internal and external partners and relevant stakeholders.