The European qualifications framework for lifelong learning (EQF) celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2018. Entering into force in April 2008, the EQF has become a common reference point for comparing qualifications across institutional and national borders, aiming to increase the overall transparency, comparability and portability of qualifications throughout Europe. The EQF, by acting as a catalyst for development of national qualifications frameworks (NQFs), has contributed to changing the qualification landscape in Europe. Before 2005, NQF had been set up in three European countries: Ireland, France and the UK. In 2017, frameworks have been, or are being, developed and implemented in all 39 countries cooperating on the European qualifications framework (the 28 EU Member States, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland and Turkey). Although these frameworks have reached different stages, an increasing number are now becoming operational and make contributions to education and training policies and practices in their respective countries. The EQF has promoted two important principles supporting the modernisation of qualifications systems and directly contributing to NQF developments: (a) the learning outcomes perspective, focusing on what a holder of a qualification is expected to know, be able to do and understand. This provides a new perspective on qualification systems and qualifications and their content and profile; (b) the comprehensive approach covering all levels and types of qualifications: formal education and training (VET, general education, higher education) as well qualifications awarded in non-formal contexts. The comprehensive approach draws attention to progression across sectors and borders. Taken forward voluntarily, countries have adopted these principles to their national circumstances and needs. The purpose of this publication - which is an update of the 2015 publication on NQF developments in Europe - is to provide an overview of these frameworks and their similarities and differences. Part I of the report offers a general overview and main tendencies of European NQF developments, with a brief discussion of the impact these frameworks are having. Part II briefly presents each national framework and the way it has been designed and structured. This description is supported by detailed NQF tables showing how qualifications and qualification types have now been allocated to the learning-outcomes-based levels and referenced to the EQF levels. Building on the visible progress made in the past 10 years at national levels, the revised EQF recommendation was adopted in May 2017. The long-term priority of this recommendation in the coming period is to make the EQF more visible to end-users and show its contribution to wider objectives of lifelong learning, employability, mobility and social integration of workers and learners.
