Qualifications systems and national qualifications frameworks

The idea of a national qualifications framework (NQF) begs the questions of what is a national qualifications system and what the system should serve. Qualifications systems have been formed through the intersection of sets of qualifications and their system attributes are secondary to their localised attributes. Therefore a test of an NQF should be whether it can support attributes of a qualifications system that are in the national interest. This is a particular challenge for Australian qualifications which has a structure that is built upon the separation of the three sectors of schooling, vocational education and training, and higher education.

Published abstract.

The idea of a national qualifications framework (NQF) begs the questions of what is a national qualifications system and what the system should serve. Qualifications systems have been formed through the intersection of sets of qualifications and their system attributes are secondary to their localised attributes. Therefore a test of an NQF should be whether it can support attributes of a qualifications system that are in the national interest. This is a particular challenge for Australian qualifications which has a structure that is built upon the separation of the three sectors of ...  [+] Show more