European structures of qualification levels: a synthesis based on reports on recent developments in Germany, Spain, France, the Netherlands and in the United Kingdom (England and Wales): vol. 1

Education and training systems are being challenged by technological, economic, social and educational developments. In Europe, the Member States are increasingly questioning the European Community’s five-level structure of training and qualification levels. In 1998, in response to this concern and CEDEFOP’s own work program, an in-depth study was launched of five national vocational education and training structures covering the following three fields: (1) an analysis of the characteristics of national qualification frameworks; (2) an analysis of the similarities and differences between the national frameworks and the 1985 European five-level structure; and (3) an assessment of whether the European structure of qualification levels is being applied in the respective European Union (EU) Member States, and if it is, to what extent. The findings of the study are presented in three volumes and this volume provides a synthesis of the five country reports. The chapters in this volume are: Introduction; The scope of national qualification frameworks; The definition of standards; The definition of qualifications; The definition of levels in qualification frameworks; The development and maintenance of standards and qualifications; The classification of qualifications at tertiary level; The European 1985 five-level classification framework and the national structures; Conclusions; Towards a renewal of a European framework of qualification levels. Also included are five annexes: References; The European five-level framework; The description format of national classification of ISCED-97 levels, classification criteria and subcategories; List of abbreviations.

Volumes II and III are indexed at TD/TNC 69.292 and TD/TNC 69.293. Show less