National Authority for Qualifications and the National Framework for Qualifications in

Romania

ANA-MARIA NISIOIU, expert

National Authority for Qualifications

Romania

London, November 2011

Steps in Romanian NQF construction

• Institutional construction• Conceptual and methodological construction• Development and implementation of instruments• Sustainability of national system of qualifications

1999 2001

2005

2010

2011

1999

a. Institutional construction

NAQ’s history2005The National Agency for Qualifications in Higher Education and

Partnership with the Economic and Social Environment (ACPART) was set up based on Government Decision no 1357 / 2005, as a specialised body subordinated to the Ministry of Education, Research and Innovation, acting as national authority for setting up and regularly updating the National Qualifications Framework for Higher Education.

2010ACPART is abolished. The Executive Unit of the National Qualifications and Adult

Training Council (UECNCFPA) was set up through the re-organisation of the ACPART and the Technical Secretariat of the National Adult Training Board.

UECNCFPA was a public institution with legal personality, subordinated to the Ministry of Education, Research, Youth and Sport

NAQ’s history2011The National Authority for Qualifications was set up through

the re-organisation of the UECNCFPA and the National Authority for Qualifications and Adult Professional Training (CNCFPA), according to the Law of National Education no. 1/ 2011.

According to the Government Decision no.556/ 2011, NAQ is a public legal entity, specialty body in the coordination of the Ministry of Education, Research, Youth and Sports.

NQA – the EQF National Coordination Point for

Romania Since 2010, the Ministry of Education, Research,

Youth and Sports nominated NAQ (former UECNCFPA) as the EQF National Coordination Point for Romania.

In its capacity of NCP for the implementation of EQF in Romania, the NQF collaborates with DG Education of the European Commission, as well as with the Council of Europe for the implementation of the Overall Framework for Qualifications of the EHEA.

Elaboration of the National Framework of Qualifications in accordance with the European framework of Qualifications for ongoing learning and administration of the National Register of Qualifications;

Monitoring, assessment and control of the National Framework of Qualifications implementation at the institutions of the national system of qualifications;

Monitoring, assessment and control of the system of ongoing professional training

Main tasks of NAQ

2006 -2008

2008

2009

Elaboration of the Methodology on the development and implementation of the National Qualifications Framework in Higher Education in Romania

The publishing of the Government Decision no. 890/2008 concerning the academic titles and qualifications of the higher education graduates for the bachelor level

Order of Minister of Education no. 4430/2009 for the approving of the Methodology on the development and implementation of the National Qualifications Framework in Higher Education in Romania

b. Conceptual and methodological construction

Conceptual and methodological model for describing a higher education qualification

The essential elements of this model are: - the NQFHE Matrix which includes: qualification

levels, learning outcomes expressed in terms of knowledge, skills and competences as well as the level descriptors for qualifications in higher education;

- two complementary instruments, namely: Grid 1, representing a learning outcomes based description of a HE qualification, and Grid 2, representing curriculum to support the learning outcomes and correlation with the number ECTS credits.

c. Development and implementation of instruments

Launch of DOCIS project

- NQFHE implementation by the description of the qualifications in terms of learning outcomes

- NRQHE becomes operational

Launch of DECIS project

November 2008

October 2010

Creating the link between NQFHE and the progress made at the European level by the active participation of ACPART/ ANC (NAQ) in European projects as the promoter or as a partner.

2007 – 2011

First steps in NQF’s and NRQ’s construction

1. The development and implementation of National Qualification Framework for Higher Education (NQFHE);

2. The development and implementation of National Qualification Register for Higher Education (NQRHE)

What is the Qualifications Framework for Higher What is the Qualifications Framework for Higher Education?Education?

A mechanism which creates opportunities forA mechanism which creates opportunities for::Training based on learning outcomesTraining based on learning outcomes: :

knowledgeknowledge, , skills and competencesskills and competences;; Student-centered Student-centered learninglearning;;Mobility and employabilityMobility and employability of students and of students and

graduatesgraduates;;Transparency and trustTransparency and trust..

What is the Qualifications Framework for Higher What is the Qualifications Framework for Higher Education?Education?

The development of the The development of the

Qualifications Framework for Higher Qualifications Framework for Higher

Education is based onEducation is based on a a wide wide

partnershippartnership: universities, students, : universities, students,

employers, trade unions, professional employers, trade unions, professional

associations, sectoral committees, associations, sectoral committees,

decision-makers ...decision-makers ...

Context of developing and implementing NQFHE in Romania

Transparency of qualifications and mobility of qualified people are probably the much debated issues since the economic crisis burst.

“New Skills for New Jobs : better matching and anticipating labour market needs” initiative, launched in 2008, set out the European Commission's agenda for better skills upgrading, anticipation and matching.

The Qualifications Framework for Higher The Qualifications Framework for Higher EducationEducation

The NQFHE is a constituent part of the National Qualifications Framework in Romania.

The NQFHE structures all qualifications into 8 levels of formal, non-formal and informal education and training:

- level 8 – Doctoral studies; - level 7 – Master’s studies; - level 6 – Bachelor studies; - levels 5 – 1 are currently under

development at NAQ and refer to qualifications in the no-university education and training.

What is the National Qualifications Register for

Higher Education ? NQRHE is a portal which centralizes descriptions

of all higher education qualifications and allows for searching qualifications registered in the system, it optimizes the qualifications management, it increases the visibility of HE institutions, it supports the guidance for students and assists employers to select the employees with the right qualifications from potential candidates.

The NQRHE can be accessed at http://www.rncis.ro

CONCLUSIONSQFHE in Romania – a projects based

implementation

Using the opportunities provided by several European and national projects (funded by Phare Program, LLL Programme, ESF through the Sectoral Operational Programme for Human Resources Development 2007-2013), the National Qualifications Authority managed to pilot and successfully implement since 2006 the framework for qualifications of the Romanian higher education system, while maintaining close links with other European countries at various stages of development.

THANK YOU!Contacts:

National Qualifications Authority

Bucharest, ROMANIA

Place Valter Maracineanu 1-3, entrance B, 2nd floor, room 164www.anc.edu.ro office@anc.edu.ro