Development of qualifications system in Ukraine : Main challenges and priorities Anatoliy Garmash

1. Development of qualifications system in Ukraine: Main challenges and priorities AnatoliyGarmash Federation of Employers of Ukraine Kiev, 10 March 2016

2. NQF development MES: 2005 – joining the Bologna Process 2008 – first NQF draft (HE) 2011 – NQF design and adoption (all educational levels) Initiated by employers: 2009-2010 – draft Law of Ukraine «On the National Qualifications System» 2011- 2012 – draft Law of Ukraine «On Occupational Qualifications System» Recent legislation: 2014 – new Law of Ukraine «On Higher Education» 2015/2016 – draft Laws of Ukraine «On Education», «On VET»

4. Already defined by the Law «On Higher Education» 2014

10. NQF role Qualifications classification and systematization tool: • Enhancing the qualifications system transparency, making clear qualification`s relative importance/value • Better intersectoral communication and qualifications system coordination LLL recognition support: • Promotion of learning outcomes recognitionacquired beyond the formal education system Qualifications comparison/recognition tool (NQF compatibility with European frameworks) Qualifications QA (each qualification included in NQFsatisfies the requirements to qualifications development and assignment) • Qualifications better relevance/correspondence to labor market needs

11. NQF development coordination Coordinating body: • Interdepartmental Working Group on NQF development and implementation (2010) (coordination of activities - MES) • Action Plan on NQF implementation(2012-2015) (Involvement of line ministries, academic institutions, social partners) Platform for stakeholders participation • Institute for Occupational Qualifications(2014) as a platform for dialogue on the NQS formation and development, for social partners and other stakeholders cooperation development http://ipq.org.ua/

12. Social partners` role • 5 sectoral councils on occupational standards and qualifications development were established (metallurgy, chemical industry, coal industry, electric power, mechanical engineering for the agro-industrial sector) • Efforts consolidation at sectorallevel without sectoralcouncils establishment (professional associations (marketing, accounting and auditing ...), Association for occupational standardsdevelopment in the field of trade, hotels and restaurants ...) • The procedure for development, review and approval of occupational standards (2015, employers JRB) • Commission on occupational standards (2015, FEU) • Over 40 occupational standards developed • Over 25 standards developed for VET based on occupational standards • Occupational standards inventory http://profstandart.org.ua/standarts

13. Development of informal and non-formal learning results recognition system As a separate qualification type (certificatebased on the outcomes of non-formal vocational training) • Regulatory framework for non-formal learning outcomes validation for blue-collar occupations has been developed • Assessment based on occupational standards requirements • Requirements to organizations (businesses, institutions)– performers of assessment and informal learning outcomes validation • The first three validation performers approved • It is assumed to issue certificates for types of work/specialization (partial qualification) Within formal education • Incoming control of knowledge and skills when applying for re-training and further training programmes of vocational education (2014)

14. NQF development: challenges (1) Development of occupational standards system • Occupational standards legalization mechanism Development of the system governing occupational qualifications assignment • Occupational qualification definition • Regulated occupations – no unified approaches to occupational qualifications assignment • Mechanism for recognition of qualifications developed by professional associations (marketing, finance, audit, quality management, etc.)? • On-the-job qualifications assignment? Trust in new qualifications • Partial qualifications recognition?

15. NQF development: challenges (2) New legislation implementation • Law of Ukraine «On Higher Education» • Legal framework on informal learning outcomes validation No specialized methodological institutions for labor market demanded competences and qualifications study/forecast Learning institutions preparedness to implement new type of qualifications? (technical, financial and administrative support, teachers training, new educational programmes development)

16. NQF development: priorities Определение/создание органа, координирующего развитие НСК • New action plan/program on the NQF development (by 2020) • Identification of priority/labor market demanded occupations to develop standards for Sector Councils establishment and support • Occupational standards and qualifications development, labor market forecast Occupational qualifications QA • Mechanism for recognition of organizations/institutions authorized to assign occupational qualifications (assessment/certification centers) • National Register of Occupational Qualifications (included in the NQF) maintenance • Development of non-formal learning recognition system Development and implementation of educational programs based on occupational standards • Necessary adjustments to HE and VET standards

17. Thank you for attention! Anatoliy Garmash Federation of Employers of Ukraine М. Kotsyubynskoho 1 str. Kiev, 01030, Ukraine Tel.: +38 044 251 70 21 Fax: +38 044 251 70 62 garmash@fru.org.ua