National Action Plan for Recognition, 13 December 2006
In their Bergen Communiqué, adopted on May 20, 2005, the Ministers responsible for higher education of the Bologna Process reviewed progress and objectives with regard to the recognition of qualifications. The Ministers committed to elaborating national action plans for recognition to improve the recognition of qualifications in each country. The Irish National Action Plan for Recognition Report is now available.
Background:
The European Council of Heads of State and Governments which was held in Lisbon in the year 2000 set as a strategic goal that the EU should become the world’s most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy by 2010. Education and training are central factors in achieving this goal. The EU Ministers in charge of education and training subsequently identified key strategic objectives that underpin the Lisbon Agenda in the field of education and training. These focused on improving quality and effectiveness of national systems, facilitating access to all and opening up education and training systems to the wider world.
The work at EU level in progressing this part of the Lisbon Agenda is now widely referred to as the ‘Education and Training 2010’ work programme. The purpose of the conference is to inform a wide range of stakeholders including policy and decision makers, practitioners and the social partners about the Education and Training 2010 programme and to stimulate a debate on Ireland’s progress in implementing change in the context of the Lisbon Agenda. The conference will also look beyond 2010 towards new approaches in teaching and learning that will be required to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Joint Interim Report of the Council and the Commission on Progress under the ‘Education and Training 2010’ Work Programme. Click here for more information Implementing the ‘Education and Training 2010’ Work Programme 2005 Progress Report. Click here for more information
Powerpoint Presentations
Please click on the below links in order to view some presentations made at the conference:
Kathryn Raleigh, Director, ICT Ireland
On 8 November 2006, Ireland became the first European country to verify the compatibility of its National Framework of Qualifications with the Bologna Framework.
The report concludes that:
It is of note that there is an apparent inconsistency or paradox in the treatment of both the Ordinary Bachelor Degree and the Honours Bachelor Degree as first cycle qualifications compatible with the Bologna first cycle descriptor.The compatibility of both with the Bologna first cycle descriptor has been demonstrated in terms of the comparisons of the learning outcomes. Notwithstanding this, these awards are included at two different levels in the Irish framework, with different descriptors, and the Ordinary Bachelor Degree does not typically give access to Masters Degree (second cycle) programmes at present in Ireland.
Furthermore, it is considered that the Irish authorities should review this verification in the light of the implementation of the Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area by other countries, particularly in the context of new progression arrangements being put in place.It is anticipated that such a review might take place when at least 20 countries have aligned their national frameworks to the European Framework.
The report is available in a number of languages: English, Irish, French, German, Polish and Russian. Click here for further information.
Prior to the finalisation of this report, the steering committee published a draft verification document.The steering committee hosted a workshop on the morning of 3 October 2006. For further details please click here.
Helsinki Communique, December 2006
Helsinki Communiqué on the future priorities of enhanced European Cooperation in Vocational Education and Training.
The Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin T.D., today formally signed an international agreement between the Irish and Chinese governments for the mutual recognition of higher education qualifications. The agreement was signed between the Minister and her Chinese counterpart, Mr Zhou Ji in Beijing. It follows an initial commitment made by the two Ministers last year during the Government trade mission to China, led by the Taoiseach. The agreement provides for the recognition of higher education awards from sub-degree (higher certificate) to doctorate levels. It will ensure that students and graduates travelling between both countries for the pursuit of further study or employment will have their existing qualifications recognised. China already has similar agreements with Britain, France, Germany, New Zealand and Australia. For further information please click here
The Higher Education Authority and the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland hosted the second in a series of Information Sessions promoting the Bologna initiative of the EU Socrates-Erasmus programme. The seminar took place in the Maryborough House Hotel , Cork , on Tuesday 6 December 2005. The focus of this information session was on the recognition of international awards and the implementation of the Lisbon Convention in Ireland. Click here for further information: http://www.bologna.ie/news/default.asp#agenda
The dissemination conference of the OECD activity: The role of national qualifications systems in promoting lifelong learning, took place in Dublin on 20-21 October, 2005. The conference was co-organised by the OECD and the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (acting on behalf of the Irish Department of Education and Science and Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment). Please click here for further information
The Irish awarding bodies and qualifications authorities and the UK awarding and qualifications regulatory bodies have undertaken an exercise to align/cross reference the qualifications frameworks in the UK and Ireland . The exercise was completed in June 2005 and the document, Qualifications can cross boundaries - a rough guide to comparing qualifications in the UK and Ireland was published in July 2005. For further details please click here.
Under the aegis of the Bologna process, a working group has completed a report which concerns the elaboration of a Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area as called for by Ministers for higher education in the Berlin Communiqué in September 2003. The report was considered and agreed to by Ministers when they met in Bergen in May 2005. Please click on the link below in order to view the full report.
http://www.bologna-bergen2005.no/Docs/00-Main_doc/050218_QF_EHEA.pdf
On 13 July 2005, the European Commission published a proposal for a European Qualifications Framework. This proposal is to be subject to consultation over a six month period. Details of the consultation process in Ireland are available on this website.Click here for further information.
Maastricht Communiqué, December 2004
Maastricht Communiqué on the future priorities of enhanced European Cooperation in Vocational Education and Training.
Irish Presidency Conference
Conference Centre, Dublin Castle, 8 March 2004
Mr Noel Dempsey, T.D, Minister for Education and Science, opened an historic EU Presidency Conference in Dublin Castle entitled Towards 2010 - Common Themes and Approaches in higher education and vocational education and training in Europe. The conference has been organised by the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland with the assistance of the Further and Higher Education and Training Awards Councils on behalf of the Departments of Education and Science and Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Please click on the links below to view the report on the conference and research reports.
Background materials for the parallel session on 'New and emerging models in higher education and in vocational education and training'
Please click on the below links for further information.
Papers and presentations from the proceedings of the Presidency Conference, 'Towards 2010 - Common Themes and Approaches across Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training in Europe', Dublin 8th March 2004 (click here to view speeches and presentations)
With the support of HEAnet video streaming of the plenary sessions of the Conference will be available. Please click on the link below for access to this.
The Role of National Qualification Systems in Promoting Lifelong Learning
This document is a Country Background Report, describing and analysing the qualifications system in Ireland. It forms a contribution to the OECD activity on 'The Role of National Qualifications Systems in Promoting Lifelong Learning'. The report was prepared over the period 2002-2003 by the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland, which participated in the activity on behalf of the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, with the support of an Advisory Group representing key stakeholding organisations.
The report is structured in four main components followed by a concluding section. Component 1 contains a survey of the Irish qualifications system. Component 2 analyses the impact of the qualifications system on learners and employers, using available data. Component 3 sets out the pressures and initiatives that drive contemporary developments in the system. Component 4 reports on a small-scale research project, undertaken in connection with the OECD activity, to gather information on how the qualifications system affects the experience of learners at the practical level.
Report of a Discussion Forum on the Implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration on Enhanced European Co-operation in Vocational Education and Training, 15 October 2003, Dublin
A Discussion Forum on the implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration on enhanced European co-operation in vocational education and training was hosted by the Further Education and Training Awards Council and the National Qualifications Authority, on behalf of the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
The Forum updated stakeholders in Irish vocational education and training on developments in Europe in relation to the implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and on the linkage with developments in Ireland. It was an opportunity for Irish stakeholders to consider latest developments and to make an input into further planning.
Copenhagen Declaration on enhanced european co-operation in vocatoinal education and training
Virtual communities for the Copenhagen process
European Commission - Education and Training