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. The Department of Education and Science and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment have requested the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland to undertake the consultation process in Ireland on the Commission proposal, with a view to presentation to the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment of a joint draft report for the Commission.

The Qualifications Authority published the proposal document on this website when it was published in July.

The Qualifications Authority has hosted an initial meeting of stakeholders to discuss the issue on 13 September 2005 .   The Authority is inviting written submissions by the end of October 2005. Following this process, the Authority will develop a draft Irish response to the proposal and there will be an opportunity for consultation with stakeholders on this draft response.

All submissions will be made public on this website and attributed to the author and/or their organisation. Contact details will not be published but will be retained on the Authority's database for future communication unless otherwise requested.

The aim is for the submission of a draft report to the two Departments by mid-December 2005.

Interested parties are invited to avail of this opportunity to respond to the proposal for a European Qualifications Framework. The links below can be used to access a Response Form, as well as the Commission proposal document and an explanatory note prepared by the Qualifications Authority to assist Irish stakeholders in considering the proposal

Irish response to the proposal of the European Commission for a European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning

The Department of Education and Science and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment have issued a response to the proposal for a European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning. The proposal was the subject of a consultation undertaken in the autumn of 2005 by the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland on behalf of the two Departments.

Please click here in order to view submissions

European Commission paper: 'Towards a European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning'

Explanatory note on the European Commission proposal document