The Rolling Work Plan of the Twinning project envisaged three activities for February 2023. All of them were realized under Component 2 intended to provide support to the further implementation and enhanced capacities of the National Qualifications Framework in accordance with the QA framework. The first activity 2.2.2/2 was a follow-up mission for finalizing the proposal for qualification standards in higher education, based on learning outcomes and in accordance with the Manual for Development of New Qualifications for NQF. Five MS experts: Vidmantas Tūtlys (Director of the Center for Vocational Education and Research at Vytautas Magnus University), Daiva Lepaitė (Assistant Professor at the Institute of Educational Sciences and Head of Educational Development Projects at Vilnius University), Rasa Penkauskienė (Head of Institutional Review Division at the Center for Quality Assessment in Higher Education), Ana Tecilazič (Secretary General at Algebra University College) and Alain Henriet (expert from the High Council for the Evaluation of Research and Higher Education of France - Hcéres) met representatives of HEIs, the labour market and public authorities, to discuss the draft of the qualification standard. In consultation with BC, priority areas were established and it was decided that the qualification standard for the teaching profession would be the first one to be developed. The fruitful discussion led to certain adjustments to the qualification standard and finalization of the version that shall be considered as a final proposal intended for the review of the coordination group.
Photos: Discussion with stakeholders on finalizing the proposal for qualification standards in higher education
A three day training in three different cities was organized. Representatives from the training and educational institutions from the regions of Skopje, Tetovo and Kumanovo attended the training. Ms. Odeta Kupetienė, an expert in vocational education and training delivered this awareness-raising event on developing occupational standards and qualification standards for the staff of the NQF Unit, representatives of the NQF Board, of the Sectorial Councils, representatives of education and training institutions (including public and private), as well as other stakeholders. The training programme comprised methodological and procedural innovations regarding the inclusion of qualifications / occupational standards into the digital register, but also covered topical areas supporting the implementation of NQF. The opportunity was also used to present the usage of occupational standards and learning outcomes approach towards the development of training programmes, their renewal and delivery, encompassing aspects of internal quality assurance and external expert evaluation. Issues such as constructive alignment between teaching methods, learning methods, assessment methods, and student support systems were also addressed. Last but not least, the specificity of e-learning quality assurance and recognition of such qualifications was covered.
Photos: One-day training in Kumanovo, Skopje and Tetovo on the inclusion of qualifications/ occupational standards in the digital NQF register
This first mission of Activity 2.2.3 was organized under Component 2 aimed to support the further implementation and enhance the capacities of the National Qualifications Framework in accordance with the QA framework. The Lithuanian expert Daiva Lepaitė, an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Educational Sciences and Head of Educational Development Projects at Vilnius University, was invited to provide her input and fulfil the purpose of the mission by offering recommendations on the establishment of working groups consisting of employers, teaching staff and university representatives for the development of qualification standards, as well as by performing a qualitative study of labour market needs in terms of demand for new skills and qualifications. The organized meetings with higher education representatives from the relevant faculties, representatives of the employers, and professional teacher organization, contributed to this process and generated valuable suggestions that shall be taken into consideration while further developing the standards.
Photos: Two-day discussions with stakeholders
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