Accra: Making Qualifications Frameworks operational in a changing world (Part II)

Accra Workshop: Part II of the ACQF-II training programme 2023. Focus on NQF components, instruments, governance. Green skills. Digitalisation of NQFs. Lifelong learning. Credit systems. Articulation. Recognition of qualifications.

07-08 November 2023, from 09.00 to 17.00 (UTC / Ghana time zone)

For your information and preparation:

 “Making National Qualifications Frameworks (NQF) operational in a changing world (Part II).

The training program of the project ACQF-II in 2023 contributes to enhance knowledge and understanding on the development and operationalization of NQFs: moving from initial ideas to policies, and from policies to action.

The number of countries in Africa with NQFs at stage of development and consultation, and at stage of implementation has been growing in the last years – approx. 33 countries can be included in this group. On the other side, many countries are at initial stage of reflection regarding their future NQF. Among countries with longstanding NQF implementation experience, the majority are reviewing and improving important aspects and instruments of the NQF, enabling their responsiveness to changing needs and learning. NQFs are not set in stone, they adapt.

In 2023 the project ACQF-II organises two training workshops (Nairobi and Accra) and the annual conference (Maputo). These events will be multilingual and streamed. The relevant national NQF authorities are committed and motivated to co-host these events.

  • Nairobi, 09-11 October
  • Accra, 7-8 November
  • Maputo, 5-6 December

Participants include institutions responsible for the coordination and management of NQFs, Regional Economic Communities (IGAD and SADC), organisations responsible for quality assurance in education and training (CAMES, IUCEA, GQAA), All-Africa Students Union, UNESCO, and experts. Countries represented: Angola, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Djibouti, Eswatini, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and South Sudan. Also participating are the two co-chairs of the ACQF Advisory Group (Cameroon and SADC) and countries with globally recognised NQF experience (South Africa – SAQA), Kenya (KNQA), Zambia (ZAQA), Namibia (NAMQA) and others.

The three events share a common thematic agenda, based on the following main themes:

  1. NQF in a changing world: Development, implementation, monitoring and review / adaptation. NQF instruments and processes, quality assurance.
  2. Registration of qualifications in NQF / register – benchmarking.
  3. Qualifications are changing. Adaptation to green and digital transformation, digitalization, new types of credentials. The pressing need for better lifelong learning policies and programmes.
  4. Validation and recognition of learning outcomes and skills / competences from different contexts of learning. Skills and competences of labour migrants and refugees.
  5. Micro-credentials: new opportunities for flexible pathways, lifelong learning, employability, and career development. A global movement.
  6. Shaping comparability of qualifications and credentials to facilitate portability, recognition of qualifications, and mutual trust.
  7. Governance of skills and qualifications ecosystems: governance models, linked policies, information and analysis, stakeholders’ participation, and comparisons between NQFs-RQFs and ACQF. Complementarities between Addis Recognition Convention, ACQF, NQFs.
  • When Nov 07, 2023 09:00 AM to Nov 08, 2023 05:25 PM (UTC / UTC0)
  • Where Accra (Ghana)
  • Contact Name
  • Add event to calendar iCal

Agenda Training Workshop 2 – Accra (7-8 November 2023)

“Making NQFs operational – part 2”

Multilingual, Streamed

Day 1: 7th November

Operationalisation of the NQF

Time: UTC / Ghana

Chair: Director General of GTEC

09.00-10.30

Session 10: Opening session - Ministry, GTEC, EU Delegation (Ghana), ACQF-II coordination

  • Cultural introduction
  • Opening and welcome remarks
  • Introduction of the participants
  • Agenda, expectations. Continuity and brief recap.

10.30-11.00

Session 11: Ghana – education, training and qualifications for employability, economic and social growth. Experience of the TVET Qualifications framework.

11.00-11.15: coffee break

11.15-13.15

Session 12: NQF development, implementation. Components, instruments, and requirements for success.

  • NQF level descriptors: main principles, development methods, uses.
  • Governance: NQF governance models in Africa and beyond: state-of-play, SWOT. Lessons learned.
  • NQF legislation: models, comparison
  • Stakeholders’ participation: role of employers, trade unions, professional organisations

13.15-14.15: lunch break

14.15-15.15

Session 13: New skills for the double digital and green transition. Focus on green skills.

  • Presentation, Q&A.
  • All participants: good practices and new initiatives.
  • Main conclusions and recommendations for NQFs and education and training policy

15.15-17.00

Session 14: Digitalisation of NQFs. Databases, registers, catalogues. Different types of instruments, services for end-users and functions.

  • Q&A.
  • Cases: Kenya Register of Qualifications. Qualifications Database Register and Europass
  • ACQF Qualifications and Credentials Platform: discussion, recommendations from stakeholders

Day 2: 8th November

Referencing, mobility, articulation, recognition: the role of NQFs

09.00-10.30

Theme 15: Referencing NQF-RQF – connecting levels, qualifications, and frameworks

  • Rationale, main concepts, benefits
  • Criteria, methods, and practices
  • The ACQF Referencing approach
  • Case study: EQF referencing
  • Roadmap

10.30-11.00: coffee break

11.00-13.00

Session 16: Credit accumulation and transfer systems: supporting learning mobility and progression.

  • Presentation: Credit systems supporting LLL and flexible pathways. Presentation
  • Case studies: Kenya; Zambia; ECTS

13.00-14.00: lunch break

14.00-15.15

Session 17: Articulation: hopes and reality.

  • Presentation: Rationale, types, and solutions for effective articulation.
  • Case study: South Africa

15.15-16.00

Theme 18: Recognition of qualifications and the linkages with NQF

  • The needed common language, instruments, and practices between NQFs and recognition of qualifications. Case of the Lisbon Recognition Convention
  • Linking the ACQF and the Addis Recognition Convention: elements of a common approach

16.00-16.30

Theme 19: What about AI in education and qualifications systems?

  • Presentation, Q&A.
  • International debate, human-centric AI
  • Main conclusions and suggestions.

16.30-17.00: assessment

  • Poll for assessment of the learning outcomes of the workshop.
  • Participants’ feedback on the workshop

17.00-17.15: final conclusions. Next steps. Closure.

 

Contact Eduarda Castel-Branco, ecb@etf.europa.eu