Zimbabwe advances the referencing of its National Qualifications Framework to the ACQF

On 16–17 September 2026, Zimbabwe held a two-day capacity-building workshop in Harare to support the referencing of the Zimbabwe National Qualifications Framework (ZNQF) to the African Continental Qualifications Framework (ACQF).
Zimbabwe advances the referencing of its National Qualifications Framework to the ACQF

The workshop brought together the Zimbabwe National Referencing Team and key stakeholders in a hybrid format. The referencing process is being undertaken jointly by the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Zimbabwe School Examinations Council, Higher Education Examinations Council, and Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education, bringing together the authorities responsible for basic education, TVET and higher education qualifications.

The workshop strengthened the technical capacity of the national team to conduct the referencing process, with a focus on framework analysis, level comparison and mapping, evidence requirements, quality assurance, stakeholder engagement and governance. Participants worked in detail through the four main ACQF referencing criteria and applied the ACQF methodology to compare ZNQF and ACQF level descriptors, using the “best-fit” principle to establish transparent correspondence between levels.

The second day focused on preparing a robust referencing report and organising the national process. Participants reviewed the structure and evidence expected in a referencing report, discussed stakeholder engagement and governance requirements, and used the ACQF quality assurance checklist to assess the current draft and identify areas for further work.

Importantly, Alberto Landim from Higher Education Regulatory Agency (ARES), Cabo Verde representing the ACQF Network Cluster 1 on Referencing, participated as a facilitator. His involvement reflected the growing leadership of the ACQF Network in supporting referencing processes across the continent, as the Network progressively takes over the technical cooperation and peer-support functions developed under ACQF-II.

The workshop concluded with work on Zimbabwe’s referencing roadmap, including the key milestones towards consultation, peer review, national endorsement and submission to the ACQF. The exercise helped consolidate the next steps for taking Zimbabwe’s referencing process forward.

Referencing the ZNQF to the ACQF will contribute to greater transparency and comparability of qualifications and support trust and mobility across Africa.

Day 1: ACQF Referencing – Purpose, Principles, and the Zimbabwe Context

Welcome and Programme Overview (15 min)

Introduction of participants and programme objectives

ACQF and Referencing: The Big Picture (30 min)

  • What is the ACQF? Continental tool, African Union policy initiative based on the ACQF Policy Document

  • Why referencing matters: building trust, transparency, comparability, and mobility across Africa 

Zimbabwe's Referencing Journey So Far (25 min)

  • Zimbabwe's participation in the ACQF pilot referencing phase 

  • Current status of the ZNQF

  • Overview of the referencing roadmap and milestones

Open Discussion: Expectations and Questions (20 min)

  • Open forum for participants to share expectations and clarify concerns

10:00 - 10:30: Health Break

The four main ACQF Referencing Criteria – Deep Dive

Criterion 1: Level Correspondence (40 min)

  • Demonstrating the link between ZNQF levels and ACQF level descriptors 

  • The "best-fit" principle: not exact equivalence but transparent correspondence

  • Evidence requirements: level descriptor comparison, methodology, level mapping matrix

Criterion 2: Learning Outcomes, RPL, and Credit Systems (40 min)

  • Learning outcomes approach in the ZNQF

  • Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) arrangements 

  • Credit Accumulation and Transfer (CAT) systems

Criterion 3: Inclusion of Qualifications and Register (30 min)

  • Transparent processes for including qualifications in the ZNQF

  • National register(s) of qualifications: accessibility and verifiability

Criterion 4: Quality Assurance Systems (25 min)

  • National QA bodies and their mandates

  • Alignment with continental QA principles (ASG-QA) 

12:45 - 14:00 Lunch Break

Understanding ACQF Level Descriptors(25 min)

    • 10 levels, three domains: Knowledge, Skills, Autonomy and Responsibility

    • Vertical progression across levels 

Methodology for Level Descriptor Comparison(35 min)

    • Three-step approach: conceptual comparison, detailed level-to-level analysis, level mapping matrix 

    • Structural comparison: number of levels, domains of learning, sub-domains

    • Semantic comparison: perfect fit, partial fit, or important differences

    • The “best-fit" principle explained

15:00 - 15:30: Health Break

Group Exercise: Comparing ZNQF and ACQF Level Descriptors (35 min)

  • GROUP 1: Levels 1–4

  • GROUP 2: Levels 5–7

  • GROUP 3: Levels 8–10

  • Task: Analyze descriptors across all domains, mark alignment (GREEN = perfect, BLUE = partial, RED = significant differences), and identify "best-fit" ACQF levels 

  • Output: Annotated comparison tables for each level

Day 1 Wrap-Up and Reflection (25 min)

Key Activities:

  • Group reports from the level comparison exercise (key findings)

  • Identification of technical challenges encountered

  • Clarification of questions raised

  • Preview of Day 2

Day 2: Report Writing, Stakeholder Engagement, and Governance

08:30 - 08:45 Recap of Day 1 and Objectives for Day 2

Report Structure and Minimum Elements (30 min)

  • Part I: System narrative (education and training system, NQF in depth)

  • Part II: Referencing core (Criterion 1–4)

  • Part III: Governance procedures

  • Part IV: Conclusion and further actions 

  • Annexes: evidence, endorsements, stakeholder engagement records

What Makes a Good Referencing Report?(15 min)

  • Policy narrative + legal/QA evidence dossier + technical demonstration

  • Avoid "describing rather than comparing" – address each criterion directly

  • Use of figures, tables, and diagrams

Evidence-Based Writing (30 min)

  • What counts as evidence? Legislation, regulations, policy documents, operational templates 

  • Distinguishing between policy intention and actual implementation

  • Documenting the methodology for level comparison

  • Common evidence gaps and how to address them

  • Challenges in report writing

10:00 - 10:30: Health Break

Stakeholder Engagement: Principles and Practice (25 min)

  • Who to involve: Government, NQF and QA bodies, education and training sectors, social partners 

  • Four principles: purpose-driven, staged across the process, mode-appropriate, feedback loop closure

  • The difference between consultation and engagement

Group Activity: Stakeholder Engagement Plan(20 min)

  • Identify key stakeholders for Zimbabwe's referencing process

  • Map engagement activities by phase

Governance Procedures for Referencing(20 min)

  • Responsibilities and legal competence of national bodies

  • QA body agreement statements (mandatory annex)

  • International expert involvement

  • National certification and endorsement

  • Publication and dissemination

  • Indicating ACQF levels on certificates

Quality Assurance Checklist (30 min)

  • Overview of the ACQF Referencing QA Checklist

  • Six sections covering all quality requirements 

  • Using the checklist iteratively

Group Activity: Checking the current draft section by section (40 min)

  • Evaluate the draft for content, structure, and logic

  • Check for accuracy, clarity, and completeness identifying gaps, inconsistencies or errors

12:45 - 14:00 Lunch Break

Developing the Referencing Roadmap (45 min)

  • Step-by-step process: self-assessment, government approval, notify ACQF Network, set up NRC and TWG 

  • Capacity building and planning phase

  • Drafting, consultations, international expert involvement, peer review 

  • National endorsement and ACQF submission

  • Timeline considerations

Support and Resources Available (30 min)

  • ACQF-II project support

  • ACQF Cluster 1 (Referencing) – membership and resources

  • Training modules, guidelines, and handbooks

  • Online course on QCP 

15:15 - 15:30: Health Break

Group Activity: Roadmap Drafting (25 min)

  • Outline key milestones for Zimbabwe's referencing process

  • Identify critical path activities and dependencies

  • Estimate timeframes for each phase

Next Steps and Support Mechanisms (15 min)

  • How to access ACQF support for the referencing process 

  • Formation of ZNQF Technical Working Group

  • Follow-up meetings and support

Programme Evaluation and Feedback (10 min)

  • Participant feedback

  • Identification of further capacity needs

Closing Remarks (10 min)