ECVET - Application to mobility projects

Why
CQAF constitutes a European reference framework to ensure and develop quality in VET by encouraging the coordination of activities at national and regional level. It can be applied at both VET providers and institutions levels. It fully respects the responsibility autonomy of Member States to develop their own quality assurance systems. It is an innovative device which tries to tackle the topic in coherent way.

What
It may be considered as a cross reading instrument based on qualitative and quantitative references. It can help policy makers and practitioners to get a better insight of how the existing QA models work, to identify areas of provision that need improvement, and take decisions on how to improve them. It also allows for capturing and classifying best practice within and across Member States. In total the gains from the use of the CQAF are effectiveness, transparency and mutual trust in VET systems within and across countries.

Who
CQAF framework is addressed to
- policy makers
- VET providers and practitioners

Where
CQAF can be applied at both the system and VET provider levels and can therefore be used to assess the effectiveness of VET. It gives a particular emphasis to the improvement and evaluation of the "outputs" and "outcomes" of VET in terms of increasing employability, improving the match between demand and supply, and promoting better access to lifelong training, in particular for disadvantaged people.

How
Member States can promote CQAF on a voluntary basis in order to assess the added value of the common framework in improving national QA systems. It aims at putting together tools and instruments in order to encourage coordination of activities, the mutual trust and the sharing of best practices.

Political mandate
In 2003 the Technical Working Group on Quality developed a Common Assurance Framework (CQAF) focused on exchange of models and methods as well as common criteria and principles. The Educational Council in May 2004 endorsed CQAF approach. The Council conclusions state that "while fully respecting Member States competences and the diversity of QA systems, CQAF should foster transparency and consistency of initiatives across Europe".
( http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/education/policies/2010/et_2010_en.html)