PQF Important Institutions

Bureau for Academic Recognition and International Exchange
The Bureau coordinates recruitment and qualification of Polish scientists and students for scholarships abroad and foreigners for study and internships in Poland. It is supports the State Commission for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a foreign language.

CEDEFOP (European Center for the Development of Vocational Training)
The role of the Center is to support the European Commission in the promotion and development of training and professional development at the European Union level. CEDEFOP responsibility is to raise awareness and understanding of the role of education and training within learning throughout life policy.

The Center is involved in:

• preparation of the documents on the directions of further development in vocational education and training, supporting research in that field, dissemination of the research outcomes, conducting analysis of statistical data and policy to provide support for vocational education and training,

• dissemination of all useful documentation and information through its website, publications, networks, study visits, conferences and seminars,
• promoting and supporting concerted action to strengthen European cooperation on policy development in the field of education and vocational training, as well as stimulating interest in the changing nature of occupations and vocational qualifications,
• creating meeting places for stakeholders; in accordance with the decision establishing an action program in the field of learning throughout life 2008-2013, this means coordinating, on behalf of the Commission, consolidated study visits for experts and officials, directors of education and training institutions, coordination of activities of the institutions providing counseling and vocational certification as well as social partners under "Learning for life" program.

The outcomes of the Center's activities are intended for decision-makers from European institutions, Member States and social partners, who - which is exceptional - are present at all levels of policy and practice in education and vocational training. The added value of the Center's work is the high quality of analyses, its expertise and active dissemination of information in order to promote European cooperation in vocational education and training.

Central Examination Board
Central Examination Board develops and carries out external examinations in Poland which are intended to confirm knowledge, skills and competencies at the lower secondary and secondary school levels. It also develops and carries out vocational examinations. Regional Examination Boards are also part of the external examinations system.

Education Development Center (ORE)
The Education Development Center (ORE) is a national public teacher training centre run by the Minister of National Education. It was established on January 1, 2010 as a result of the merger of the Central Teacher Training Centre and the Methodological Centre for Psychological and Pedagogical Assistance based on the decision of the Minister of National Education. The purpose of the Centre is to undertake and implement activities aimed at improving the education system and improving the quality of education in line with the state educational policy in the area of general education and upbringing.

In July 2016 the National Centre for Supporting Vocational and Continuing Education into the Centre for the Development of Education became part of the Centre. ORE is committed to improving the education system and the quality of education, in line with the education policy of the state in the field of education and general, special, vocational and continuing education.

EPAL - electronic platform for adult learning in Europe
EPAL is a multilingual platform based on an open membership, community for teachers, trainers, researchers, academics, policy makers and anyone professionally involved in adult learning in Europe.

The main objectives of its activities include: integrating adult education staff; supporting professional development of the staff and organizations in the area; creating a database of educational resources and strategic materials; supporting activities in response to the challenges of adult education. The platform provides interesting educational materials, an events calendar and search engine helpful in finding partners; it also contains good practices section.

EPAL, in short, is 33 countries implementing the project in 24 languages, more than 10 500 registered users (94% of the countries taking part in Erasmus +), more than 245 000 visitors, nearly 2000 resources, 1500 news, more than 900 events published by the National Bureau of EPAL, 287 organizations registered in Partner Search.

Erasmus+ Programme
Erasmus+ is a programme of the European Union in the field of education, training, youth and sport implemented in the years 2014-2020. Its total budget amounts to 14.7 billion euros. Erasmus+ Program builds on the achievements of previous European educational programmes, which has been in operation for the last 25 years, and is the result of the combination of European initiatives implemented by the European Commission in 2007-2013.

Erasmus+ Program consists of three actions: learning mobility, cooperation for innovation and good practices and support for reforms in the area of education. Each of the actions includes decentralized projects, the implementation of which is decided by national agencies of the Erasmus+, and centralized projects and programmes managed by Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) in Brussels.

The implementation of the programme is supervised by the European Commission, which manages the budget and sets priorities, targets and criteria.

ETF - European Training Foundation
The aim of the European Training Foundation (ETF) is to contribute, in the context of the external policy of the European Union to the improvement of human capital development in third countries. As part of its activities the Foundation seeks to facilitate access to lifelong learning and encourage the development of skills and competences.

The Foundation operates in the sphere of external policy of the European Union aiming to support the development of vocational education and training systems in the following partner countries:

• EU candidate countries (Croatia, Turkey and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia),
• potential candidate countries in the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia),
• partner countries of the southern Mediterranean and the Southern Caucasus (Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Russia, Syria, Tunisia and Ukraine),
• other countries in accordance with the decision taken by the Governing Board of the ETF on the basis of specific criteria.

The foundation provides assistance to these countries in developing the skills and competencies of their citizens. Its activities include participation in the reform process aimed at developing vocational training, initial and continuing training, as well as facilitating access to such education and training. The ETF also helps promote mobility and cooperation between educational institutions and enterprises and the exchange of experience and information between Member States.

In the context of supporting the development of vocational education and training systems in partner countries, the activities of the Foundation specifically include:

• providing information, policy analyses and advice on human capital development issues,
• developing knowledge concerning skills needs in the labour markets,
• providing support in capacity building,
• facilitating the exchange of information and experience among donors, partner countries and the EU,
• support in the delivery of Community assistance to partner countries and analyzing its effectiveness (if required by the Commission).

Foundation for the Development of the Education System (FRSE)
Foundation for the Development of the Education System (FRSE) has been active since 1993. The initiatives managed by the Foundation provide the opportunity to gain both general and specialist knowledge, in a formal and academic, and non-formal and practical ways. They also allow pursuing interests in distant countries and in local communities.

FRSE is the only institution in Poland with such extensive experience in managing more than a dozen European educational programmes. In 2007-2013, the Foundation coordinated "Learning for life" (Erasmus, Leonardo da Vinci, Comenius and Grundtvig) and "Youth in Action" programmes in Poland. The credibility of the Foundation resulted in entrusting it with the function of the National Agency of the Erasmus Programme implemented in the years 2014-2020.

Interdepartmental Team for Learning Throughout Life and the Integrated Qualification System
By virtue of the Prime Minister's directive of 12 May 2016, the Interdepartmental Team for Learning Throughout Life and the Integrated Qualification System was created. It consists of ten ministers and, also, the Minister in the Prime Minister's Office. It is chaired by the Minister of National Education. The team monitors the implementation and functioning of the Integrated Qualification System (IQS), which is to be consistent with the guidelines on which the qualifications frameworks in the European Union are based. Information about the activities of the team can be found on IQS website.

Lifelong Learning Programme
Lifelong Learning is a European Union programme for professional education and development. It is being implemented from 2007 to 2013 and continuing the activities carried out earlier in the SOCRATES, Leonardo da Vinci, Jean Monnet, e-Learning and the European Language Label Programmes.

The Programme aims to develop different forms of learning by supporting cooperation between education and training systems in different countries. The Programme will contribute to improving the quality and attractiveness of education and vocational training in Europe.

Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy
Several hundred vocational competences will be developed within the framework of a project entitled “Developing the set of national standards of vocational competences required by employers”.
See the project’s website at „Vocational Qualifications Standards”.

Ministry of National Education
The Minister of National Education is in charge of coordinating the Integrated Qualification System (IQS). This means that she coordinates and oversees the entire area of changes associated with the implementation of the Integrated Qualification System. Within the Ministry of National Education the qualifications system is the responsibility of the Department of Strategy and International Cooperation.

Ministry of Science and Higher Education
National Qualifications Framework for higher education have been in force since 1 October 2012. In May 2013. Poland presented a Self-Certification Report of the National Qualifications Framework for Higher Education. on the European forum. The Ministry monitors the implementation of the qualifications framework for higher education institutions, which resulted in the amendment of the Law on Higher Education of 23 June 2016 leading to a reduction of bureaucratic burdens in universities.

National Europass Centre
Europass is a European Commission initiative that allows every European citizen to better present his or her professional qualifications and skills. Europass consists of five documents functioning in the same form throughout all of Europe (including the countries of the European Economic Area and EU candidate countries). Europass was adopted by a Decision of the European Parliament and EU Council of 15 December 2004 and has been in force since 1 January 2005.

Ploteus - learning opportunities in Europe website
The website launched by the European Union in order to centralize access to information on learning opportunities, education and training in EU countries. It is intended to provide help for students and job seekers in navigating the educational market in Europe; it facilitates finding quality training consistent with the EU countries framework of qualifications and, consequently, increase the mobility of people. Ploteus is constantly evolving and has not yet reached its full functionality, which is related to the level of advancement of individual countries in the construction of their qualifications systems.

The aims of Ploteus include:

• facilitating access to the sites of universities and higher education institutions, adult education institutions, databases of schools
• presentation of various educational systems in Europe 
• presentation of scholarships and exchange programs such as Erasmus and Erasmus+, Leonardo da Vinci, Socrates, Tempus, in short all projects which increase the mobility of students
• provide practical information on the conditions of settling in European countries, living costs, legal requirements, job search, housing, etc.

The website also includes contacts to institutions that operate in any given country or area; it provides information on the recognition of diplomas, qualifications frameworks descriptions, including the European Qualifications Framework and reference reports, it helps compare qualifications between countries and also find other websites or actions supporting mobility, such as. Europass (international document certifying education level and qualifications) and the EURES (information on EU jobs).

ReferNet
ReferNet is a network of institutions created by Cedefop in 2002 to provide information on national vocational education and training (VET) systems and policies in the EU Member States, Iceland and Norway.

The ReferNet’s main goal is to gather information on VET’s role, purpose, governance and structure, insights into developments and trends in VET policies, and in-depth analysis of how each country is progressing in its implementation of common European policy objectives. ReferNet also supports Cedefop in promoting information on VET in the participating countries. Educational Research Institute (IBE) is now the ReferNet Polish partner.

ReferNet’s work of collecting and monitoring information on national vocational education and training is focused on five main areas:

• Policy reporting activities give information on policy developments and reforms in vocational education and training, particularly in relation to agreed European priorities.
• Country reports (VET in Europe) describe the national vocational education and training systems of all participating countries.
• Spotlight on VET is a series of flyers presenting the main features of vocational education and training in each country.
• Thematic focuses (articles or surveys)complement the more general information provided in VET in Europe – country reports and Spotlights. They tackle current issues which feature high on the VET agenda of the EU Presidencies (early leaving from VET, apprenticeship, innovation, etc.).
• Online articles report on national news stories and specific topics related to training and the labour market developments. They complement the news in Cedefop Newsletters.

The Directorate General for Education and Culture (DG EAC)
The mission of the DG EAC of the European Commission is defined by the three priorities:

• supporting "Europe of knowledge", or the promotion of the development of different forms of education and lifelong learning, aimed at supporting Europe's economic competitiveness, while maintaining the priorities of EU cohesion policy. As a result, the EU economy should become the most competitive and dynamic economy in the world,
• developing the European cultural space - the protection of European cultural diversity in all its manifestations, in particular by promoting the competitiveness of European industry in the field of visual arts and the promotion of linguistic diversity and language learning,
• promotion of civil society - support of active civic participation, especially of young people, in creating European community and promotion of mutual understanding and social trust.

DG EAC is responsible for initiating and coordinating programs in the field:

• education and training,
• culture,
• youth,
• foreign languages,
• sport,
• civil society.