The institutions co-developing the EQF
The European Qualifications Framework project is supported by many organisations. Here we present the most important ones among them.Directorate-General for Education and Culture of the European Commission
The mission of the Directorate-General for Education and Culture of the European Commission is determined by three basic priorities:
- Shaping a Europe based on knowledge – promoting the development of diverse forms of education and lifelong learning to support Europe’s economic competitiveness while maintaining the priorities of the European Union’s cohesion policy. As a result, the economies of European Union countries should become the most competitive and dynamic in the world,
- Developing Europe’s cultural dimension – protecting European cultural diversity in all its forms, especially by promoting the competitiveness of Europe’s visual arts industries, the promotion of linguistic diversity and language learning,
- Promoting civil society – supporting forms of active citizen participation, especially of young people, in creating European reality and promoting mutual understanding and social trust.
- Education and training
- Culture
- Youth
- Languages
- Sport
- Civil Society
As of May 1, 2010, the Director General for Education and Culture is Jan Truszczyński, the former Polish negotiator during accession talks with the European Commission.
CEDEFOP (European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training)
The role of the Centre is to support the European Commission in promoting and developing training and professional development within the European Union (EU). CEDEFOP raises awareness and understanding of the role of education and training through the lifelong learning policy. The Centre works on:
- preparing documents on the development of education and vocational training and supports research in this field, disseminating the results of these studies, analysing statistical data and policies to assist in the formulation of vocational education and training,
- disseminating all useful documentation and information through its website, publications, networks, study visits, conferences and seminars,
- promoting and supporting agreed upon activities to strengthen European cooperation in the development of policies for education and vocational training, as well as to stimulate interest in the changing nature of occupations and vocational qualifications,
- establishing opportunities for interested parties to meet. According to the decision establishing an action program for lifelong learning for 2008-2013, this means coordinating, on behalf of the Commission, study visits for experts and officials, directors of education and training institutions, coordinating the activities of institutions providing guidance services and certifying vocational experience, as well as social partners within the Lifelong learning Programme.
The results of the Centre’s work are intended for decision makers from European institutions and Member States, as well as social partners, who – which is quite exceptional – are present at all levels of policy and practice in education and vocational training. The added value of the Centre is the high quality of its analyses, expert opinions and dissemination of information to promote European cooperation in vocational education and training.
ETF - European Training Foundation
The aim of the European Training Foundation (ETF) is to contribute, in the context of the European Union’s (EU) foreign policy, 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 competencies.
The Foundation operates in the sphere of EU foreign policy aiming to promote the development of vocational education and training systems in the following partner countries:
- EU accession candidate countries (Croatia, Turkey, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia),
- potential EU accession candidate countries in the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia),
- partner countries of the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea and southern Caucasus (Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, Palestine Autonomy, Russia, Syria, Tunisia and Ukraine),
- other countries in accordance with decisions made by the ETF Governing Board based on defined criteria.
The foundation provides these countries assistance in developing the skills and competences of their citizens. Its activities include participation in the reform process aimed at developing vocational training and initial and continuing training, as well as facilitating access to such education and training. The ETF also helps promote mobility, cooperation between educational institutions and enterprises as well as the exchange of experiences and information between Member States.
In the context of promoting the development of vocational education and training systems in partner countries, the functions of the Foundation include:
- providing information, analyses of strategic actions and advice on issues related to the development of human capital,
- developing knowledge about the skills needed in the labour market,
- ensuring support in building potential,
- facilitating the exchange of information and experiences among donors, member countries and the EU,
- supporting the provision of Commission aid to partner countries and analysing its effectiveness (if so required by the Commission).
