VUSSC/TQF2008/Tuesday

From WikiEducator
< VUSSC‎ | TQF2008
Jump to: navigation, search

TQF Meeting

Tuesday February 26, 2008

Review of NQF Development in Small States – Issues dealt with (See Andrea's slides for details)

  • Purpose and rationale
  • Data sourcing
  • Working definition of QF
  • Language of QF
  • Certification processes
  • QA and Registration
  • Recognition of prior learning
  • Comparability
  • Terms requiring more consensus
  • Common purpose and drivers of NQF development
  • Nature of expectations by small states
  • Steps in NQF development
  • Policy breadth matrix
  • Funding
  • Prescriptiveness
  • Architecture
  • Guiding philosophies

MORNING BREAKOUT SESSIONS TO VERIFY COUNTRY INFO

Countries to provide detailed written responses to James by Wednesday

PACIFIC

  • Identified pieces of wrong info and omissions
  • Question about guiding philosophy

CARIBBEAN

  • Frame for gathering info didn‚Äôt fit reality of the region
  • How comprehensive is the TQF?
  • Is registration part of the QA process?
  • Contextual background is necessary

AFRICA

  • Some adjustments needed
  • Address omissions (e.g., Swaziland)
  • Change implementation criteria (see top of p.91)
  • Rating of countries may be contentious ‚Äì delete (see p.91)

MED & INDIAN OCEAN

  • Address omissions
  • Confusion around Levels 1 & 2 and 4 & 5.

TQF CONCEPT

  • Definition; boundary setting; principles and guidelines
  • Easier agreement with geographical proximity (But a mapping issue)
  • Common understanding of QFs
  • Lack of accreditation doesn‚Äôt equal lack of QA (e.g., in Jamaica, programs at UWI are quality assured but not accredited).
  • Unified system: advantages ‚Äì flexibility; transferability
  • Linked system - allows for differentiated contextual systems
  • Embrace 10 levels but focus on lower levels for starters (4 and 5)
  • Credit system ‚Äì based on notional hours

WORKING EXAMPLES WITHIN VUSSC

Joe Samuels

  • 10 levels
  • Level descriptors
  • Qualification descriptors
  • Qualifications criteria/guidelines (e.g., all Qs on TQF should be approved and registered by the appropriate national bodies or regional bodies)
  • Ministers-VUSSC initiated process
  • Map for comparability and recognition
  • Builds capacity and trust

Interrogating the Proposed TQF Concept (Afternoon Group Session)

  • Suggest ways in which the TQF can be used when there is no qualifications framework at a national or regional level?
  • How (else) would you design the TQF to meet your specific needs?
  • What value would the TQF add where an RQF exists?

Afternoon Group Session - Reports

CARIBBEAN

Use in absence of N/RQF

  • TQF offers credibility
  • Cross-border acceptance
  • Portability
  • Reciprocal recognition
  • Regional retention of workers
  • International recognition
  • Mobility; transparency
  • Reference point; Benchmark; equivalency; comparability

Design

  • Broad level descriptors
  • Catch all level qualifications in Q-descriptions
  • Standards for assuring quality across fields

Value-Added

  • External verification of NQ systems
  • Joint verification team
  • Linked to CARICOM
  • Sharing of resources

AFRICA

Use

  • Availability of local QA mechanism; liaison with COL re TQF
  • Ministry can establish special entity to liaise with COL

Design

  • 10 levels for TQF
  • Focus on Levels 3-5
  • Adopt a credit system and qualification criteria
  • QA assessment/awards under national arrangements.
  • VUSSC/COL logo on awards

Value-Added

  • Sharing of material
  • Contextual adaptation
  • Link frameworks back to MoE

MED & INDIAN OCEAN

  • Neutral conduit
  • TQF necessary tool to build an NQF (provides template)
  • Acts as a common denominator

PACIFIC

Use

  • Agreed set of guidelines
  • Providers ‚Äúdonate‚Äù good material

Design

  • Focus on outcomes
  • Facilitate. Not dictate
  • Equivalences; comparability

Value-Added

  • International recognition
  • Mobility outside region

Discussion

  • TQF at mega level runs the risk of too much generality
  • JK's Summary (technicoloured flow chart of process)

PARKED ISSUES – TO BE REVISITED LATER (by Friday)

Tuesday, February 26th:* Scope of TQF – modules, levels, etc

  • Register or Framework?
  • Definition of terms
  • Benefits to providers in participating on a voluntary basis in TQF
  • Linking providers to TQF
  • Enforcement powers of TQF (at meta level)