More about the development of a NQF

All the countries in the Bologna process have committed themselves to develop national frameworks that are in accordance with the qualifications framework for the European higher education area (EHEA) and EU's qualifications framework for lifelong learning (EQF) by 2010.

In December 2005, the Ministry of Education and Research appointed a working group which was to assess the need for a national framework for higher education. They were also asked to look at the meaning of such a framework as well as the development of such a framework. The working group included representatives from the Ministry, NOKUT, the Norwegian Association of Higher Education Institutions and student organisations.

The working group has assessed the work done on qualifications frameworks at the European level. In addition, they have looked at existing descriptions of learning outcomes and study programmes at the universities and university colleges in Norway. The report, which the working group presented to the Ministry, includes the groups discussions as well as a proposal for a framework - including specific descritptions  for the three levels of higher education. The aim of these descriptions is to describe the expected knowledge, skills and competencies  that all candidates who have completed their education at a certain level should have. The working groups proposal for a framework does not grade different achievemnts, because this is achieved through the use of the grading scale. The framework which the group developed is based on learning outcomes and not on performance factors. In other words, it should be easy to see the relationship between the different qualifications - i.e. the difference in learning outcomes between different levels and different subjects. The aim of a qualifications framework is to focus on the student's learning outcomes and furthermore to facilitate recognition of qualifications between educational institutions, nationally and internationally.

Based on the report from the working group, the matter was sent to the institutions for comments and feedback in the autumn of 2007. By the end of the deadline, 62 comments had been received. In a letter from the Ministry of Education and Research, dated 20 March 2009, the adoptation of a national qualifications framework for higher education was announced.

The NQF consists of three categories: knowledge, skills and general competencies. Furthermore, it is divided into three cycles; first cycle - the bachelor's level, second cycle - the master's level, and third cycle - the doctoral level. The institutions now have a deadline of ultimo 2012 to implement the framework (this is in line with the postponed deadline set by the Bologna process).

                                                                                   From www.universell.no