Skopje was host to a regular stream of experts on European qualifications systems in 2016-2017. October 17, 2017 was the official closing date of the Twinning Project “Further improvement of the system for development and implementation of the National Qualifications Framework” implemented under Twinning contract MK 13 IPA SO 02 15 by the Educational Research Institute (Leader) in a consortium with Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of Croatia and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership of the United Kingdom.
In accordance with the definition of twinning assistance, the main aim of the project was to support public institutions and promote the development of a modern public administration in those countries receiving financing from the European Commission.
47 experts worked in the project, from the Educational Research Institute, Ministry of Education of the Republic of Poland, and a very numerous group of international experts from Croatia, Scotland, France, the Czech Republic, Ireland and Austria.
Natasha Janevska and Agnieszka Chłoń-Domińczak were the project leaders.
The objectives of the project were to:
- updating existing legal regulations on the qualifications system and vocational education, the education of adults and higher education in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science in Skopje and the stakeholders of the qualifications system,
- formulate recommendations on building the capacity of the state administration to implement a well-functioning qualifications system based on a detailed analysis of the designed system and legal framework,
- formulate recommendations on implementing a qualifications register and training for public administration,
- prepare a Protocol of Cooperation for the qualifications system based on broad consultations with stakeholders,
- develop a methodology of describing new qualifications and adapting existing qualifications,
- prepare a Road Map for implementing the qualifications system,
- prepare the methodology to ensure the quality of qualifications originating from the non-formal education sector,
- prepare a system of training for representatives of public administration and stakeholders,
- prepare descriptions of qualifications from selected sectors (IT, tourism, training) and adapt them to the requirements of the European Qualifications Framework,
- analyse the demand for qualifications in the Macedonian labour market,
- support the process of dialogue among stakeholders as well as in the referencing process.
The following documents were prepared during the project:
- Report with the analysis of the legislation regarding the National Qualifications Framework (NQF)(2016), A.Tecilazić Goršić, B. Birač, J. Češnovar, J. Biloglav, L. Boguta, M. Ponikowska
- Report on stakeholders’ roles in the NQF (2016), A. Tecilazić Goršić, B. Birač, K. Trawińska-Konador, A. Żurawski
- Report on the inclusion of qualifications in the NQF. Model practices in EU Countries (2016), H. Dębowski, J. Biloglav, J. Pavičić, B. Bouquet, S. Dunn, E.. Staudecker
- Compliance recommendations. Analysis of terminology related to the NQF and Recommendations for the NQF glossary (2016), J. Češnovar, M. Łach, M. Ponikowska, E. Blagdan, J. Biloglav, A. Tecilazić Goršić
- Concept paper for updating the legislation to harmonize the NQF with the EQF and the best European practice (2016), A. TecilazićGoršić, L. Boguta, M. Lasota, R. Beljo Lučić, E. Blagdan
- Recommendations and draft legal acts to update existing legislation (2017), A. TecilazićGoršić, B. Birač, J. Češnovar, J. Pavičić, R. Beljo Lučić, M. Ponikowska, L. Boguta
- Rulebook on the work of the National Board for the NQF and on the NQF Register (2017), A. Tecilazić Goršić, B. Birač, R. Beljo Lučić, J. Češnovar, L. Boguta
- Protocol on the joint work of the Bureau for the Development of Education, the Vocational Education and Training Centre and Adult Education Centre on the development of occupational standards, qualifications standards and educational programmes (2017), A. Tecilazić Goršić, L. Boguta
- Protocol on the Cooperation of Sectoral Qualifications Councils in general and in particular in cases of shared competence for proposed qualifications standards or programmes (2017), A. Tecilazić Goršić, J. Češnovar, L. Boguta
- Protocol on cooperation of the National Board for Macedonian Qualifications Framework and the Accreditation and Evaluation Board on Evaluation of qualification standards and inclusion of qualifications in the Macedonian Qualifications Framework (2017), B. Birač, R. Beljo Lučić, A.Tecilazić Goršić
- Rulebook on the form, content and manner of keeping the Macedonian Qualifications Framework Register (2017), A. Tecilazić Goršić, J.Češnovar
- Methodology for evaluation of higher education qualification standards (2017), B. Birač, A. Tecilazić Goršić, R. Beljo Lučić
- Guidelines for the work of the NQF Unit related to the procedures of inclusion of qualifications standards and educational programmes in the NQF register (2017), L. Boguta, B. Birač
- Report on the institutional set-up within the NQF system in Beneficiary Country in the context of EU recommendations (2016), A. Ponton, S. Dunn
- Report on institutional solutions in the EU countries of Ireland, France, Poland and Austria (2016), A. Ponton, A. Chłoń-Domińczak, S. Dunn, H. Debowski, B. Bouquet, J. Pavicic, A. Murphy, S. Slawinski
- Co-operation protocol for the NQF (2017), J. Cavanagh, W. Stęchły
- Report on the analysis of training needs and preparation of training materials (2016), P. Sutton, I. Dubas, H. Murdoch, A. O'Reilly
- Data base with materials for Training of Trainers (2017), A. O’Really, S. Dunn
- Written recommendations on the improvement of the functioning of the NQF management and information system ( 2017 ), S. Dunn, M. Ponikowska
- Action Plan - implementation of the register of qualifications (2017), S. Dunn, M. Kopyt, J. Biloglav
- Commentary on the flowcharts for the NQF Unit relating to the rulebook for the work of the NQF Board (2017), S. Dunn, M. Ponikowska, F. Thom, M. Kopyt, J. Biloglav
- Description of key functionalities and features of the management information system of the NQF register (2017), F. Thom, M. Kopyt, J. Biloglav
- Diagram of the formal administrative check of the sub-module for the NQF (2017), M. Kopyt, M. Ponikowska, F. Thom, J. Biloglav
- Diagram of the procedure for the development/submission/revision of qualifications standards and education programmes (2017), M. Kopyt, M. Ponikowska, F. Thom, J. Biloglav
- Diagram of the procedure for the development and submission of qualifications standards in HE (2017), M. Kopyt, M. Ponikowska, F. Thom, J. Biloglav
- Diagram of the procedure for the development/submission/revision of occupational standards, qualifications standards and programmes in VET (2017) , M. Kopyt, M. Ponikowska, F. Thom, J. Biloglav
- Diagram of the procedure for the development/submission/revision of formal VET programmes and verified non-formal programmes in adult education (2017), M. Kopyt, M. Ponikowska, F. Thom, J. Biloglav
- Identification report of the existing qualifications considering all levels of the NQF (2016), A. Poczmańska, M. Sitek, M. Dżelalija
- Analysis of selected solutions in the area of the quality assurance of qualifications awarded within Beneficiary Country (2016), M. Dybaś, T. Saryusz-Wolski, R. Beljo Lucić
- Report on the analysis of labour market needs and the solutions developed to date – initiation of cooperation with stakeholders (2016), A. Chłoń-Domińczak, K. Trawińska-Konador, D. Holzer
- Guidelines for the quality assurance of developing new vocational qualifications in the National Qualifications System (NQS) (2016), M. Dybaś, T. Saryusz-Wolski, R. Beljo Lucić
- Quality Assurance Procedure: Evaluation of newly developed qualifications (2016), M. Dybaś, T. Saryusz-Wolski, R. Beljo Lucić
- Roadmap for the Further Development and Implementation of the NQF (2016), E. Chmielecka, M. Dżelalija, E. Szlamka
- Manual on updating the methodology of developing new qualifications for the NQF based on labour market needs (2017), A. Murphy, R. Pierwieniecka, M. Sitek, A. Żurawski, W. Stęchły
- Training of Master NQF Trainers, A. Murphy, R. Pierwieniecka, M. Sitek, A. Żurawski
- Guidelines - The role of Sectoral Qualifications Councils in the process of adapting existing qualifications (2017), S. Sławiński, H. Debowski, A. Poczmańska, E. Danowska-Florczyk
- Manual on Adapting Existing Qualifications to NQF and EQF Requirements for experts involved in adapting particular qualifications (2017), H. Debowski, S. Sławiński, A. Poczmańska, E. Danowska-Florczyk
- An additional existing qualification adapted for Master Hairdresser (2017), E. Danowska-Florczyk, A. Poczmanska, S. Sławiński
- New qualifications developed for the IT and tourism sectors (2017), A. Żurawski, M. Sitek, W. Stęchły, R. Pierwieniecka
- NQF Glossary for clear understanding of NQF terminology (2017), M. Dżelalija