Frameworks of Qualifications

Frameworks of Qualifications

People are familiar with the National Framework of Qualifications. The National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) is a system of ten levels and is used to describe the Irish qualifications system.

The ‘fan diagram’ helps to illustrate the levels on the NFQ and each level is based on nationally agreed standards of knowledge, skill and competence i.e. what an individual is expected to know, understand and be able to do following successful completion of a process of learning.

More information on the NFQ is available here.

Here in SQT we deliver many courses from levels 5 to 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications.

As of March 2011, four countries (Ireland, Malta, UK and France) have referenced their national framework to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). The European Qualifications Framework (EQF) acts as a translation device to make national qualifications more readable across Europe, promoting workers’ and learners’ mobility between countries and facilitating their lifelong learning. More information on the EFQ is available here.

But how does our Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) link to the European Qualifications Framework (EFQ)?

The following table shows how the levels on the framework. Source Page 97 of Referencing of the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) to the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning (EQF).

I expect we will be hearing a lot more on the EFQ in the years to come.