Promoting Quality Assurance in Vocational Education and Training: The ETF Approach. ETF Working Paper

The European Training Foundation's (ETF) approach to promoting systemic and systematic quality assurance in vocational education and training (VET) is set out in this working paper. Quality assurance in VET is summarised by the ETF as the measures established to verify that processes and procedures are in place, which aim to ensure the quality and quality improvement of VET. The ETF uses the following definition of VET: "education and training which aim to equip people with knowledge, know-how, skills and/or competences required in particular occupations or more broadly on the labour market." The intention of this working paper is to serve as a resource for ETF staff and its function is to support a common ETF approach to promoting quality assurance in VET in partner countries. The paper will be made available to a wider audience with an interest in quality assurance in VET. ETF partner countries have signaled the need for more effective quality assurance measures to help improve the quality and relevance of VET outcomes. They aim to strengthen quality assurance policies and measures that support the development of good VET governance and management, good qualifications systems, good qualifications and good learning environments facilitated by good teachers and trainers. The main purpose of this working paper is to guide ETF staff to support partner countries in their endeavours to develop further their approach to quality assurance in VET. The paper has five chapters. The background to present-day quality assurance is presented in Chapter 1. Concepts important to the understanding of the ETF approach to quality assurance in VET are reviewed in Chapter 2. In Chapter 3, the evolution of European policies for quality assurance is summarised. The "status quo" of quality assurance policy and practice in ETF partner countries and reform needs and challenges, as presented in the Torino Process reports, are discussed in Chapter 4. Chapter 5 presents the ETF approach to promoting quality assurance in VET development, based on the conceptual framework set out in the preceding chapters. (A bibliography is included.)