The Malta Qualifications Council (MQC) has linked the Malta Qualifications Framework to the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning (EQF) and the Qualifications Framework of the European Higher Education Area (QF/EHEA). MQC is currently leading the way to align the Malta Qualifications Frameworks to these two frameworks and obtain full transparency of qualifications at European level.

The work carried out by the Council has been documented into a Referencing Report that will be launched on 4 November 2009. The report was drawn up in accordance to the criteria and procedures agreed by the EQF Advisory Group and the Bologna Follow-Up Group. The Report was co-authored by Dr James Calleja Chief Executive of the Council and Doris Mangion Senior Manager Standards and Qualifications at MQC.

The EQF, a new European tool to increase the transparency of qualifications across Europe, was adopted by member states last year on a voluntary basis. Member States have undertaken to link their national certification system to the EQF by 2010. The Framework will help employers to better understand and compare the different national qualifications systems and their levels, whether in general or higher education or VET. This will, in turn, make it easier to study and work in other European countries: it will allow students to describe their skills to educational institutions or recruiters abroad and will help employers decide whether candidates meet their criteria. Hitherto, companies hesitate to take on foreign job applicants as they have difficulty in determining the level of qualifications of applicants in relation to their own national system.

The EQF, as well at the Malta Qualifications Framework, is based on eight reference levels which are described in terms of learning outcomes, i.e. what a learner knows, understands and is able to do. Once the EQF is fully implemented, a foreign job applicant’s certificate would contain a reference to an EQF level, such as “EQF level 5”. Since the relevant qualification authority in each member state will have already provided such a reference to EQF levels in its qualifications in the field concerned, employers will be able to understand the foreign qualification and compare it with their national qualifications. From 2012, all new qualifications should bear a reference to the EQF, so that employers and institutions can identify a candidate’s knowledge, skills or competences.

For further information on the Referencing Report the general public are kindly asked to contact the Malta Qualifications Council at [email protected] or tel: 2754-0051, 2180-1411.