Qualifications frameworks and learning outcomes: Challenges for Europe's lifelong learning area

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Qualifications frameworks are political instruments that are supposed to facilitate the assessment of learning outcomes. They are hoped to be drivers for change since they are meant to provide the impetus for a number of fundamental reforms required in education and training systems. These considerations frame the design and implementation of coherent reforms, strategies and instruments. Thus, there are conceptual, political and procedural issues which are equally worthy of attention. Focusing on the European area, this paper addresses the question of whether the development of qualifications frameworks yields the anticipated benefits of the 'shift to learning outcomes'. The aim of the contribution is to review previous experience with learning outcomes and its links with qualifications frameworks as well as to analyse the current trends and challenges within the European countries.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)279-297
Number of pages19
JournalJournal of education and work
Volume25
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2012
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

Keywords

  • competences, education and training policy, Europe, learning outcomes, qualifications frameworks

Library keywords