EQAVET in practice Erasmus Project

Project Title

EQAVET in practice

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Quality Assurance

Project Summary

European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for VET (EQAVET) is one of the four instruments (Europass, EQF, ECVET and EQAVET) with the aim to increase the transparency, consistency and transferability of VET providers across Europe. It provides a common reference framework to VET providers to improve, monitor and evaluate their quality assurance policies and practices. Since the EQAVET indicators were developed by minimal provider involvement, little attention was paid regarding their practical implementation at provider level.

This project aimed to address the issue of adaptation of EQAVET criteria, indicative descriptors and quality indicators to national requirements at provider level. The specific goal of the project was elaboration of interactive web-based guidelines for implementation of EQAVET criteria at provider level.

The project consortium consisted of 8 partners with the following profiles:
1. Folkuniversitetet is a national Adult Education Association which offers a wide range of VET and adult education training courses throughout Sweden and in several European countries.
2. USR Veneto represents one of the regional branches of the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research. USRV is divided into 3 departments performing tasks at regional level and 5 local branches.
3. Yrkeshögskoleförbundet is Swedish Association of Higher Vocational education providers is a non-profit organisation aiming to promote providers in higher vocational education. The association deals with such issues as legal framework for providers of education, more training seats and a stable, long-term development of higher vocational education. At present it has 448 members.
4. IES Hermanos Machado is a state VET provider depending on the Regional Educational Authority in Andalucía and located in Seville.
5. Revalento is a consultancy that offers services on the cross roads of training, education, labour market and organization.
6. Effebi Association is a non-profit Association which since its foundation in 1976 has been a reference point for people involved in the management and development of HR and organizational models in the banking & financial sector. Members of the Association are the leading Italian Banking groups and banks.
7. DIMITRA is one of the leading VET organisations at national level in Greece holding extensive experience and unique competencies in both methodology development and production of practical solutions matching specific vocational and professional development needs.
8. FACO offers a wide range of services within quality in different types of education. FACO have been involved in international activities within education since 2000 and Kim Faurschou have been one of the key experts behind the development of the different quality models within vocational education and training resulting in the EQAVET Recommendation at European level. He is also member of the expert group of EQAVET.

The main activities undertaken were:
Activity 1 – Project coordination
Activity 2 – Research on quality indicators currently in use by VET providers and level of their alignment with EQAVET
Activity 3 – Development of the web based guidelines on adaptation and implementation of EQAVET at provider level
Activity 4 – Updating already elaborated result of 3 prior project both technically and according to guidelines
Activity 5 – Dissemination and valorisation
Activity 6 – Quality control and monitoring and evaluation

Through these activities the following results were attained:
A. Report on usage of existing criteria, descriptors and indicators in quality assurance at provider level in participating countries as an input for implementation of EQAVET at national level.
B. Web-based interactive guidelines for adapting criteria, descriptors and indicators of EQAVET to national VET system
C. Updated and mainstreamed the improved already elaborated products from 3 prior projects as an integrated tool for self-assessment, quality management and improvement process (“Quick Scan”). The functionality of the tool enables VET providers to approach the quality cycle of EQAVET with consideration to national QA

The project activities have generated multiple impacts on different target groups:
1. The results on the outcome of implemented research (O1) increased the awareness concerning EQAVET and its criteria, descriptors and indicators and their current use
2. The developed web based guidelines give providers tool for interpretation and adaptation of EQAVET criteria descriptors and indicators to both national quality framework and the environment and conditions of the VET institute.
3. The updated QA integrated web based tool gives providers a self-assessment, planning of quality improvement instrument for implementation and adaptation of whole EQAVET quality cycle.
4. The guidelines developed has given EQAVET secretariat the needed input from providers for implementation of EQAVET at national level.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 425231 Eur

Project Coordinator

STIFTELSEN KURSVERKSAMHETEN VID U-AUNIVERSITET & Country: SE

Project Partners

• IES Hermanos Machado
• FACO
• DIMITRA EKPAIDITIKI SIMVILITIKI AE
• Yrkeshögskoleförbundet i Sverige
• VAN DE WINKEL CONSULTANCY BV
• Finance & Banking, Associazione per lo Sviluppo Organizzativo e delle Risorse Umane
• UFFICIO SCOLASTICO REGIONALE PER IL VENETO