Cicero Policy Briefer

Issue 18, November 2007

The European Qualifications Framework—Learning together

By Stephanie Fraser

On 24 October, the European Parliament voted in favour of adopting the ‘Recommendation on the establishment of the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning’ (EQF).

The European Parliament hopes that it will act as a “translation device”, providing a guide to employers and individuals in member states on comparable levels between different and often complex education systems. The EQF will link up member states’ qualifications systems, which should make it easier for individual citizens to move to another EU country to work or study.

The EQF does not replace existing national and sectoral frameworks, nor does it define new qualifications. It is an entirely voluntary system, and has been welcomed by the UK. The Government predicts that the EQF can make a significant contribution to the Lisbon process by helping labour markets function more effectively.

The EQF should be seen as the first step towards a higher level of understanding and cooperation that will enhance levels of skills and productivity across the board. However, as in many aspects of our relationship with Europe, there is confusion in the skills arena as to whether we are in competition or collusion with our European co-workers.

The Leitch Review of Skills, published in December 2006, highlighted the challenge ahead of us in terms of improving skills in order to retain a competitive global economy. It warned: “Faster information flows and technological change will accelerate the transfer of both low and high value economic activity to other regions such as Asia and Eastern Europe…These changes,” the report emphasises, “put an increasing premium on the UK’s skills profile.”

The Government’s new Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills also highlights the need to equip the UK workforce in order to “compete against our international peers”. This is an antagonistic and potentially isolationist standpoint from which to embrace the EQF. What is overlooked in this positioning is that the UK skills premium is under threat due to more comprehensive, innovative and effective education systems being developed in Europe. The understanding and aligning of competencies can only be an advantage to the UK while it slowly updates its own outdated and hopelessly overcomplicated education system.

Leitch predicted that the shifting global skills landscape “creates challenges that the UK must address and opportunities that it cannot afford to miss”. The European Qualifications Framework falls into the latter category.

Stephanie Fraser can be contacted on +44 (0)20 7665 9531 or click here to email.

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