IFCOS (International Forum for Construction Occupational Standards)

Standards of Competence & EQF

A briefing on recent developments in Europe

Nigel Lloyd

IFCOS (International Forum for Construction Occupational Standards)

Context• flexible working, international labour market• EU: Lisbon Goals and Education & Training 2010• Single market for VET (Vocational Education &

Training) • Trends: Learning Outcomes, competences,

transparency, quality assurance, zones of mutual trust• Bologna process for higher education – 41 countries• Copenhagen process for VET– 31 countries• EQF (European Qualifications Framework)• ECVET (European Credit Accumulation & Transfer

System for VET)

IFCOS (International Forum for Construction Occupational Standards)

Standards of Competence

• what a competent person does in their job• competence = attitudes + skills + knowledge• competence = doing job functions + managing self/job +

coping with the unexpected• analysis of job functions with industry practitioners• flexibility, shared units, modularity • outcome- & performance-oriented, not just knowledge • evidence, not just a written exam • ‘competence assurance’, not just qualifications• progression pathways

IFCOS (International Forum for Construction Occupational Standards)

Relationship of Knowledge, Skills and Competence

• Knowledge = facts, theories, principles, understanding• Skills = the application of knowledge (therefore necessarily

includes knowledge)• Competence = the application of skills in an occupational

context (therefore necessarily includes skill and therefore knowledge)

competence skill

knowledge

IFCOS (International Forum for Construction Occupational Standards)

the conceptual set-up• Standards as building blocks, shared units• Performance Spec: performance criteria, range+ Learning Spec: what knowledge & skills, how to

learn+ Assessment Spec: what evidence, how to assess• levels• key skills• 2 varieties: academic/knowledge qualifications

or full competence qualifications

“advising organisations on the development of their professionals”

IFCOS (International Forum for Construction Occupational Standards)

other applications

• IPD (Initial Professional Development): apprenticeship, professional qualifications

• Registration & Certification Schemes, laws

• CPD (Continuing Professional Development)

• work experience

• recruitment, selection, promotion

• career progression, career change

• labour market info

“advising organisations on the development of their professionals”

IFCOS (International Forum for Construction Occupational Standards)

The Bologna process: a framework for the European Higher Education Area (EHEA)

The copenhagen process: a framework for vocational and professional education and training (VET)

•General education

•Mainly initial education•Resources•Programs•Staffing•Workload•Years as building blocks•University/academic

Or higher education authorities approach

Bachelor >> Master >> Doctorate

•professional education•initial and continuing education•learning outcomes•lifelong learning•informal and non formal learning•distance learning•competences as building blocks•national and sectoral approach

European Qualifications framework

8 reference levels

Fulfilling the Lisbon objectives: towards the knowledge society

IFCOS (International Forum for Construction Occupational Standards)

IFCOS (International Forum for Construction Occupational Standards)EQF Level 1EQF Level 1

EQF Level 2EQF Level 2

EQF Level 3EQF Level 3

EQF Level 4EQF Level 4

EQF Level 5EQF Level 5

EQF Level 6EQF Level 6

EQF Level 7EQF Level 7

EQF Level 8EQF Level 8

Qualification

Qualification

Qualification

Qualification

Qualification

Qualification

Qualification

Country ACountry A Country BCountry B

IFCOS (International Forum for Construction Occupational Standards)“Learning outcomes are statements of what a learner is expected to know,understand and/or be able to do at the end of a period of learning” (CEDEFOP)

Competences

SkillsEachEQF

Reference Level

The Eight EQF LevelsThe Eight EQF Levels

Knowledge

IFCOS (International Forum for Construction Occupational Standards)

Focus on Learning OutcomesFocus on Learning Outcomes

EQFEQF

LearningOutcomes

Non-Form

al LearningFormal Learning

Info

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Lea

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