I went to a seminar today on the AQF and the proposed changes following in-depth consultation of the AQF council.
It actually sounds like the changes will be beneficial for the VET and higher education sector.
In essence it is bringing them together and allowing transparency between the sectors with equalisations issued.
It also highlighted the fact that Australia has been leading the way with a qualifications framework and how the international community has been following in our path.
The proposed structure of the strengthened AQF is comprised of:
- 10 levels of increasing complexity against which the existing qualification types in all education and training sectors have been located, and
- learning outcome-based descriptors for each qualification type based on a common taxonomy of knowledge, skills and application of the knowledge and skills with embedded generic skills and a specified notional duration of student learning time for each qualification type.
- The structure of levels enables more than one qualification type of similar complexity but different focus to be accommodated at each level. It will enable new qualification types to be added if required and it will allow for comparison with other qualifications frameworks which are also levels-based.
The structure is supported by a set of policies.
Policies have underpinned the Australian Qualifications Framework since its inception in 1995. The current policies that comprise the AQF include:
- guidelines for each qualification type
- policy and protocols for issuing a qualification
- guidelines on cross-sector linkages and national principles and operational guidelines for • recognition of prior learning, and
- the requirement for the inclusion of AQF qualifications on the AQF Register of Recognised Education Institutions and Authorised Accreditation Authorities in Australia.
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