Estonian qualifications framework and quality assurance

The Estonian qualifications framework (EKR) is a backbone of the Estonian qualifications system. Quality assurance in the qualifications system is a subsystem of the quality assurance system for lifelong learning. The qualifications system encompasses three important processes:

• Development of qualifications standards (framework standards for the types of qualifications, national curricula, professional standards and curricula),
• Assessment and validation of persons' competence,
• Referencing qualifications to the EKR.

The quality assurance system in higher education is based on the principles of the Bologna process. As a part of this process, internal quality assurance systems have been developed at the higher education institutions and are externally evaluated on a regular basis. On January 1, 2009 an independent Estonian Higher Education Quality Agency has been established.

During the period 2009-2011 all the study programmes in higher education will be evaluated. As a result the corresponding group of study programmes (in the sense of the ISCED) will be accredited and a university or an applied higher education institution (HEI) will have the right to award the corresponding academic degrees and diplomas. This decision means also that these qualifications will be incorporated into the EKR. The HEI-s need to pass the accreditation process on regular bases.

Quality assurance system in VET has three subsystems:

• Internal quality assurance at VET institutions,
• Periodical external evaluation of VET institutions,
• Occasional state inspection.

The principles for renewal of the quality assurance system in VET and the related conditions for state recognition of VET qualifications are under development. This is accomplished in the framework of the ESF sponsored programme "Development of vocational education and training". European common reference criteria for quality assurance in VET serve as an important starting point for these developments.

Quality assurance system in general education has three subsystems:

• Internal quality assurance at schools,
• Periodical external evaluation of schools,
• Occasional state inspection.

Periodical external evaluation has two types:

• External examinations (state exams and periodical tests),
• External evaluation of internal quality assurance systems.

Quality assurance system in the professional qualifications system encompasses:

• Assuring the quality of selecting awarding institutions,
• Assuring the quality of professional standards,
• Internal quality assurance of persons' competence assessment and validation processes in the awarding institutions,
• Periodical external evaluation of the awarding institutions by the professional council.

The corresponding principles and procedures are partially described in the Professions Act and are based on the requirements of ISO 17924 (General requirements for persons' certification institutions). Renewal of the quality assurance system in the professional qualifications system is a part of the corresponding ESF programme.