Objectives The Analytical and Capacity Development Partnership ACDP 024 study
3 sector
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. However, the need for a structured, vocationally-oriented training sector to expand the already strong trades-training system and to sit alongside higher education and school education sectors was
strongly grounded in the country’s economic reform programs.
Overview of the main rationales for National Qualifications Frameworks
Worker mobility: Economic integration facilitates the flow of goods and services, including workers, between participating countries. Since education and training systems are widely varied among the
member countries, an agreed standard is needed to understand and regulate workers’ qualification. By implementing such standards, workers would be eligible to take job opportunities
within the region without having to take additional procedures to re-qualify their competencies.
Student mobility: Without a common understanding of each other’s qualifications, student mobility between countries will be difficult to implement. This is particularly true when member countries
do not have a similar education and training system and require the transparency that a qualifications framework can provide.
Relevance: When establishing program learning outcomes, stakeholders, particularly employers and users, must be involved. Such involvement would improve the relevance of the education and
training to the world of work.
Lifelong learning: Economic growth brings new prosperity that drives adult employees, who might have missed the opportunity to properly attend schooling, to reenter the education and training
system. Some of their work experiences could be recognized, exempting them from taking some courses. Without a qualifications framework that provides for qualifications linkages and promotes
recognition of prior learning, such an activity could be tedious, cumbersome, and eventually discourage adults from continuing the learning. In the world of work, experiences could also be
used to acquire formal recognition that directly benefits employees’ careers.
Accountability of providers: Learning outcomes at program level are required to be well articulated giving sufficient information to the prospective students and parents. This accountability is
required as part of good university governance.