December 10th 2007: Last Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th December, stakeholders forming parts of ESU's EQF project met at the BDA premises in Berlin to discuss the progress of EQF implementation in their respective countries, as well as progress within the project in general. The meeting was attended by Frederick de Decker for AuGENT, Borut Werber for SVIZ, Magnus Ofstad Malnes for EON, Irene Sehling and Susanne Muller for BDA, Katie Morrisroe for USI as well as Anne Mikkola and Anthony F. Camiller for ESU.

Colin Tuck from the European Quality Assurance Register was also invited as a guest expert.

The content part of the meeting involved a discussion of the latest progress of the national round of consultations and their results. The main point of discussion was feedback from various stakeholders with respect to EQF implementation in their countries. In particular, much discussion revolved around thc question of whether an EQF will indeed simplify the scheme of qualifications in Europe, or whether the scheme will backfire and produce another level of administration which will serve to complicate matters further.

Stakeholders agreed that for the European Qualifications Framework to reach its intended objectives, it will be important to develop other recognition tools, in particular the diploma supplement and a proper implementation of the credit system together with it. Furthermore, much more effort will need to be put into increasing adoption by stakeholders, in particular employers, through better targeted and adapted promotion.

Partners also discussed logistics and content for a conference on the EQF to be held in April in Slovenia. Dates have been tentaviely set for 21st and 22nd April. An Agenda will be finalised at the beginning of January together with the project advisory board, after which a final date will be set and registration for the conference will be opened.

Reports from the first round of national consultations can be obtained by clicking here.