Detailed roadmap for the eqf referencing of the nqf in fyrom

5 Response to the EQF referencing criteria and procedures

Criterion 1 (EQF)

The responsibilities and/or legal competence of all relevant national bodies involved in the referencing process, including the National Coordination Point, are clearly determined and published by the competent public authorities.
On 07 November 2012 the Minister of Education and Science established the Working Group for Development of the National Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning, coordinated by the Ministry of Education and Science¹⁹. Members of the Working Group are representatives from the:

• 
  Ministry of Education and Science (Department of Primary and Secondary Education, Department of Higher Education, representatives of the Cabinet of the Minister, EU Department)
  
• 
  Ministry of Labour and Social Policy
  
• 
  Centre for Adult Education (national institution)
  
• 
  VET Centre (national institution)
  
• 
  Bureau for Development of Education
  

• 
  Employment Service Agency
  
• 
  State Statistical Office
  
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  Ministry of Information Society and Public Administration
  
• 
  Chamber of Commerce
  
• 
  Organisation of Employers and
  
• 
  Chamber of Crafts.
  

The Working Group focused on the development of the Macedonian Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning, communication and promotion of the Framework. On 09 April 2013 public debate on the draft document Macedonian Qualifications Framework – Baselines was held with participation of representatives of all key stakeholders and social partners: Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Ministry of Economy, Employment Service Agency, VET Centre, Bureau for Development of Education, Centre for Adult Education, State Statistical Office, local self-government (municipalities), higher education sector (pri­vate and public universities), pre-school education institutions (kindergartens), primary schools, secondary schools (general and VET), Association of Teachers of the Republic of Macedonia (Sojuz na prosvetni rabotnici na Republika Makedonija), Union of the Higher Education Stu­dents, Union of Secondary Education Students, open universities for lifelong learning, Employers Organisation of the Republic of Macedonia, companies, Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Crafts of the Republic of Macedonia, Trade Unions, National Examination Centre, the Board for Accreditation and Evaluation of Higher Education, National Agency for European Educational Programmes and Mobility, representatives of the donor community active in the area of education (USAID, British Council, UNDP, experts from the IPA Twinning project on VET, experts from the IPA Twinning project for adult education), non-governmental organizations, as well as media representatives (in Macedonian and Albanian language). Based on the recommendations from the public debate, the draft document was updated and the final draft was submitted to the Government for adoption.

On 30 July 2013 the Government of the Republic of Macedonia adopted the Macedonian Quali­fications Fra­me­work – Baselines with the aim to reference it to the EQF.
In October 2013 the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia adopted the Law for the National Qualifications Framework (Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia N^o 137/2013).
On 07 April 2014 the Minister of Education and Science established the Working Group for Further Development of the National Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning, coordinated by the Ministry of Education and Science²⁰. Members of the Working Group are representatives from the:

• 
  Ministry of Education and Science (Department of Primary and Secondary Education, Department of Higher Education, representatives of the Cabinet of the Minister, EU Department)
  

• 
  Ministry of Labour and Social Policy
  
• 
  Centre for Adult Education
  
• 
  VET Centre
  
• 
  Bureau for Development of Education
  
• 
  Employment Service Agency
  
• 
  State Statistical Office
  
• 
  Ministry of Information Society and Public Administration
  
• 
  Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Macedonia
  
• 
  Organisation of Employers and the
  
• 
  Chamber of Crafts.
  

In addition, representatives of employers, trade unions, schools and local self-go­vern­ments have been in­volved in the activities of the Working Group.

The Working group follows the developments and implementation of qualifications frameworks in Europe, analyses the existing relevant legislation and prepares recommendations for adjustment, prepares relevant do­cuments (methodologies, procedures, protocols etc.), works on awareness raising and capacity building of all stakeholders, as well as on communication and promotion of NQF.
For the preparation of the EQF Referencing Report, the Minister of Education and Science established a Working Group for Preparation of a National Report for Referencing the NQF to the EQF²¹. The Group is chaired by representative of the Ministry and Education and Science, with members from the: Ministry and Education and Science (Cabinet of the Minister, Department of Primary and Secondary Education, Department of Higher Education, EU Department), academia (University “St. Clement of Ohrid”-Bitola, University “Goce Delchev” – Shtip, South-East European University-Tetovo), Board for Accreditation and Evaluation of Higher Education, VET Centre, Centre for Adult Education, Bureau for Development of Education, National Examination Centre, State Educational Inspectorate, National Agency for European Educational Programmes and Mobility, VET school, Student Union, Organisation of Employers and the Chamber of Crafts of the Republic of Macedonia. The Decision mentions all activities needed for preparation of the EQF Referencing Report.
By the Law on the National Qualifications Framework, the responsibilities / legal competence of the national bodies is as follows:
Ministry of Education and Science:

• 
  provides recommendations for the development of qualification standards
  
• 
  leads the referencing of the Macedonian Qualifications Framework to the EQF and the self-certification to the QF-EHEA
  
• 
  follows the implementation and development of the NQFs in other countries and
  
• 
  communicates to the stakeholders and to the wider public topics related to the Macedonian Qualifications Framework.
  

The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy:

• 
  establishes and develops an information system on the labour market needs and forecasting
  
• 
  proposes development of standards of qualifications and standards of occupations according to the needs of the labour market
  
• 
  adopts standards of occupations
  
• 
  participates in the preparation of strategic documents and analyses relevant for the development of the Macedonian Qualifications Framework and
  
• 
  monitors the employment of persons with acquired qualifications.
  

Competent institutions for development of qualifications are:

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  The VET Centre²², Centre for Adult Education²³ and Bureau for Development Education for levels I to VB;
  
• 
  Higher education institutions for levels VA to level VIII.
  

The National Board for the Macedonian Qualifications Framework with members from: the Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, VET Centre, Centre for Adult Education, Bureau for Development of Education, National Agency for European Education Programmes and Mobility, higher education institutions, one representative of the chambers²⁴ and Independent Trade Union for Education, Science and Culture of the Republic of Macedonia:

• 
  discusses evaluations of policies on education, sustainable employment, and regional development
  
• 
  recommends actions for better linking the education system with the labour market needs
  
• 
  decides on the allocation of existing and new qualifications in MQF
  
• 
  proposes development of new or improvement of existing qualifications to the competent institutions
  
• 
  monitors the development of MQF as a whole
  
• 
  develops and adopts methodological documents for classifying qualifications
  
• 
  establishes Sectoral Qualifications Councils
  
• 
  determines criteria for operation of the Sectoral Qualifications Councils and provides recom­mendations for their work
  
• 
  decides on sub-sectors, areas and sub-areas within the sectors and
  
• 
  adopts the reports of the Sectoral Qualifications Councils, including recommendations on their functioning.
  

The Sectoral Qualifications Councils (president and eight members of: the Ministry of Education and Science, Association of Employers from the relevant sector, Trade Union in the respective sector, universities, VET Centre, Centre for Adult Edu­cation, Bureau for Development of Education, and the relevant competent body for regulated pro­fes­sions in the country:

• 
  analyse the current state and trends of the sector labour market
  
• 
  identify the needs for all types of qualifications in line with the requirements of the labour market and the society as a whole
  
• 
  analyse and evaluate existing qualifications
  
• 
  review proposals for the introduction of new qualifications
  
• 
  propose sectoral or sub-sectoral qualifications for all levels
  
• 
  propose priorities for development of new qualifications and updating of existing qualifications
  
• 
  provide opinions on the compliance of the assessment standards and instruments with the occupational standards and the standards of qualifications
  
• 
  establish committees for assessment and validation of the learning outcomes acquired in non-formal learning
  
• 
  promote the sectoral qualifications and the employment possibilities, and
  
• 
  submit annual reports on their work to the National Board.
  

The NQF Law applies as of 30 September 2015. On 20 October 2015 the Government established the National Board for the Macedonian Qualifications Framework²⁵. Establishment of Sectoral Qualifications Councils will follow.

The institutions and bodies involved in developing and implementation of the Macedonian Qualifications Framework are presented on Figure 6.

Figure 6. Competent institutions and bodies for the development and implementation of the MQF