AQF Council Consultation Paper: Strengthening the AQF

Submitted by Nigel Palmer on Thu, 2009-10-15 13:00

[From the AQF website]

The first term of reference for the AQF Council is the provision of policy advice to MCEETYA (and MCVTE as appropriate) on:

• Strategic strengthening of the AQF required to meet identified needs such as improving national consistency and contemporary relevance, including national and international portability
• Improving flexible qualification linkages and pathways in education and training within and across all sectors, including recognition of non-formal and informal learning
• Relevant national and international issues and their implications for national qualifications policy
• National and international recognition and comparability of qualification standards and alignment of qualifications standards / frameworks.

Stage 1

In May 2009 a consultation paper outlining the Council’s proposal for the strategic strengthening of the AQF was circulated to stakeholders for feedback.

The consultation process has been completed and written submissions have been received from 84 higher education, schools and vocational education providers, industry and employer groups, government agencies and accrediting authorities in addition to private individual responses.

A report on the submissions: Strengthening the AQF: A proposal - Analysis of Submissions September 2009 is now available.

Stage 2

Stage 2 of the project is the release of the consultation paper Strengthening the AQF: An Architecture for Australia's Qualifications for comment. The paper details the proposed levels-based structure with levels attributes and criteria, revised qualification type descriptors and a notional duration of student learning for each qualification. The levels criteria and qualification types descriptors are defined by learning outcomes and are expressed in terms of knowledge, skills and application of knowledge and skills.

Consultation workshops will be held with key groups of stakeholders during October and written submissions may also be made. Submissions can be sent to the AQF Council by October 16, 2009 at aqfc@saugov.sa.gov.au

Project Contact: Ann Doolette ann.doolette@sa.gov.au phone 8226 2775.