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IPA PROJECT
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19-07-2010
The project reaches its half-way point!
June and July have been very busy for those working on the NQF and QA in education project which has now been running for almost 10 of its 20 month duration. A number of outputs have been completed and progress on both components is becoming increasingly noticeable.
On the MQF, the development phase is almost complete and in September the implementation phase (that will help to turn the concept into a reality) will start. Some of the key milestones include:
- completion of the consultation phase on the level descriptors for the MQF - these are now included in the draft Law on MQF;
- development of concrete proposals about the other elements of the MQF system: the Montenegrin Credit Transfer System; the types of qualifications and types of award that will be available;
- production of a set of 6 methodologies that will support the implementation of the MQF - these include guidelines about how to level existing and new qualifications, how to apply the Montenegrin Credit system to new qualifications, how to specify new qualifications and units for inclusion within the MQF and how to recognise non-formal and informal learning;
- An analysis of the training needs of those who will be the main players in the development and implementation of the MQF;
- around 15 meetings, training activities and consultations with members of the NQF working group and key agencies;
- development of a unique visual identity for the MQF including a special logo, templates and other visual elements;
- production of a user-friendly leaflet about the MQF which will be in circulation in September;
- delivery of 15 separate awareness raising events for a variety of organizations and individuals;
- the start of work on a web-based system that will allow much improved access to information about qualifications, assessment and learning opportunities across all the qualifications in the MQF;
- establishment of two of the planned Sectoral commissions for Qualifications that will play a key role in ensuring that qualifications developed are relevant and well-designed.
At the same time the project team has been working closely with the University of Montenegro to develop their quality assurance strategy and has started implementing a programme of activities for people involved in quality assurance across all the universities and faculties of higher education. Some of the key milestones include:
- 5 days of meetings for the QA strategy working group;
- 5 training seminars for the whole QA strategy working group and a further 4 workshops on particular topics for specialist sub-groups;
- establishment of a cross-faculty network for those engaged in QA in higher education in Montenegro;
- a national conference on the Standards and guidelines for QA in the European Higher Education Areas for those involved in QA in higher education;
- production of a set of guidelines for course/programme review in higher education;
- development of a set of national performance indicators to support the monitoring of quality assurance across all higher education in Montenegro;
- agreement about the focus for the development of the national information system to support QA in higher education;
In addition, we have assisted with the purchase and installation of IT equipment and software to strengthen the capacity of the MoES and the University of Montenegro to process and distribute data in support of the MQF and QA systems in Montenegro.
The next phase of activities will begin in September. The project office will be closed in the period 23rd July to 16th August.
19-07-2010
Awareness Raising Sessions About the MQF
Two further awareness raising sessions about the MQF were held for senior members of the Montenegrin Employment Agency and for members of the Councils for VET, Adult and General Education at the beginning of July. Janet Swainger and Slavica Raicevic from the project team were invited to address a meeting of the management group at the Montenegrin Employment Agency and to answer questions about the project, the concept and stage of development of the MQF and the role that the Employment Agency will have in its implementation. This topic is of great importance to the Employment Agency as it has such a key role to play in helping those who are unemployed enter or re-enter the labor market, it provides training for the unemployed and it also has close links with employers and the labor market. Recognizing the outcomes of non-formal and informal learning is very important in this context and the development of the MQF, which provides a mechanism for recognizing the outcomes of learning however it is achieved was of course of great interest to the participants.
The second meeting, for those involved in the various Councils, was held at the Restaurant Radovce. It was very well-attended and there was a lively discussion about the MQF concept and what it will mean in reality. Again, the opportunities it presents to recognize the outcomes of non-formal and informal learning as well as formal learning were welcomed. It was agreed that there will be a considerable amount of further work to make the MQF a reality but the project team explained how this is going to be taken forward and supported in the coming months.
17-06-2010
Awareness raising about Montenegrin Qualifications Framework enters a new stage!
In order to prepare people from key national institutions to apply and implement the MQF in an efficient and high quality manner, a further series of awareness raising seminars/workshops has been organized during the last two weeks. Employees in the Ministry of Education and Science, the Bureau for Education and the Examination Centre considered the whole Montenegro Qualification Framework concept and, in particular, the implications of the MQF implementation for their regular work activities.
Workshops for employees in the Ministry of Education and Science and the Bureau for Education were organized on June 10 and for the Examination Centre on June 16. The main approach was to combine presentation of the key segments of the Framework, with the possibility for participants to discuss and ask further questions on topics that are relevant for their further work.
Staff from all the above institutions have also taken part in a training needs analysis to help identify where to focus further training and support as the process of developing and implementing the Montenegro Qualification Framework continues. Based on the results of this exercise, tailor-made training programmes and mentoring will be provided.
09-06-2010
Visual identity for MQF
Strawberry I&S, a regional media and design company has been contracted to produce an MQF/CKO logo and a visual identity for the whole MQF/CKO development. In addition to the logos (Montenegrin and English versions) and accompanying book of standards, a set of templates has been commissioned. This development should help create a brand identity for the MQF and increase recognition of this important development.Roll-up banners and a leaflet about the MQF, targeted at implementers and employers will be ready later this month. A domain name www.cko.edu.me has been registered. Other tools and materials will follow.
For further information about the current stage of development of the MQF/CKO, please contact the project team at their office in the MoES, room 17, second floor, telephone (020) 410 170.
19-05-2010
Working Group meetings for MQF conducted
The MQF working group met again on two occasions in May - 13th and 18th in the MOES conference room. These were full day workshops with the focus on finalizing the methodologies developed at the previous residential workshop in Pobori. Over the two days the group finalized the following methodologies:- Classifying a Qualification,
- Specifying a Qualification,
- Aligning an existing qualification with the MQF,
- Placing a new qualification on the MQF and
- Applying a credit rating to a qualification.
The next stage in the development of the methodologies is a technical edit by the international expert team. Thereafter, the methodologies can be used in the training of qualification implementers and in the consultation with other stakeholders.
05-05-2010
NQF working group
The NQF working group will be meeting on two occasions in the coming weeks. On the 13th May they will work on concluding the methodologies for classifying qualifications and for specifying a qualification. On the 18th May they will complete their work on the development of a methodology for aligning existing qualifications with the MQF and on methodologies for credit rating and recognition of non-formal and informal learning.
05-05-2010
Awareness raising for staff in the VET Centre
Six representatives from the VET Centre met with Slavica Raicevic and Janet Swainger from the IPA NQF and quality assurance in education project last Thursday (29th April) for the first of a series of regular weekly sessions about the MQF. The topic for this week was the MQF concept and the MQF levels and level descriptors. For some this was all very new, whilst for others it offered an opportunity to reinforce what they already knew about the MQF generally and to examine the proposed Montenegrin level descriptors in more detail. There was much discussion, particularly about the level descriptors which stimulated considerable debate. A formal consultation on the proposed level descriptors will take place soon.
13-04-2010
The Montenegrin Qualifications Framework (MQF)
The Montenegrin Qualifications Framework (MQF) is a vehicle to understand and compare qualifications; to be used by learners, employers and the general public to show the links between different types and levels of qualifications, and the progression pathways available for lifelong learning.
The levels within the MQF provide the guidance to recognise existing qualifications and to specify new qualifications in terms of expected learning outcomes, which reflect the knowledge, skills and competences of the learners. This focus on outputs means that learning can be recognised irrespective of the learning routes, thus enabling the recognition of non-formal and informal learning alongside that acquired through formal programmes. This allows people of all ages and circumstances to gain qualifications, and gives employers the capacity to evaluate the skills of the workforce against the standards expected in the work place.
The introduction of a transferable credit system to recognise learning outcomes, as they are achieved, will enable learners to understand and plan their lifelong learning journey. Additional value of the MQF is that it will allow the comparison of Montenegrin qualifications on an international level, thus promoting the mobility of learners and the labour force both at home and abroad.
The success of the MQF will be measured through comprehensive mechanisms for quality assurance and clearly defined responsibilities of those involved at each stage of the learner’s journey.
- Concept MQF ENG.pdf
30-03-2010
MQF Working Group meeting – seminar in Pobori
Members of the MQF Working Group escaped from their busy offices for three days on 22 - 24 March 2010, to focus on the development of the component methodologies required to implement the MQF.
The venue for the event was the isolated Hotel Zamak in Pobore, where the excellent conference and business centre provided the perfect venue for such an intensive work schedule.
The Working Group, supported by the Project team and building on their recent training, tackled and completed the ambitious task of producing working methodologies in 6 component areas of the MQF, namely, classifying qualifications, specifying qualifications, writing learning outcomes, levelling qualifications, credit rating of qualifications and the recognition of non – formal and informal learning.
The group approached their task by breaking it into manageable objectives and assigning each team member to sub-groups for each activity. On day three, the groups exchanged and reviewed each others' work to produce versions of the methodologies to be proposed for consultation with wider stakeholders.
30-03-2010
IPA project team in Mojkovac
The members of the IPA project team visited Mojkovac on the 19th March to talk to school directors and representatives of the Employment bureaus in the Northern municipalities of Montenegro about the Montenegrin Qualification Framework. Secondary school ‘Vuksan Đukić’ in Mojkovac hosted the event which was attended by 18 representatives of the various institutions. A lively discussion and practical work followed a presentation about the concept and the proposed levels for the MQF.
Participants welcomed the session and asked that more be arranged about this important topic. This is the final session in the first phase of awareness-raising about the MQF - a second phase will begin after Easter. This next phase will be targeted at those in the Ministry of Education and Science, the VET Centre, the Bureau for Education Services, the Examination Centre and the Universities who will implement the MQF.
30-03-2010
Working Group in strategic planning for quality holds its second meeting at Hotel Residence, Milocer
A second meeting of the group took place on 25 and 26 February 2010 in Milocer. The two-fold purpose of the meeting was to: (a) outline a university policy statement regarding quality and quality assurance, based on previous meeting’s discussions; (b) agree on priorities for the university quality assurance and devise a set of quality targets to be achieved in the future.
The meeting was conceptually structured around the idea to develop a coherent institutional approach to quality and quality assurance, instead of simply jumping into designing tools and procedures. From the very beginning, therefore, the attention was focused on what the aspirations of the University are, how from these aspirations one can define the institution’s purpose, values and principles, so that they would guide the construction of a robust and effective quality assurance system in the future. Members of the Working Group shared the idea that self-reflection on the university work is needed before deciding how to get to a quality system that would assist university in achieving its vision and purpose. In setting up an internal framework for quality assurance as a key feature of the quality strategy, the University is guided by the concept of quality as continuous improvement. Such a concept underlines the need for taking deliberate steps to bring about improvement in the effectiveness of the learning experiences of students. In order to be able to take such deliberate steps, the University, its faculties, departments, units need to ask itself:
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where are we now?
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where do we want to be in the future?
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how are we going to get there?
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how will we know when we get there?
It was within such a framework that the group discussions took place during the meeting and it was considered a useful approach that can provide for committing the university to a cultural shift, from compliance-based self-evaluation towards improvement-oriented quality assurance.
The meeting venue provided an excellent opportunity to discuss and agree on the university policy regarding quality and its assurance and devise an outline of the draft strategy. Like the previous meetings of the group, this one was designed as an interactive event, where each and every participant could provide an input to the discussion, facilitated by short presentations and background papers for each session (see the attached Agenda for the Meeting).
The first day small group sessions helped in clarifying the University vision, purpose and values in relation to quality and define goals and specific objectives for internal quality assurance system. Practical session started by talking about what the university aims to achieve with its quality assurance system, and what kind of approach it might need in order to achieve these aims and purposes. Then participants went on discussing in some fair detail about characteristics of such system and possible mechanisms. These were then communicated to the rest of the group and revised at a plenary discussion. On the following day the group worked in a similar open and participative manner and developed and agreed on a set of priorities for their university quality system to be achieved in the next 3-5 years.
The results achieved at this meeting of the Working Group form an important input to the work of the four sub-groups, which are expected to develop further important aspects of the University quality assurance Strategy and design major elements of the quality system itself.
Patricia Georgieva,
IPA Consultant
12-03-2010
Montenegrin Qualification Framework – sessions for representatives from educational institutions and employment offices
On 25th February, representatives from the higher education faculties in the southern region, together with some faculties from Podgorica, met to learn more about the Montenegrin Qualification Framework and the implications of this development for higher education. The session combined the presentation of information about the MQF with an opportunity for participants to examine and work with the proposed level descriptors. These descriptors will form the main backbone of the MQF. The proposal is that there will be 8 main levels within the MQF with sub-levels at levels 6, 4 and 1. It is envisaged that this approach will enable all types of existing qualifications to be classified within the Framework as well as providing significant potential for the development and recognition of new ones. A formal consultation process about the levels and the level descriptors will be launched soon. This will enable members of interest groups to provide feedback on the proposals prior to their finalisation.
A further series of awareness raising session about the Montenegrin Qualification Framework has been organised for March. The first of these took place on 11th March and was targeted at representatives from the Employment Service. Representatives from the local labour offices in Podgorica, Cetinje, Niksic and Danilograd participated together with representatives from the National Employment Agency of Montenegro. A similar session for school directors and representatives of the labour offices in the northern region is planned for the 19th March in Mojkovac.
18-02-2010
Development of the Strategy and Action plan for Quality Assurance in Higher Education
A further meeting of the University of Montenegro Quality Assurance Strategy and Action Plan Working group was held on the 5th February. This was a training event focusing on the European Standards and guidelines for Quality Assurance.
Mitar Misovic PhD, director of the Quality Studies and Control Centre of the University, presented the current national quality assurance framework in Montenegro. Patricia Georgieva PhD, Quality Assurance expert on the IPA-funded NQF and Quality Assurance in Education project, gave a presentation and answered questions about this important topic. Members of the working group had the opportunity to form some initial ideas about how the Guidelines should influence their work.
Proposals for a series of meetings, training and small group consultations in support of the development of the Strategy were explained by the Rector, Predrag Miranović, PhD.
The group will meet again on the 25th and 26th February for a two-day residential session to continue with their work on the development of the University's Quality Assurance Strategy and Action plan. The session, which will be held at the Hotel Residence, Miločer, will be supported by two members of the NQF and Quality Assurance in Education project team.
09-02-2010
Montenegrin Qualifications Framework awareness raising event
A further series of awareness raising events about the Montenegrin Qualifications Framework (MQF) started on Wednesday, 3rd February when representatives from the higher education faculties in Podgorica attended a half-day session in the Ministry of Education and Science. Participants were introduced to the concept of the developing Montenegrin Qualification Framework and had an opportunity to discuss the concept and its implications. The session was led by Janet Swainger and Slavica Raičević from the EU-funded IPA "NQF and Quality Assurance in Education" Project.
Four more sessions will take place during February:
- 8th February - for representatives of international donor organizations
- 10th February in the Ministry of Education and Science, Podgorica - for Directors from schools in the Central region of Montenegro;
- 17th February at the Hotel Residence, Miločer - for Directors from schools and representatives from Employment offices in the Southern region of MOntenegro
- 25th February in the Ministry of Education and Science, Podgorica - for representatives of higher education faculties in the central and southern regions
A broader Communication strategy aimed at wider awareness raising about this important governmental initiative is being prepared for implementation from April 2010 onwards.
Further information about the events or about the MQF developments can be obtained from the project team - email info@montqual.eu, telephone 020 414 251.
03-02-2010
Montenegro Qualification Framework Working Group addressed areas in need of development
The Working Group of the Montenegro Qualification Framework recently addressed areas in need of development that were identified by a recent Training Needs Analysis (TNA) conducted on the Group. Workshops were delivered in the latter part of January 2010 by the qualification experts on the IPA Project. Attendance at the workshops were good and averaged about half of the Group participating in any one workshop. Topics addressed included:
- Leveling of qualifications on a national framework;
- Specifying a qualification;
- Transforming aims and standards into learning outcomes;
- Credit rating a qualification;
- Recognizing non- and informal learning; and
- Classifying qualifications and occupations.
The next stage in the Group's work is to develop methodologies for these areas so that the deliberations of the group can become reality. To that end, an intensive workshop will be arranged in March so that Group members can produce these methodologies. Subsequently, the Group will identify and train colleagues to put these methodologies into practice in at least two pilot areas of Tourism and Construction.
11-12-2009
The first meeting of a working group for the development of a Quality Assurance Strategy for the University of Montenegro will take place on Tuesday, 15th December 2009 in the Rectorate of the University of Montenegro. The event will be attended by representatives of the University staff and management, employers, students, professional associations and unions. the event will be facilitated by Mrs Patricia Georgieva, the quality assurance consultant on the IPA-funded NQF and Quality Assurance in Education project, funded by the European Union.
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ABOUT THE PROJECT
National Qualifications Framework and Quality in Higher EducationA new project commenced on 15th September 2009 and will run for 20 months until May 2011. The project is being implemented by a consortium comprising WYG International and the University Strathclyde (Scotland) in conjunction with the Ministry of Education and Science and the University of Montenegro. The project is financed through the IPA (Instrument for Pre-Accession) Fund managed by the Delegation of the European Commission in Montenegro.
Purpose of the project
The project has two main purposes:
- to develop institutional arrangements and undertake capacity building in order to create a National Qualification Framework;
- to enhance the University's efforts to establish a quality assurance system in higher education.
Main project activities
- a variety of activities linked to capacity building of staff in key institutions concerned with the establishment and administration of a national qualifications framework
- information and awareness raising activities targeted at both the HRD sector and the wider public, aimed at increasing public awareness about the NQF developments;
- Further work on classifying occupations and qualifications in support of an NQF;
- an overhaul of qualifications for the tourism and construction sectors as a starting point for further development;
- support to address the regulatory requirements for a national qualification framework;
- capacity building and other measures to promote recognition of non-formal and informal learning, including arrangements for certification;
- cooperation and exchange on qualifications’ development with EU partners including support for the introduction of a credit-transfer system for vocational qualifications
- institutional capacity building of the higher education sector, including development of a national quality assurance strategy and consideration of financing perspectives;
- training of university staff responsible for quality assurance;
- development of an improved information management system to support quality assurance in the University of Montenegro.
Impact
As a result of the project’s activities, it is anticipated that progress will have been made towards the establishment of a high quality system of nationally-recognised qualifications. Information about the quality of higher education should also have been improved and the quality of higher education itself should have increased as a result of a more comprehensive quality assurance system.
Attachment: About the project.pdf
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Team Leader
Janet Swainger
National Qualifications Framework
Tom Kelly
Quality Assurance in Higher Education
Patricia Georgieva
Information Management Systems
Zoran Nikolovski
Education Slavica RaicevicOffice Manager
Irena Lakovic
Interpreter
Vesna Popov
Project Director
Sally Kelly
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CONTACT US
Project officesMinistry of Education and Science
Room 17, second floor
Vaka Djurovica bb
PodgoricaTelephone: 020 410 170
University of Montenegro
Rectorate building, second floor
Cetinjska 2
Telephone: 020 414 251Email: Office manager - office.manager@montqual.eu
Team leader – janet.swainger@montqual.eu
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