National Qualification Framework

Reforms in Georgia

Ketevan Panchulidze
Coordinator of Qualifications Development Division
National Center for Education Quality Enhancement (NCEQE)

Self-certification workshop TPG A on Qualifications Frameworks,

Strasbourg, 6 September, 2019
 Content

Core Activities of NCEQE ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Education System …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Development of NQF in Georgia ………………………………………………………………………………………………….

NQF Objectives and Structure ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Existing ECTS System …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Quality Assurance Mechanisms of Qualifications ………………………………………………………………………….

Subject Benchmarks in HE …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Challenges and Next Steps ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 Main Activities of NCEQE

 External Quality Assurance of Educational Institutions and Programs (Schools,

VETs, HEIs, Adult Ed)

 Supporting Development of Quality Culture at Educational Institutions

 Recognition of Education

 Governance and Management of Qualifications

 Development of Subject Benchmark statements for HE

 Development of Educational Standards for VET

 EDUCATION SYSTEM IN GEORGIA
ACADEMIC EDUCATION
Doctoral Degree
Dental Medical

Master’s Degree
Teacher Ed.
Veterinary
Education

Education
Medical

Bachelor’s Degree
VOCATIONAL
Associate
EDUCATION AND
Degree TRAINING
Higher VET

X-XII Secondary Education Secondary VET

Basic VET

VII-IX Basic Education

I-VI Primary Education

 Types of HE Institutions in Georgia

HE Institutions

Public Private
University 12 18

Authorised to award all three academic

degrees (Bachelor, Master and PhD) 30

Teaching University Public Private

4 16
Authorised to award first and second
cycles (Bachelor, Master ) of higher
20
education
Public Private
College
Authorised to Implement higher 1 4
vocational and Bachelor programmes 5
Types of HE Programs in Georgia

HE Programs

BA programmes 858

MA programmes 663

PHD programmes 240

 History of the NQF

2005 Georgia joined the Bologna process

2006- Implementation of Three-level structured HE system (QA system, ECTS

2009 credit, diploma supplements DS )
Project of Higher Education Qualifications Framework

2010
National Qualification Framework (HE,VET, General ed.) was approved

2015-
2018 NQF analysis with wide involvement of stakeholders. Legislative
amendments were provided + revised NQF was drafted

2019
Renewed National Qualifications Framework was approved
 Key factors for changes

 Association Agreement between Georgia and the EU

 Gaps between the sub systems

 Level and Level descriptors - Compatibility with European Frameworks (QF-

EHEA - EQF-LLL)
 Revised laws

• Defines the basic terminology of the framework;

Law of Georgia On • Formulates the framework objectives;
the Educational • Creates the basis for development of rules and procedures for NQF
Quality Enhancement management and monitoring processes;
• Creates the basis for development Qualifications Electronic Registry .

• States compliance of higher education qualifications with the NQF

Law of Georgia on levels;
Higher Education • Creates the basis for development of the new, bachelor's (180 ECTS)
and master's (60 ECTS) programs development

Law of Georgia on • States compliance of vocational education levels with the NQF levels;
• Creates the possibility for recognition of informal and non-formal
Vocational Education education at all levels of vocational education

Law of Georgia on • States compliance of general education levels with the NQF levels
General Education • Basic - NQF level 2
• Full General - NQF level 4
 Objectives of NQF

 Classification of qualifications
 Interconnections of different levels (General. VET, Higher) qualifications
 Supporting Life-Long Learning
 Promoting quality assurance system
 Ensuring compatibility, comparability and transparency of qualifications at an
international level
 Facilitating mobility; recognition of formal and non-formal education
 Informing public about existing qualifications
 NQF Structure

 Unified structure of education (General, VET, HE) subsystems;

 8 levels- described by learning outcomes/descriptors;

 Level 1- the lowest, initial level;

 Level 8- the highest, ultimate level;

 The level descriptor is general, neutral and does not refer to any field
of education or occupation;

 The level descriptor is a minimal threshold of learning outcomes and

is not exhaustive;

 The level descriptor is a basis for formation of an educational

standard and/or programmes learning outcomes
 The Level Descriptors

Each NQF level is an element, defining complexity of qualification, which

unifies generalized learning outcomes/descriptors, described by: “knowledge
and understanding”, “skills”, “responsibility and autonomy”.

Level descriptor categories:

 Knowledge and understanding

 Skills

 Responsibility and autonomy

“Vertical and horizontal dimensions"

 Qualifications According to Levels

NQF
Education system Training and Re-Training
level
1 Georgian – Language course certificate
State document, verifying elementary education 2th level VET training certificate
2
Georgian – Language course certificate 2th level VET re- training certificate
Basic VET diploma 3th level VET training certificate
3
Georgian – Language course certificate 3th level VET re- training certificate
State document, verifying complete general education 4th level VET training certificate
Secondary VET education diploma 4th level VET re- training certificate
4 Georgian – Language course certificate

Associate Degree 5th level VET training certificate

5
Higher VET education diploma 5th level VET re- training certificate
Bachelor
6
Teaching training certificate
Master
Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM)
7 Master of Education (M.Ed)
Master of Veterinary Science (MVSC)
Veterinary training course certificate

8 PHD
 HE Qualifications

NQF Level Qualification ECTS

Associate Degree 90 - 120
5

180 - 240
Bachelor
6
60
Teacher Training Certificate

Master 60 - 120

Veterinary 300

Teacher Training program 300

7
Doctor of Dental Medicine 300

Medical Doctor 360

Veterinarian training certificate 60

PhD
8 At Least Three years
 ECTS System

Ministerial Decree on Regulation of Calculation of Credits for Educational

Programs (Ministerial Decree/Order No.3, 03.01.2007).

Decree defines:
 Detailed use of ECTS credits in Georgian academia and the use of learning
outcomes as mandatory for higher education
 ECTS as a student centered system, which relies on learning outcomes and
transparency of the learning process
 The hours or range of hours for each ECTS as 25-30 hours
 The workload for an academic year as 60 ECTS, with a maximal amount of
75 ECTS in individual programs
 Details of assessment for the entire system including regulations on
mandatory intermediate assessment and thresholds for each type of
assessment
 QA System

 External quality assurance mechanisms – Authorization of educational

institutions and Accreditation of educational programmes

 Harmonization with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in

the European Higher Education Area (ESG 2015)

 Full Member of European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher

Education (ENQA)

 Registered in European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education

(EQAR)

 Recognition of World Federation for Medical Education (WFME)

 Standards and components of authorization
and Accreditation (higher education)

Authorization standards Accreditation standards

1. Mission and strategic development 1. Educational programme objectives,

of HEI
2. Organizational structure and
management of HEI
3. Educational programs
4. Staff of the HEI
5. Students and their support services
6. Research, development and / or
other creative work
7. Material, information and financial
resources
learning outcomes and their
compliance with the program
2. Teaching methodology and
organization, adequate assessment of
students
3. Student achievements and individual
work with students
4. Provision of teaching resources
5. Teaching quality enhancement
opportunities
 Subject Benchmarks (Standard) in HE

Objectives

 Facilitate the process of developing and implementing a nationally

and internationally compatible higher education program

 Promoting internal and external quality assurance mechanisms

 Developing a common vision of the academic community regarding

the specification of learning outcomes of educational programs
 Subject Benchmarks (Standard) in HE

Rules on formation Sector Councils and development a new or update existing

Sector Benchmarks (Order of the director NCEQE )

Subject Benchmarks:
 standard for academic education
 Developed for first and second level higher education programs
 based on the NQF, EHEA QF and EQF LLL
 basis for adding new qualifications to the NQF

Sector Councils are responsible for:

 Setting up a working group to develop/update the subject benchmarks

 Discuss the draft SB at the Sector Council meeting
 Prepare a recommendation for the director of NCEQE on approval
 Subject Benchmarks for Regulated Professions

 Teacher Education

 Law

 Medicine (Medical Doctor)

 Maritime

 Veterinary (300 ECTS)

 Veterinary Training Programme (60 ECTS)

 Validation of Georgian Educational Documents
and Recognition of Foreign Education

The Order N 98/N of the Minister of Education and Science of Georgia “on
Approval of the Procedure of Validation of Georgian Educational Documents and
Recognition of Foreign Education and Fees” was adopted on October 1, 2010.

NCEQE represents Georgia in the ENIC-NARIC Network.

NCEQE is responsible:
 For the recognition of foreign qualifications
 State Recognition of Education of Persons who Studied at Licensed Higher
Educational Institutions
 Recognition of Education of Refugees and Internally Displaced People and
persons who cannot prove their education or qualification as they had studied
at institution, which were liquidated or ceased educational activities
 Recognition of Education received on Occupied Territories
 NQF management, development and monitoring

Ministerial order on rules and procedures for NQF management and

monitoring processes.

Governing Bodies

 NCEQE
 Coordinating Council

NQF Governance issues

 Further development of the NQF structure and content

 Supporting development of learning outcomes-based programmes and
respective qualifications
 Inclusion of qualifications into the NQF and registering in the electronic
registry
 Dissemination of information at national and international level
 Challenges and next steps

On the way of implementation of new NQF NCEQE faces the following challenges:

 Implement a solid and sound system for managing an monitoring of NQF

 Implement effective communication mechanisms to raise public awareness
 Implement the self-certification process of the NQF

Activities for next steps

With the frame of Twining project- Strengthening capacities for quality assurance and
governance of qualifications - The following activities will be implemented:

 Revision of NQF Implementation Plan

 Development a concept, architecture and specifications for the digital NQF Register
 Development of analysis report on implementation of the Georgian NQF (self-certification)
 Revision of existing methodology package for benchmarks for HE programs
 Elaboration of the communication and awareness raising plan with relevant stakeholders
 Development of communication tools and various visibility/information materials
Thank you for your attention!

Web-page: www.eqe.ge