“The Polish Qualifications Framework
and its level descriptors”.
Ewa Chmielecka, Warsaw School of Economics,
Educational Research Institute, Bologna Expert,
Seminar: Úvod do problematiky národných kvalifikačných
rámcov. Bratislava, 21 September 2013
Contents
Intention: to present the Polish QF for HE case as an
example of good (?) practice answering the
question of level descriptors
– Structure of the Polish QF
– Level desciptors
– Example: how to implement QF? case of the PL
higher education
2
The scope and structure of the Polish QF (PQF)
 8 levels. Three categories of level descriptors: knowledge, skills,
social competences.
 In the PQF: 2 categories of level descriptors by their degree of
detail
 universal (first layer/stage)
 typical for different types of education (second layer/stage).
Possible third layer/stage of generic descriptors (in sectors,
inside HE…)
 Covers all types qualifications
 Full qualifications
 Partial qualifications
3
Structure of the Polish Qualifications Framework
4
Key aspects of the comprehensive description of LO
Scope
Completeness of the cognitive perspective
Depth of understanding
Dependencies
Knowledge
Learning
Complexity of the problem
Innovation in the approach
Independence of actions
Conditions under which one acts
Independence
Methods
Communication
Scope of expression
Complexity of expression
Identity
Participation
Sense of responsibility
Conduct
Problem solving and
applying knowledge in
practice
Skills
Social
Cooperation
competence
Responsibility
Team work
Conditions under which one acts
Leadership
Consequences of one’s own actions
Consequences of the team’s actions
Evaluation
5
Structure of the Polish National Qualification
Framework (PQF)
EQF levels
PQF levels
1
1
General elementary
education
2
2
General post-elementary
education
3
3
Lower vocational education
4
4
General secondary
education
5
5
„empty level” – debate on the full
qualification of the level continued
6
6
Higher education: BA,
engineer
7
7
Higher education: MA, post
diploma non-degree
programs
8
8
Higher education: PhD
6
Qualifications awarded in the Polish education system below higher education
(children and youth)
elementary school
certificate of completing
elementary school
1
lower secondary school
certificate of completing lower
secondary school
2
certificate of completing basic
vocational school
not yet
determined
basic vocational
school
vocational certificate
3
vocational diploma
3
certificate of completing the
upper secondary technical
school
upper secondary
technical school
general upper
secondary school
vocational certificate
not yet
determined
3 or 4
depending on
the qualification
vocational diploma
4
matura certificate
4
certificate of completing
general upper secondary
school
matura certificate
not yet
determined
4
7
Qualifications awarded in the Polish higher education system
Type of studies:
first cycle studies
(Bologna first
cycle)
second cycle
studies (Bologna
second cycle)
or
long cycle studies
third cycle studies
(Bologna third
cycle)
Name of qualification
diploma certifying the professional title
of licencjat /inzynier or equivalent title
ECTS credits
at least 180
Planned
qualification
level in the PQF
6
second cycle
studies – at least
90
diploma certifying the professional
title
of magister /magister inżynier or
equivalent title (e.g. physician)
 diploma certifying the academic
degree of doktor in a specific
discipline
long cycle master
degree studies:
7
at least 300 (5
year studies), 360
(six year studies)
45-60
8
additionally:
postgraduate nondegree studies
certificates of completion of
postgraduate
non-degree
studies
at least 60; (the
studies should not
be less than two
semesters)
depending
on the
programme
8
Assigning levels to qualifications
 Based on comparison of learning outcomes with level descriptors
 Levelling methodology developed in 2012/2013 with participation of
stakeholders
 Pilot project – testing the methodology (preliminary assignement of 350
qualifications)
 Two procedures for determining the PQF level for qualifications :
– For qualifications established by ministers
– For the remaining qualifications
9
Learning outcomes in the PQF
(PQF/EQF referencing criterion 3 on LO)
 All qualifications in the PQF (in the Q-register) have to be
described in the terms of learning outcomes (knowledge, skills,
social competences).
 In the GE and formal VET learning outcomes principle are
included in core curricula, implemented by law.
 In GE and VET learning outcomes define also examination standards
 In HE learning outcomes and their validation must be described
for the study programmes of specific fields in the eight broad
areas of study
 This is under control of QA systems
 In non-formal sector application of LO not very common
10
Referencing PQF levels to EQF
 Confirmations of congruence provided by:
 comparison of basic concepts, the language, and assumptions in the
PQF and EQF,
 comparison of the descriptors at corresponding levels in both
frameworks.
11
Expectations concerning
the PL QF– learning outcomes orientation
• General
– transparency,
– comparability,
– Quality assurance enhancement
– building mutual trust (national and international aspect)
– openness for stakeholders
– better fit for labor market needs
– LLL driver
– ….
12
Expectations [2] concerning
the PL QF for HE – learning outcomes orientation
Increased autonomy of HEIs
– Diversification of HEIs
– Variety of programs, methods ..
But
Comparability of programs
by common points of reference
– Not content based
– Assigning qualifications (diplomas) to levels
– Protecting quality
13
The two-layer structure of the description of
learning outcomes in the NQF-HE
14
The hierarchy of learning outcomes (HE)
15
8 broad areas of study in HE
Based on the descriptors of PQF typical for higher
education the descriptors for eight broad areas of
study and two profiles have been developed on the
national level (first and second cycle of HE)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Humanities
Social sciences
Exact sciences
Life sciences
Engineering and technology
Medical sciences and health sciences
Agriculture, forestry and veterinary sciences
Fine arts
The structure of the QF HE,
examples of descriptors – knowledge/skills: „solving problems” –
level 6
•
•
•
•
Level of descriptors of universal PQF
– Rozwiązywanie złożonych i nietypowych problemów w zmiennych i nie w pełni przewidywalnych
kontekstach
Level of descriptors specific for HE
– Identyfikowanie i twórcze rozwiązywanie prostych problemów oraz typowych zadań, wyciągania
logicznych wniosków oraz autonomicznego formułowania ocen i opinii z w zakresie niezbędnym do
ich rozwiązania.
– Znajomość podstawowych metod i technik właściwych dla obszaru kształcenia w stopniu
umożliwiającym ich wykorzystanie do rozwiązywania podstawowych problemów i wykonywania
prostych zadań.
level of descriptors for “8 fields” (here: engineering)
– zna podstawowe metody, techniki, narzędzia i materiały stosowane przy rozwiązywaniu prostych
zadań inżynierskich związanych z reprezentowaną dyscypliną, potrafi wykorzystać do formułowania i
rozwiązywania zadań inżynierskich metody analityczne, symulacyjne i eksperymentalne
– potrafi – przy formułowaniu i rozwiązywaniu zadań inżynierskich – dostrzegać ich aspekty systemowe
i pozatechniczne
– potrafi ocenić przydatność rutynowych metod i narzędzi rozwiązania prostego zadania inżynierskiego,
typowego dla reprezentowanej dyscypliny inżynierskiej oraz wybrać i zastosować właściwą metodę i
narzędzia
Level of descriptors for benchmark (electronics)
– potrafi wykorzystać poznane metody i modele matematyczne, a także symulacje komputerowe do
analizy i oceny działania elementów elektronicznych oraz analogowych i cyfrowych układów
elektronicznych
– potrafi dokonać analizy sygnałów i prostych systemów przetwarzania sygnałów w dziedzinie czasu i
częstotliwości, stosując techniki analogowe i cyfrowe oraz odpowiednie narzędzia sprzętowe i
programowe …
17
The PL QF HE implementation [1]
•
•
•
Context 1: expected reluctance of the academic community
Context 2: enlarging autonomy in curricula design
Context 3: expected difficulties with “learning outcomes” approach
Training:
 More than 250 seminars, workshops, conferences provided in 2008-2012 (and
still continued) by
– Ministry of Science &HE
– Bologna Experts Team
– Projects of the Human Capital Development Program
 „converted seminars”
 „millionaires” competition
 QF Advisors
•
In total - about 18 000 of academic workers participated in the training
•
„cascade” training system at HEIs.
18
The PL QF HE implementation [2]
 Websites:
– the ministry of HE,
– the Bologna Experts,
– Institute of Educational Research
 publications :
– 3 PL books,
– many other issues
– Translations: like German “Yes, go!”
 Strong support given by the rectors conferences and other HE
bodies
 Exceptional financial support on base of the European funds
19
The PL QF HE implementation:
first results
• Implementation of LO approach (end of the 2012/13 academic year):
• expectation concerning the academic community resistance –
confirmed
• but the most of results quite promising
– New curricula and syllabi prepared and well established in all
HEI for level 6 and 7, corrected this year with much better
understanding.
– Post-diploma and PhD studies curricula under reconstruction
– New degree programs – opportunities taken from enlarged
autonomy – breathtaking!
– Much better understanding the PQF significance, profits,
other aspects:
• „I have in hand all necessary tools for individualization of studying I am
implementing now”.
20
Thank you for your attention!
21