Qualifications Frameworks / Three-Cycle System 2007-2009

Qualifications frameworks describe the qualifications of an education system and how they interlink.
National qualifications frameworks describe what learners should know, understand and be able to do on the basis of a given qualification as well as how learners can move from one qualification to another within a system.

National qualifications frameworks are developed to be compatible with the overarching framework of qualifications of the European Higher Education Area, which was adopted in 2005 and consists of three cycles (e.g. bachelor, master, doctorate). The overarching framework makes recognition of qualifications easier since specific qualifications can be related to a common framework.

The framework of qualifications for the European Higher Education Area - May 2005

For more details read the 2005 background report and visit the section about qualifications frameworks in the European Higher Education Area in 2007-2009. This section contains important information on qualifications frameworks, which have become an essential instrument in developing the European Higher Education Area, and provides updates on relevant events and developments at European, regional or national level.

A Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area 2005

For more information on the third cycle, read our section on doctoral education in 2007-2009.

Qualifications Frameworks in the EHEA

• Introduction
• Overarching frameworks
• National Qualifications Frameworks
• Glossary
• Sources and ressources
• Bologna Coordination Group for Qualifications Frameworks 2007-2009

Report on Qualifications Frameworks 2009

Coordination Group

A Coordination Group was formed, with the Council of Europe providing Chair and secretariat.

The Council of Europe also encouraged regional cooperation in South East Europe and in New Independent States. In South East Europe a regional network on qualifications frameworks has been established.

The Coordination Group signalled that implementation of national qualifications frameworks demands a lot of efforts at national level and proposes that self-certifications of the national qualifications frameworks against the overarching Qualifications Framework for the European Higher Education Area should be completed or prepared by 2012.

Bologna Seminars

• “Learning outcomes based higher education: the Scottish experience” hosted by the Scottish Government at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh (Scotland) on 21-22 February 2008.
• A Forum on Qualifications Frameworks, organised by the Council of Europe, was held in Strasbourg (France) on 11-12 October 2007.
• “Aligning National against European Qualifications Frameworks: the principles of self-certification” was organized by Georgia in cooperation with the Council of Europe at Tbilisi (Georgia) on 27-28 November 2008.