EUROPEAN QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK FOR
LIFE-LONG LEARNING (11189/05, 12554/06)
Letter from the Chairman to Bill Rammell
MP, Minister for Life-long Learning, Further and Higher Education,
Department for Education and Skills
Your Explanatory Memorandum (12554/06) dated
2 October was considered by Sub-Committee G on 2 November.
We note that Ministers are expected to be asked
to agree to a General Approach at the Education Council on 14
November. We regret that these lengthy documents should have been
produced by the Commission at such short notice and under cover
of an Explanatory Memorandum which does not attempt to offer a
detailed analysis of them.
We would also remind you that the previous document
(Commission Staff Working document 11189/05) remains under scrutiny
pending your reply to my letter to you dated 13 February 2006.[132]
You are also aware of the close interest which
the Commission has shown in the development of the European Life-long
Learning process, notably through our Report on the Integrated
Action Programme for Life-long Learning (HL Paper 104-I, 2004-05
Session, published 14 April 2005).
On balance, we endorse the objectives which
lie behind this initiative. We note the Government's assurance
that the Commission text poses few problems for the UK and that
the Government hopes to be able to resolve those problems, notably
the need to adapt to the circumstances of the four separate Devolved
Education Administrations in the UK, in further negotiations.
We also agree with you that the 2011 target
date seems unrealistic and hope you will be able to persuade the
Commission and other Member States to accept a more sensible target.
In the circumstances, we are prepared to release
the new documents from scrutiny to enable you to go along with
a General Approach as proposed at the November Education Council.
But we would be glad if, in reporting on the outcome of that you
would also reply to the points raised in my letter dated 13 February
and on any progress made in negotiations since the Education Committee
meeting on 14 September mentioned in your EM.
3 November 2006
Letter from Bill Rammell MP to the Chairman
I am writing in response to your letter of 3
November, in which you requested an update on negotiations that
have taken place on the above draft recommendation (12554/06)
since the Education Committee meeting of 14 September and, also,
to answer the specific questions raised in your letter of 13 February
on the Commission Staff Working document (11189/05).
On 27-28 February 2006, a conference was held
in Budapest in order to disseminate the results of the EQF consultation
exercise, and to help formulate recommendations on how to take
the initiative forward. The consultation revealed that the EQF
was viewed as necessary and relevant, and, with further development
of the descriptors and the strengthening of links with sectoral
qualifications systems, had the potential to act as a drive for
reform across Europe.
A General Approach on the Proposal for a Recommendation
(12554/06) was drawn up by the Commission as a result of this
consultation, and was agreed at EU Education Council on 14 November.
In discussions at Education Committee prior to Council, UK officials
negotiated the strengthening of links between the descriptors
of the European Higher Education Area ("Dublin Descriptors")
and those of the EQF, ensuring greater compatibility between this
initiative and the Bologna Process. Officials were not successful
in getting the Dublin Descriptors included in the text as a separate
Annex, as the Commission and other Member States argued this would
make the EQF overly focussed on Higher Education qualifications,
which the UK accepted. As other references to the Bologna Process
and Dublin Descriptors have been strengthened, the UK was happy
to accept the Presidency compromise text.
The Dublin Descriptors will remain the primary
reference point for Higher Education and these descriptors correspond
to levels 5-8 of the EQF. Importantly, the EQF levels 5-8 are
wider that the Dublin Descriptors, which allows the EQF
to take into account the higher levels of vocational qualifications,
as well as Higher Education qualifications. This avoids duplication
between the Dublin Descriptors and the EQF and promotes greater
links between vocational and general education and training, something
that the Government is keen to encourage. Domestically, our task
now is to ensure continued communication and consultation with
the Higher Education community across Europe to ensure that they
are aware of this compatibility.
Other major changes (made with the support of
the UK) include the transfer of the definitions on Page 16 of
the original Proposal to a separate Annex and a later deadline
for the implementation (now 2010 for relating national qualification
systems to the EQF and 2012 for placing a reference to the appropriate
EQF level on all new qualifications). UK officials successfully
negotiated for a voluntary peer review process, as this will help
to build mutual trust amongst Member States as regards the creation
of transparent procedures for mapping national qualifications
systems to the EQF. The Commission agreed, and a reference to
such a process has now been added to the text. Moreover, following
a UK drafting suggestion, the text now reflects the possibility
that the UK will require more than one national coordination centre.
I will, of course, keep the Committee informed
about any developments relating to this initiative, as the General
Approach will now form the basis for the ensuing negotiations
with the European Parliament.
27 November 2006
Letter from the Chairman to Bill Rammell
MP
Thank you for your letter of 27 November. This
was considered by Sub-Committee G at its meeting on 11 January.
We note your report about the position reached
at the 14 November Education Council meeting, when agreement was
reached on the Recommendation (12554/06).
We are also grateful for the additional information
provided in your letter which answers the specific questions,
raised by Lord Grenfell in his letter of 13 February, about the
Commission Staff Working document (11189/05). We now release that
document from scrutiny.
Thank you for your offer to keep us informed
about future developments.
11 January 2007
132 Correspondence with Ministers, 40th Report of Session
2006-07, HL Paper 187, p 502. Back
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