Two publications have been recently issued on one of the most important tools of the Integrated Qualifications System (IQS) – the Polish Qualifications Framework (PQF). The PQF is the result of several years of experts’ work and broad public debate. The PQF organises the qualifications awarded in general, vocational and higher education, as well as those attained outside these systems. The Framework makes it easier to compare qualifications to others functioning within the country, as well as to those awarded in other European countries. Like the European Qualifications Framework, the PQF has eight levels, each defining the required learning outcomes in the categories of knowledge, skills and social competence.
The publication "The Polish Qualifications Framework" presents the specific level descriptors for two stages of descriptors: universal (first stage) – applicable to all qualifications in the IQS, and second stage – a more detailed layer of descriptors typical for qualifications awarded in general education, at PQF level 5, higher education and vocational education and training. The information presented in the publication conforms to the regulations governing PQF level descriptors in the Act on the Integrated Qualifications System.
The second publication, "The Polish Qualification Framework. User Guide" provides basic information about the Polish Qualifications Framework, its structure and level descriptors. It explains the role of level descriptors in the process of determining a qualification’s level. Specific instructions are provided to assist in reading and interpreting individual entries of the PQF. The publication also discusses the specific qualities of subsequent levels of the Framework, complemented by examples of selected learning outcomes and qualifications aligned with particular levels.
This guide was prepared for persons who will be working on specifying the levels of qualifications. It is also intended as an aid to all those involved in determining the learning outcomes of a qualification and in developing sectoral qualifications frameworks.
We cordially invite you to take a look at these publications!

The conference “Two worlds? Methods of finding a job and methods of recruitment. A comparison using the example of the Poznań agglomeration” was held on April 6 in Poznań, organised by the Economic and Labour Market Observatory of the Poznań Agglomeration Vocational Counselling Centre for Youth. Representatives of Poland’s ReferNet network attended the conference.
The purpose of the conference was to present the results of qualitative research (FGI) conducted by the Observatory among students, employers and labour market institutions of the Poznań agglomeration. A total of 60 participants took part in the study. The study looked at the strategies and methods of looking for work and employees from the perspective of three groups: students, employers and labor market institutions.
A number of postulates were developed by the various groups participating in the study. Employers claimed that such characteristics in a candidate as loyalty, initiative, personal culture, and social competence are very important in the process of looking for an employee. It is also important for candidates to be able to justify why they are applying for a position in the company. Students noted the need to increase the number of hours spent on practical work during formal education. They also recognised that elements facilitating job searches include early contact with the labour market and individual counseling, also via the internet. Representatives of labour market institutions (including schools) recognised that promoting new methods of working among counsellors, such as using case studies or online counseling, will improve the process of searching for jobs and finding employees. Raising the prestige of vocational training, also among school directors and teachers, was considered to be a very important issue.
More information about the study is at the Observatory’s website and in the report entitled „Dwa światy. Metody poszukiwania pracy a metody poszukiwania zatrudnienia. Porównanie na przykładzie aglomeracji poznańskiej [Two worlds. Methods of finding a job and methods of recruitment. A comparison using the example of the Poznań Agglomeration]” (in Polish).

This country report is part of a series of reports on vocational education and training produced by members of ReferNet, a network established by Cedefop (European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training).

The VET in Europe report for Poland provides readers with a concise, basic insight into the state of the vocational education and training system of Poland. It situates the Polish education and training system within a broad political, social, economic, and labour market framework.

Read the report

On March 25, 1957 six countries (Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxemburg and the Netherlands) signed a document that became the foundation of today’s European Union. The founding countries pledged to align their economic policies to establish a common market. The Treaty of Rome launched the European Economic Community (EEC), whose aim was to support harmonious economic development, continuous and balanced expansion, increased stability and improved living standards of citizens.
Articles 118 and 128 specified that the European Commission will promote the cooperation of European countries in the development of vocational education and training. The Economic and Social Committee, established under the treaty, later proposed setting up the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop).
As a part of these anniversary celebrations, many events are being organised. For more information.

NETINVET is a European network of training centres and companies. NETINVET currently includes 72 vocational education and training (VET) centres from 8 EU Member States. The network promotes work-based learning and the mobility of apprentices. The network currently operates in the wholesale, transportation and logistics sectors.

The results of a survey of the opinions of Europeans on vocational education and training were presented at an experts’ workshop on February 23-24,2017 in Thessaloniki. European experts, including ReferNet representatives, discussed and analysed the results.

Cedefops’s survey, launched in 2016, was conducted among 35 000 EU Member State citizens aged 15 or older. Most Europeans (71%) know what VET is and two in three (68%) have a positive opinion about it, while almost nine in 10 (87%) VET graduates are satisfied with the work-related skills they attained. Finding a job is the primary reason Europeans choose a VET path.

More information 

Join the discussion at #VETopinionsurvey

A conference summarising the results and achievements of the EU-funded Twinning Light Project “Support to the modernization of the system for post-secondary education” was conducted on Friday, February 24, 2017.

The project is being implemented as a bilateral cooperation between the Ministry of Education and Science and the Educational Research Institute from Poland, in cooperation with foreign experts.

The opening speeches within the conference were delivered by Mr Mauro di Veroli representing Delegation of European Union, Mr Pishtar Lutfiu, Minister of Education and Science and H. E. Mr Jacek Multanowski, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland. H. E. Ambassador stated that the Polish-Macedonian cooperation in the area of education and qualifications indeed developed in the course of past year during the implementation of the two twinning projects related to the national qualifications framework and post-secondary education development.

The seventh article on the outcomes of the European skills and jobs (ESJ) survey, just published by Cedefop, analyses the determinants of EU employees’ underskilling .

ESJ survey data showed that employees with higher education seldom declare lower levels of skills than those required in their work place. Yet, there are differences within the group related to the subject they studied – graduates of mathematics indicate underskilling less often than the graduates of medical subjects.

The survey also indicated that women, young employees (24-39 years of age) and employees  working in sectors that hire persons with lower levels of education often declare lower levels of skills that those required by their employer.

More information is available at the Cedefop website

Cedefop released a briefing note on the professional development of vocational teachers and trainers in Europe. The authors outline existing training systems and emphasise that in the coming years, this group will increasingly be called upon to support the process of developing quick and flexible responses to emerging needs, linked to both the integration of refugees and migrants in the labour market, as well as to developing basic digital and entrepreneurial skills.

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Edukacja Quarterly has published an article entitled „The practical vocational education of young workers from the perspective of employers”. Based on interviews with employers, the authors – Elzbieta Drogosz-Zabłocka and Jędrzej Stasiowski – analyse the conditions affecting the decision to accept young workers in companies  for practical vocational education.

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