TVETipedia Glossary

Learning outcomes

The totality of information, knowledge, understanding, attitudes, values, skills, competencies or behaviours an individual is expected to master upon successful completion of an educational programme.

Source:
UIS, ISCED 2011 (International Standard Classification of Education), 2012
UIS, ISCED 2011 (International Standard Classification of Education), 2012
Access resource, available in English
As national education systems vary in terms of structure and curricular content, it can be difficult to benchmark performance across countries over time or monitor progress towards national and international goals. In order to understand and properly interpret the inputs, processes and outcomes of education systems from a global perspective, it is vital to ensure that data are comparable. This can be done by applying the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED), the standard framework used to categorise and report cross-nationally comparable education statistics.

Results of what a learner knows, understands and is able to do upon completion of a learning process.

(Comment: Learning outcomes are mainly formulated using either behaviourist or constructivist approaches.)

Source:
UNESCO, Level-setting and recognition of learning outcomes: The use of level descriptors in the twenty-first century, 2015
UNESCO, Level-setting and recognition of learning outcomes: The use of level descriptors in the twenty-first century, 2015
Access resource, available in English
Description of the report:
"The aim of this research is to support a broader initiative that will explore the possibility of developing international guidelines on quality assurance for the recognition of qualifications based on learning outcomes, including a set of world reference levels to facilitate the international recognition of qualifications."
Description of the glossary (pp 189 ff):
"The definitions of this glossary are provided by the authors, drawing on a wide range of literature in the field, and in particular the cited references for this publication. They do not necessarily coincide with official positions of UNESCO."

Knowledge, know-how, information, values, skills and competences an individual has acquired and/or is able to demonstrate after completion of a learning process, either formal, non-formal or informal.

Comment In the context of the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning (EQF), learning outcomes are defined in terms of knowledge, skills and responsibility / autonomy.

Source: Cedefop; Council of the European Union, 2017

Source:
Cedefop, Glossary. Terminology of European education and training policy, (accessed 03/2023)
Cedefop, Glossary. Terminology of European education and training policy, (accessed 03/2023)
Access resource, available in English, French, Italian, Portuguese
This multilingual glossary (provided in a multitude of European languages) defines a selection of key terms used in European education and training policy. It is a revised and expanded version of the “Terminology of European education and training policy – A selection of 130 key terms” (2014). It considers new priorities of European Union policy, mainly concerning skills intelligence and employment. New definitions have been developed in collaboration with the experts of Cedefop’s departments VET and Skills and VET and Qualifications.

The set of knowledge, skills and/or competences an individual acquired and/or is able to demonstrate after completion of a learning process.

Source:
UNESCO-UNEVOC/NCVER, TVET glossary: some key terms, 2009
UNESCO-UNEVOC/NCVER, TVET glossary: some key terms, 2009
Access resource, available in English
This glossary has been published in the "International Handbook of Education for the Changing World of Work" (Vol. 1, chapter 5)
"The glossary aims to reflect the terminology found in the recent literature of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) research, policy and practice internationally. The most common and significant terms (including acronyms) are listed and, in some cases, national and regional variations have been included. To maintain an international perspective, other national and international glossaries and thesauri were consulted in conjunction with current TVET literature from around the world. Where definitions have been written by other organizations, the source of that definition is acknowledged. Unattributed definitions were created in-house at the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). For some terms, where, for example, there are regional differences, more than one meaning has been provided."

The contextually demonstrated end-products of specific learning processes, which include knowledge, skills and values.

Source:
SAQA (South Africa), TVET Standard Glossary of Terms, 2013
SAQA (South Africa), TVET Standard Glossary of Terms, 2013
Access resource, available in English
This standard glossary of terms defines and clarifies the core terminology relating to the development and implementation of the South African National Qualifications Framework (NQF).
As a direct result of the many changes in the education and training landscape between 1995 and 2013, a wide range of terminology and definitions have emerged, often causing confusion and leading to ambiguity in the system. This glossary has been developed to bring consistency to the use of terminology in the broader education and training context, including legislation, policy and everyday usage by the public.

are clear statements of what a learner can be expected to know, understand, and/or do as a result of a learning experience. (IRR of RA No. 10968)
statements of what the individual learner knows, understands and can do on completion of a learning process. They are also used in PQF to describe the level of individual qualification. (TESDA Cicular No. 090, s. 2021)

Source:
TESDA (Philippines), TVET glossary of terms (online), (accessed 12/2022)
TESDA (Philippines), TVET glossary of terms (online), (accessed 12/2022)
Access resource
This glossary of terms intends to provide the TESDA key players, partners, and stakeholders an online and updated TVET information, concepts, to bring common understanding and clarification on the use of TESDA terminologies.

(Learning outcome)

– An intended, identifiable, and measurable learning or behaviour that is demonstrated by a learner following a sequence of learning.

Source:
Commonwealth of Learning, TVET Professional Development Toolkit for the Pacific, Commonly used terms, n.d.
Commonwealth of Learning, TVET Professional Development Toolkit for the Pacific, Commonly used terms, n.d.
Access resource, available in English
List of commonly used terms as part of the TVET Professional Development Toolkit for the Pacific