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A qualification is formal certification, issued by an official agency, in recognition that an individual has been assessed as achieving learning outcomes or competencies to the standard specified for the qualification title, usually a type of certificate, diploma or degree. Learning and assessment for a qualification can take place through workplace experience and/or a program of study. A qualification confers official recognition of value in the labour market and in further education and training.
The official confirmation, usually in the form of a document, certifying the successful completion of an education programme or a stage of a programme. Qualifications can be obtained through: i) successful completion of a full education programme; ii) successful completion of a stage of an education programme (intermediate qualifications); or iii) validation of acquired knowledge, skills and competencies, independent of participation in an education programme. This may also be referred to as a ‘credential’.
Formal expression of the vocational or professional abilities of a worker which are recognized at international, national or sectoral levels and which takes the form of an official record (certificate or diploma) of achievement, attesting to successful completion of education or training, or satisfactory performance in a test or examination.
A proxy for the different types of learning required by an individual using learning outcomes.
(Comment: Qualifications are limited in the extent to which they are able to describe different types of learning, but are nonetheless accepted as an acceptable proxy.)
This term has two dimensions:
Cedefop, 2008, based on Eurydice, 2006; European Training Foundation, 1997; OECD, 2007a; ILO, 1998
The formal outcome (certificate, diploma or title) of an assessment and validation process which is obtained when a competent body determines that an individual has achieved learning outcomes to given standards and/or possesses the necessary competence to do a job in a specific area of work.
The term qualification covers different aspects: (a) see above, the definition from CEDEFOP. (b) job requirements: the knowledge, aptitudes and skills required to perform the specific tasks attached to a particular work position (ILO).
Formal certification that is awarded by an accredited authority in recognition of the successful completion of an educational program. In the vocational education and training (VET) sector, qualifications are awarded when a person has satisfied all requirements of the units of competency or modules that comprise an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualification, as specified by a nationally endorsed training package or an accredited course that provides training for that qualification.
1. Certification awarded to a person on successful completion of a course in recognition of having achieved particular knowledge, skills or competencies.
2. The requirements for an individual to enter or progress within an occupation.
The official confirmation, usually in the form of a document certifying the successful completion of an educational programme or of a stage of a programme. Qualifications can be obtained through: i) successful completion of a full programme; ii) successful completion of a stage of a programme (intermediate qualifications); or iii) validation of acquired knowledge, skills and competencies, independent of participation in such programmes. This may also be referred to as a ‘credential’.
Certification awarded to an individual in recognition of having achieved particular knowledge, skills or competencies. It is also the formal expression of the vocational or professional abilities of a worker which is recognized at international, national or sectoral levels.
When a competent body determines that an individual has learned knowledge, skills and/or wider competences to specific standards.
A registered national qualification consisting of a planned combination of learning outcomes which has a defined purpose or purposes, intended to provide qualifying learners with applied competence and a basis for further learning and which has been assessed in terms of exit level outcomes, registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and certified and awarded by a recognised body.
A package of standards or units judged to be worthy of formal recognition in a certificate.
Planned combination of learning outcomes with a defined purpose or purposes, including defined, applied and demonstrated competence and a basis for further learning.
Refers to a package of competencies describing a particular function or job role existing in an economic sector, covering the work activities required to undertake a particular job. Depending on the breadth, depth and scope of competency, a qualification may fall under National certificate levels I, II, III, IV or diploma. A National Certificate is a full qualification while a Certificate of Competency is leading to a qualification. It also refers to a formal certification that a person has successfully achieved specific learning outcomes relevant to the identified academic, industry or community requirements. A qualification confers official recognition of value in the labor market and in further education and training.
Source: TESDA Circular No. 107, s. 2021