National Qualifications Framework (NQF)
The OeAD is the NQF Coordination Point (NCP). It is therefore the central administrative, coordination and information point for the NQF in Austria and has the following tasks according to the NQF Act:
- Checking the formal aspects and content of assignment requests with the aim of assigning the qualifications to one of the NQF qualification levels
- supporting the development and continuing implementation of the NQF in Austria by providing guidance and support to the authorities involved in the referencing process.
- The OeAD manages the NQF register in accordance with the federal law. Besides the name of the qualification this register includes the assignment to a level, the qualification provider’s name, a description of the qualification and the main learning outcomes.
- Public relations activities, events and advice for qualification providers
- As part of its national and international networking and policy support the OeAD, as NCP, supports the Austrian strategy for lifelong learning in Austria (LLL 2020) and the development and implementation of the national validation strategy for non-formal and informal learning.
More and more qualifications are assigned to the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). By means of direct data transfer from the NQF register to the European Europass portal Austrian qualifications and their learning outcomes are becoming more visible throughout Europe. The indication of the NQF level on qualification certificates ensures that the NQF is known to all citizens. Every year more than 100,000 certificates and diplomas issued in Austria include a reference to the NQF level completed. Since December 2023 the NQF level has also been included in more than 2,000 Europass certificate supplements.
General information about the development of the NQF at the national level and about qualifications already referenced to a level is available at www.qualifikationsregister.at.
