The Professional Standards Committee’s main activity is focused on the development of the Standards to define the competencies required for people working in the fitness and physical activity Sector. It is part of the process of developing a Sector framework, which in turn is based on the eight levels of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF).
The EQF is a common European reference framework, which links countries' qualifications systems together, acting as a translation device to make qualifications more understandable. This will help learners and workers, wishing to move between countries, or to change jobs, or to move between educational institutions at home.
The EQF uses 8 reference levels based on learning outcomes (defined in terms of essential knowledge, skills, responsibility and autonomy). The EQF shifts the focus from input (lengths of a learning experience, type of institution) to what a person holding a particular qualification actually knows and is able to do. By shifting the focus to learning outcomes it helps to:
- support a better match between the needs of the labour market and education and training provision
- facilitate the validation of non-formal and informal learning
- facilitate the transfer and use of qualifications across different countries and education and training systems
- transfer units of learning outcome, based on a credit system (ECVET)
It also recognises that Europe’s education systems are so diverse that comparisons based on inputs, such as a length of study, are impracticable. More information is available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-policy/doc44_en.htm