The National
Qualifications Authority (NQA) concluded the “First Introductory Forum for
Vocational Education and Training Institutions” on Monday, November 17th,
which continued for four days in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ras al- Khaimah, and was
attended by 600 vocational education and training institutions, and a number of
regulatory and donor authorities, in addition to various higher education and
vocational institutions operating in the free zones.
The goal of the
forum is to define the strategic directions of the Authority and the nature and
importance of the Structure of the Qualifications Framework in earning the
international recognition of qualifications, and to raise awareness to the
concept of national vocational standards, and the system of registration and
evaluation of vocational education and training institutions, which has been recently
adopted by the Authority in accordance with a smart service, that is an easy electronic
application which does not take more than seven minutes in all steps to include
the institution in the Authority’s database. This smart service gives all
institutions a great opportunity to review the legal work requirements and introduce
their future programs as per the adopted standards and regulations that achieve
sustainability in work and attract large numbers of educated and trained people,
each according to its specialty.
The events included detailed
introduction to the tasks entrusted to the Authority in line with the strategic
objectives of the Authority for the coming years, and linking them with the UAE
Strategic Vision 2021, in addition to determining the requirements for harmonization
of learning outcomes for the three types of qualifications accredited by the Qualifications
Framework, which are “major qualification, supplementary, and sub-qualification",
with the Qualifications Framework levels.
His Excellency Dr.
Thani Al Mehairi, General Manager of (NQA), said that the Forum has achieved
the desired goal, which is to meet with the largest possible number of
representatives of vocational educational and training institutions in
particular in order to introduce the Authority’s strategic role, procedures,
and policies.
Al Mehairi added that
the Forum was interactive in most of its aspects, and it was the point of
contact between the Authority and the audience who got acquainted with the
nature of the Authority’s work in different axes, including determining the
difference between the qualification and certification, identifying the
methodology of granting equivalency for the foreign qualification according to
the Qualifications Framework levels, the importance of recognition of life or irregular
learning, and how to make the transition from one educational path to another
according to the Qualifications Framework requirements.
The Authority confirmed
during the Forum that its procedures in the evaluation and registration of centers
and education and training institutions do not conflict with other relevant
authorities’ procedures and do not constitute any kind of duplication with them.
17/11/2014