At both the system and provider levels, there are several methods to ensure the quality of VET provision. One of the most effective is the EQAVET Framework, a four-stage process designed to support continuous improvement. This process is based on the Deming Cycle (Plan-Do-Check-Act), as shown above.
Improve VET provision with EQAVET Framework: A four-stage process based on the Deming Cycle
The EQAVET Framework’s quality assurance cycle can be applied to various aspects of VET at both the system and provider levels. It plays a crucial role in improving the design of vocational qualifications, supporting online learning, and strengthening accreditation or validation systems, among other areas. This cycle is widely used across Europe in initial and continuing VET, work-based learning, apprenticeships, blended learning, the accreditation of prior learning and experience, and the development of full and partial qualifications.
Since the cycle supports continuous change and improvement, each VET system or provider can start the quality assurance process at any stage, such as:
- When ensuring the quality of a new VET procedure, such as designing new qualifications, it may be best to start with the planning stage.
- For changes like shifting from center-based learning to online or blended learning, it may be more effective to begin by implementing the existing quality assurance processes and then evaluating their effectiveness.
- For well-established VET processes, the quality assurance cycle often starts with evaluating the effectiveness of current arrangements.
- When introducing new policies or approaches to VET, such as increasing the time learners spend in a work environment, reviewing the existing arrangements is often the first step in the quality assurance process.
No matter where the quality assurance journey begins, going through all four stages of the cycle is essential to achieving high-quality VET.
The EQAVET Framework has led to the creation of diverse quality assurance approaches across Member States, tailored to meet national and regional needs, circumstances, and traditions. All of these approaches use the EQAVET cycle, indicators, and indicative descriptors to support quality assurance processes at the national, regional, or local levels.
Further information
Learn how Italy is using the EQAVET cycle and Framework by reading the case study ‘Italy – EQAVET and the Quality of VET’ in the virtual library here.
Different Member States are applying the EQAVET Framework to revise, further develop, and enhance their quality assurance approaches. Visit the virtual library to explore Flash Reports from Peer Reviews in Austria, Luxembourg, Slovakia, and others, discussing the use of the EQAVET Framework and new or updated quality management approaches.
To see how Member States are implementing quality assurance, access the country factsheets available in the EQAVET virtual library.
