5 May 2025

Transparency Instruments in Focus: BWP Issue Featuring a Contribution by 3s

The latest issue of the journal Berufsbildung in Wissenschaft und Praxis (BWP 2/2025) takes a comprehensive look at transparency within the European Education Area.

The issue focuses on instru­ments and initia­ti­ves that promote com­pa­ra­bi­li­ty and clarity between different national education systems—without dimi­nis­hing their diversity.

In their article “The NQF in Austria: Is the Glass Half Full or Half Empty?”, Karin Luomi-Messerer (3s) and Sabine Tritscher-Archan (ibw) analyse the deve­lo­p­ment and imple­men­ta­ti­on of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) in Austria. They provide a critical assess­ment of its current status, high­light­ing both oppor­tu­ni­ties and chal­lenges arising from its appli­ca­ti­on to date. Additional articles in the issue discuss NQF deve­lo­p­ments in Germany and the Netherlands.

Beyond the NQF, this BWP issue explores other key trans­pa­ren­cy tools and initia­ti­ves at both European and national levels—including the Europass portfolio, the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning (EQF), the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET), the European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for VET (EQAVET), ESCO (European Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations), the vali­da­ti­on of non-formal and informal learning, the use of micro­lear­ning and micro­creden­ti­als in Italy, and Austria’s national digital com­pe­tence reference framework.

Other con­tri­bu­ti­ons examine the con­cep­tu­al foun­da­ti­ons for comparing and trans­fer­ring qua­li­fi­ca­ti­ons and com­pe­ten­ces. In addition, a study is presented that inve­sti­ga­tes the impact of national and European measures to enhance trans­pa­ren­cy and reco­gni­ti­on of learning outcomes from 2000 to 2020.

Access the full issue here: www.bwp-zeitschrift.de/dienst/publikationen/de/20357
Download the article by Karin Luomi-Messerer and Sabine Tritscher-Archan for free here (in German): www.bwp-zeitschrift.de/dienst/publikationen/de/20375


Contact: Karin Luomi-Messerer

7 Jan

How education policies travel – and why context matters

A new international handbook explores policy transfer in vocational education and beyond, featuring a 3s contribution on EU approaches to employer cooperation.

22 Dec

3s Annual Review 2025

After a busy year, we take a brief pause between online meetings and Christmas celebrations to reflect on a few highlights of our work.

20 Dec

Strengthening Basic Skills in Vocational Education and Training: A Peer-Learning Activity

The virtual event focused on the role of quality assurance in promoting basic skills in vocational education and training (VET) across Europe.

19 Dec

From Maastricht to Capabilities: Reflections on Skills Policy, Then and Now

After three years of intensive research and collaboration, the Horizon Europe project Skills2Capabilities concludes. Coordinator Jörg Markowitsch reflected on key insights at the final conference.

7 Jan

How education policies travel – and why context matters

A new international handbook explores policy transfer in vocational education and beyond, featuring a 3s contribution on EU approaches to employer cooperation.

22 Dec

3s Annual Review 2025

After a busy year, we take a brief pause between online meetings and Christmas celebrations to reflect on a few highlights of our work.

20 Dec

Strengthening Basic Skills in Vocational Education and Training: A Peer-Learning Activity

The virtual event focused on the role of quality assurance in promoting basic skills in vocational education and training (VET) across Europe.

7 Jan

How education policies travel – and why context matters

A new international handbook explores policy transfer in vocational education and beyond, featuring a 3s contribution on EU approaches to employer cooperation.

22 Dec

3s Annual Review 2025

After a busy year, we take a brief pause between online meetings and Christmas celebrations to reflect on a few highlights of our work.

7 Jan

How education policies travel – and why context matters

A new international handbook explores policy transfer in vocational education and beyond, featuring a 3s contribution on EU approaches to employer cooperation.

22 Dec

3s Annual Review 2025

After a busy year, we take a brief pause between online meetings and Christmas celebrations to reflect on a few highlights of our work.

>all news