Liechtenstein is a small country, yet it offers a large amount of educational opportunities. In order to ensure that qualifications are internationally comparable and that the education system is represented transparently, the Agency for International Educational Affairs developed a National Qualifications Framework, the NQFL. It consists on the one hand of, vocational education and training (VET) and on the other hand of academic university education.

VET occupies an important place in Liechtenstein's education system. Two thirds of secondary school graduates choose that path as their starting point into the profesional world. On the basis of an apprenticeship, a wide range of diverse training opportunities are available, including higher vocational training.

 

Due to the international differences in the job market and education systems it can be quite hard to compare qualifications on an international level. That is why comparability and transparency in regards to VET qualifications is getting more and more important. In 2011 the government decided to develop a National Qualifications Framework for VET qualifications. This enables allocation to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and thus comparability with foreign qualifications. The goal of this Qualifications Framework is to establish national and international transparency and comparability of VET qualifications, thus promoting mobility in the education sector and the job market.
 

NQFL aims to improve the transparency and comparability of Liechtensteins's qualifications. By following the EQF, the NQFL should:

 

• adequately reflect the Liechtenstein education system, thereby improving the transparency, comprehensibility and comparability of, in particular, basic VET, higher VET and higher education qualifications in relation to European qualifications;
• facilitate the assessment of the competencies of Liechtenstein graduates on one hand and graduates of European qualifications on the employer side, with regard to the requirements of the labour market on the other hand;
• improve the opportunities for professionals and managers trained in Liechtenstein to find jobs with foreign companies and decision-makers in Liechtenstein, thanks to the improved comprehensibility of the qualifications, thus increasing the mobility of professionals and managers.

 

The allocation of a VET qualification to an NQFL level is not equivalent to the recognition of a professional qualification and does not give the right to exercise a regulated profession. The decisive factor for entitlement to a profession or qualification is therefore not the assignment but rather the diploma. A qualification at a given NQFL level does not automatically give access to training at the next higher level. The introduction of the NQFL does not create any new legal entitlements with regard to pay or permeability in the education system. Any level allocation of a profession is approved by the government.

 

NQFL aims to clearly display the educational landscape in Liechtenstein and above all to show permeability. Special attention should be paid to VET.