UAE's Federal Government established the National Qualifications Authority (NQA) in 2010 to develop a high-quality national qualifications system. Bridging the expectation of employers and education providers, the authority is helping build trust and credibility by supporting the development of a knowledge economy through the creation of a National Qualifications Framework (QFEmirates). The framework was developed by following international best practices and has been benchmarked against similar frameworks in the UK, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Ireland.
The national qualifications framework helps build confidence, credibility and validity of the country?s national qualifications. It will also promote life-long learning, benchmark and align qualifications with international qualifications to enhance the mobility of learners, and serve as a tool to help individuals identify the qualifications they need to achieve their careers aspirations.
Each year, thousands of young learners count on their education to get one-step closer to achieving their goals. QFEmirates is providing a pathway for recognition, as countries across the world are developing education qualification frameworks to help learners and employers seek an acknowledgement of their efforts.
The national qualifications framework allows a comparison of knowledge, skills and competencies and places educational qualifications into levels from 1 to 10. These levels are used to compare different qualifications while showing how one qualification can lead to another.
Dr Thani Ahmed Al Mehairi, Director General of NQA, says: "The establishment of the National Qualifications Authority (NQA) represents a key step and real investment in the concept that education does not stop within the borders of time and place. This is a march that continues with every effort, time and money that an individual spends to acquire the knowledge, skills and competencies from various forms of learning and work."
He also said that NQA aims to help build an education and training system that is at the forefront of many developed countries in the world. This system must equip citizens with the qualifications necessary to gain sustainable employment in an internationally competitive, knowledge-based economy."
In the UAE, educational qualifications are recognised under a National Qualifications Framework (QFEmirates) allowing learners to relate their qualifications to specific levels as educational outcomes are mapped against the framework. With thousands of students transitioning from high school and universities, the framework provides a clear structure and reference point, allowing all qualifications in the country to be compared nationally and internationally.
NQA has focused on implementation of QFEmirates in the vocational sector and the authority has already accredited more than 100 qualifications from levels 2 to 9.
QFEmirates is based on three main features - number of levels, range of learning outcomes at each level and a qualification structure.
NQA has established systems for referencing and recognition activities that will enhance mobility opportunities for qualifications gained in the UAE or overseas. As part of NQA's mandate, the UAE has established bilateral mutual recognition agreements with respective country agencies to recognise qualifications issued in the UAE or overseas. The referencing process that supports these agreements involves the alignment of two (or more) qualifications frameworks.
In 2014, NQA approved two awarding bodies to license and evaluate technical and vocational education training - Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ACTVET) and Qualifications and Awards in Dubai (QAD) at the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). The awarding body is an entity recognised by the Vocational Education and Training Accreditation Council (VETAC).
The Recognition of Qualifications Service was launched in February 2016. QAD supports educational institutions and vocational training providers by helping improve the quality of training programmes and qualifications provided. The service was launched after consultations with the leading international awarding bodies.
Recognition by the NQA is an official confirmation that a qualification or award meets a level in the QFEmirates for the purposes of employment and/or access to education and training in the UAE. This is done by qualification comparison to a level in the QFEmirates.
Currently, the NQA is expanding the application of QFEmirates to the school education sector through the establishment of the Council for Placement of General Education Completion Certificates. The council is working on the placement of various national and international school curricula on level 4 of the QFEmirates. NQA is also working with higher education authorities to place academic programmes into the framework.
Page last updated 31 December 2019