Source - Bangkok Post (Eng)

Tuesday, April 08, 2008  10:06

          Bangkok--Apr 8--Bangkok Post

After three years of intensive cooperation, members of the European Union (EU) formally voted to adopt the European Qualification Framework (EQF) on October 24, 2007. The aim was to form uniform guidelines that would help facilitate labor mobility and promote lifelong learning for its citizens.

When the EU devised its qualification framework, the one thing that really stood out was the clear learning objectives. The EU framework focuses on what students have to learn, which in turn gives teachers a clearer aim of how to prepare curricula.

The coordinated framework seems to be working well for the EU. Therefore, perhaps Asean countries could adopt a similar strategy.

Link to employment

The EU framework matches the needs of the labor market with education facilities and vocational training providers. When local industries explain what they want from future employees, students can know what qualifications are expected of them.

Too often, employers have complained about the quality of university graduates in Thailand. The framework would give Thailand a way to map student progress in context of other countries in the region. If there is a shortfall in specific skills, then this would highlight the corrective measures that could be taken.

The benefit is that students can keep track of their learning as it happens and record their achievements and experiences, while possibly making significant intercultural contacts in the Southeast Asia region. Students could be more motivated to set their own goals for meeting work objectives after graduation.

Borderless qualifications

Deputy secretary-general of Thailand's Vocational Education Commission, Siripan Choomnoom, and Orawan Yafa, senior program assistant of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), point out that there needs to be strong national partnerships to succeed. This includes the transfer of qualifications across different countries, as well as institutes for education and training.

In a Bangkok Post article, "Education strategy needed", the two write: "Asean nations should be working together toward constructing a regional qualification framework as a basis for education and sustainable development. There is currently a big gap between skill standards and education frameworks."

Many countries have already taken the lead. Ireland has produced a successful example with their Integrate Ireland Language and Training (Iilt), which can be viewed online or downloaded for free at http://www.iilt.ie .

If Asean adopts a similar framework, it would lead to a set of standards that are transferable across borders. Asean countries would be wise to coordinate their education and training facilities, especially in terms of their future workforces.

In turn, the framework would enable lifelong regional connections that would give Asean countries more powerful and competitive laborers.

I believe that English teachers could also benefit from linking national qualification systems with a more  cooperative regional framework. It certainly wouldn't hurt to give it a try.

Steve Graham is an English language teacher at the Language Center, Udon Thani Rajabhat University in northeast Thailand. If there are any comments or areas for debate that you would like to discuss, you can contact Steve at shedchelsea@hotmail.co.uk .