Detailed roadmap for the eqf referencing of the nqf in fyrom

2.4 Recognition of foreign qualifications

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  General description
  

For citizens of the Republic of Macedonia and for foreigners the completed primary/secondary education or the completed years of primary/secondary education abroad are recognized by an independent commission established by the Ministry of Education and Science.
Recognition of higher education qualifications acquired abroad is carried out for the purpose of employment (professional recognition) or continuation of education (academic recognition). The Re­pub­lic of Macedonia has signed the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region in year 2002 (Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia" No. 47/2002). Since 1995 the recognition is carried out by the national ENIC/NARIC Centre, which functions within the Ministry of Education and Science.

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  Legal framework
  

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  Rulebook for keeping records of the recognized primary school leaving certificates (No11-204/1 from15.01.2014);
  
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  Rulebook for keeping records of the recognized secondary school leaving certificates ("Official Gazette" No. 27/96)
  
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  Rulebook on the procedure for equivalence and recognition of foreign qualifications and the necessary documentation ("Official Gazette" No 71/2009)
  
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  Rulebook on keeping records of equivalence and recognition of foreign qualifications ("Official Gazette" No 71/2009).
  

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  Governance
  

Ministry of Education and Science supported by National ENIC/NARIC center is central governance authority for recognition of foreign qualifications. Recognition procedure lasts between 8 and 20 days. Decisions are made by the Minister and they are compulsory for the higher education institutions.

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  Quality assurance
  

Within the Quality Management System according ISO 9000 there are special procedures regarding recognition procedures. The Ministry’s officials who work on recognition applications has proper training and collaborate with ENIC/NARIC network. Applicant has right for fair assessment of their qualification. Every candidate who is not satisfied by the Decision for recognition has right to appeal.

3. NQF development and referencing/self-certification process

1. Role of the Macedonian Qualifications Framework (MQF)

The MQF development and implementation have been strongly influenced by the process of European integration and the commitment of the Republic of Macedonia to the Lisbon Strategy, the Bologna process, Copenhagen process, ET2010, the Europe 2020 Strategy, ET2020, etc.
Nationally, the reporting on the achievement of the Bruges process short-term deliverables (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014) and the preparation of the Strategy for Vocational Education and Training in the Context of Lifelong Learning (2013-2020) have boosted the work on the NQF and its’ implementation.
The NQF development resulted with the Baselines of the National Qualifications Framework (Macedonian Qualifications Framework) (July 2013). The main goals of MQF are to integrate and coordinate the education sub-systems and to improve the transparency, access, progression and quality of qualifications in relation to the labour market and the civil society. The MQF is the reference point for the reforms of the education and training system in the context of lifelong learning.

2. Preparatory phase

The initial idea for the development of a National Qualifications Framework started in 2002 under the Project Programme for Vocational Education and Training (Contract No.02-0003 Second Phase, CARDS). Expert group led by Mr.David Handley, UK expert in cooperation with members of the subgroup for national standards of qualifications and the subgroup for assessment developed the Concept System of Vocational Qualifications for the Republic of Macedonia. Staff members of the Ministry of Education and Science, VET experts from the Bureau for Development of Education, teachers and directors of VET schools, employers, chambers of commerce, representatives of the trade union etc. were involved in the development of the Concept. Within the Project were developed 5 standards and 5 qualifications in 4 priority sectors: Economy, Law and Trade, Electrotechnics, Mechanical Engineering and Health.

As of 2003, in parallel, the Republic of Macedonia was involved in the regional ETF project on awareness raising and capacity building of the countries of South Eastern Europe on the importance and relevance of development of national qualifications frameworks Developing Strategies for National Qualifications Frameworks for South Eastern Europe with Implementation plan 2004-2005. In September 2005 the working group (ETF expert, Irish expert and national experts) prepared the Proposal for Development of a National Qualifications Framework for the Republic of Macedonia.

With the CARDS project for lifelong learning Technical Assistance to the Ministry of Education and Science on Lifelong Learning (Contract No. 06MAC01/11/102) the document Baselines of the National Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning was developed. The Working group for the National Qualifications Framework consisted of representatives from the: Ministry of Education and Science (Department of Primary and Secondary Education, Department of Higher Education, EU Department, State Education Inspectorate), Bureau for Development of Education, VET Centre, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Ministry of Economy, Employment Service Agency, universities from Skopje, Bitola, Tetovo and Shtip, open universities for lifelong learning, Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Macedonia, Chamber of Crafts, Trade Union, Centre for Adult Education and the State Statistical Office. Two technical sub-groups were established: Sub-group for design of NQF and of qualifications and Sub-group for Accreditation and Registration. The Baselines for the National Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning built upon the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning, the Copenhagen process, the Bologna process, and the Decree on the National Framework for Higher Education Qualifications http://mrk.mk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Appendix_1_Decree_for_the_NQF_HE.pdf.

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