Evaluating Post-Secondary Vocational Education and Qualifications: Common Challenges in Sweden and Norway

In recent years the capacity to assess and recognise foreign post-secondary vocational education and qualifications has increased significantly in Sweden and Norway. New developments include assessing foreign vocational qualifications, linking to the Swedish and Norwegians Qualifications Frameworks and to broader frameworks such as the European Qualifications Framework, and adapting to changes in national post-secondary VET diploma requirements. Remaining challenges include better linking credential evaluation with labour market needs as well as to opportunities for the recognition of prior learning (validation) and for complementary education. The session describes the challenges credential evaluators meet in assessing these qualifications such as quality assurance mechanisms and systemic overview of the qualification system in all the countries. The session also raises the question whether it is possible to separate vocational from non-vocational education in the post-secondary/tertiary level.