Lithuanian qualifications system incorporates processes used for design and management of qualifications, the assessment, recognition and awarding of qualifications. Its’ purpose is to ensure the conformity of the qualifications provided in the education system with the needs of the economy, their transparency, comparability, continuity of education, individuals’ professional and territorial mobility.
The basis of the Lithuanian qualifications system is the sectoral qualification standards, which describe qualifications in particular economic sectors or their subsectors in all levels of Lithuanian qualifications framework and indicate the competencies required for each qualification together with the requirements for granting the qualification.
Another key document of the qualifications system is the Lithuanian qualifications framework – a system of levels of qualifications established in the Republic of Lithuania, based on the competences required for a person’s activity.
The learning outcomes of higher education studies must correspond to the learning outcomes set in the descriptions of the higher education study fields.
The qualification (or part of it) is granted to the person by VET providers or higher education institutions after receiving the results of the competence assessment. The qualification is granted to a person who has acquired all the competences, as defined in the qualification descriptor in the relevant sectoral qualification standard.
The qualifications system is managed by the institution authorized by the Minister of Education, Science and Sports – the Qualifications and Vocational Education and Training Development Centre (KPMPC).
Other institutions contributing to national qualifications system management and implementation:
Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education (SKVC) in performing the external review and accreditation of higher education institutions encourages them to improve the quality of their activity and promote the quality culture by performing the evaluation and recognition of foreign qualifications, providing information and creating favourable conditions for the free movement of persons.
National Education Agency (NŠA) participates in the implementation of the state policy of pre-school, pre-primary, general education, encourages educational institutions (except for higher education), other education providers to ensure the quality of educational activities, providing information, consultations, qualification improvement services, educational environment creation support, in the implementation of school, regional, national educational monitoring and educational research, forming curriculum and coordinating its implementation.
In order to coordinate strategic issues of the formation of the qualifications system, sectoral professional committees are formed from representatives of the state, municipal institutions, institutions and social partners. They act as an advisory institution established on the basis of cooperation, which coordinates the strategic issues of the formation of the qualifications system and VET in a specific economic sector. There are 18 sectoral professional committees operating at Qualifications and Vocational Education and Training Development Centre.
More information:
- Sectoral qualification standards
- VET programmes
- Descriptions of the higher education study fields
- Qualifications Register and information about awarding bodies
- Competence examination online system https://eksternams.nsa.smm.lt/
