The Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) and its ...

The Caribbean Vocational

Qualification (CVQ)

and its inception into the

CARICOM Qualifications

Framework

The CARICOM Human Resource Development 2030 Strategy(approved in March 2017)

A framework for the

CARICOM Education

Agenda

The basis for

converged action by

Member States

Unlocking Caribbean Human Potential

01 02

Underpinning Value

Education and training (formal, non-

formal or informal) will be open,

flexible, and responsive

All education and training offered to

citizens of the CARICOM Region must

provide the knowledge, skills and

competencies to enable a resilient

workforce, better prepared for

twenty first century demands.

THE STRATEGY HAS FOUR MAIN IMPERATIVES:

The Imperatives

ACCESS

RELEVANCE

EQUITY

QUALITY

GLOBALLY

COMPETITIVE

SEAMLESS

EDUCATION

Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ)

The Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQs) are

CARICOM approved awards that reflect the core

work practices of specific occupational areas.

The CVQs are predicated on the development of

Regional Occupational Standards (ROS).

Regional Occupational Standards are the regional

benchmarks of the knowledge, skills and attributes

needed to effectively and efficiently perform in the

workplace.

CVQ Development

MEMBER STATES NTAs NOS ROS

CARICOM

APPROVALCVQs

The Regional Qualifications Framework (RQF)

CARICOM approved the

RQF in 2001

LEVEL 5 - EXECUTIVE PROFESSIONAL

LEVEL 4 - MANAGER

LEVEL 3 - SUPERVISOR/TECHNICIAN

LEVEL 2 – SKILLED/INDEPENDENT WORKER

LEVEL 1 – SEMI-SKILLED WORKER

CVQ Benefits

1. Facilitate the free movement of skilledcertified workers within the Caribbeansingle market economy (CSME);

2. Develop regional students into the idealCaribbean worker;

3. Enhance the profile and attractivenessof CARICOM labour force; and

4. Support the harmonisation of TVETacross the region.

Who Awards the CVQ?

CVQs, can be attained as full awardsor as partial, unit awards

These are awards are attainedthrough approved traininginstitutions/centres.

In the region, CVQs are also attainedwithin the formal, secondary schoolsystem via the CaribbeanExaminations Council (CXC).

CVQ Skilled Areas and Levels

There are currently 314 CVQs

ranging from Level 1 to Level 4.

An additional 54 CVQs are

currently going through the

process of regional ratification

for approval

Educational and Career Mobility

CARICOM Member States continue to support the goal of the free movement

of labour and citizens across the region.

CARICOM nationals desirous of seeking employment in other Member States

can apply for, and obtain, a CARICOM Skills Certificate.

A need for a mechanism to decipher the qualifications.

An increased call for the development of a unifying Qualifications Framework

to improve transparency, comparison and understanding about qualifications

across the region.

The CARICOM Qualifications Framework (CQF)

Approved in 2017

The CQF serves as a common reference framework that

enables individuals, education and training providers,

employers and other stakeholders to better understand and

compare the qualifications awarded at different levels in

countries across the region.

The aim is for the CQF to eventually facilitate the

benchmarking of CARICOM qualifications against

international frameworks

Structure of the CQF

The CQF comprises ten reference levels which

describe the learning outcomes graduates are

expected to know, understand and be able to

do as a result of learning.

Each level is described based upon 5

learning domains;

1. Knowledge and understanding;

2. Application and practice;

3. Communication, numeracy and

ICT skills;

4. Life skills; and

5. Autonomy, accountability and

working with others.

The CARICOM Qualifications Framework (CQF)

The CQF makes qualifications

more portable throughout

CARICOM.

It facilitates educational and

labour market mobility.

Each Member State is

required to develop a

National Qualifications

Framework (NQF).

These NQFs are then to be

aligned to the CQF.

CQF Adoption

2

5

1

2

1

Member States have adopted the CQF(T&T and Grenada).

Member States have NQFs in place(Guyana, Antigua &Barbuda, Jamaica,St Kitts and Nevis, Barbados)

Associate Member has an NQF in place(the Cayman Islands)

Member States are in the process ofdeveloping the NQF (Trinidad &Tobago& St Lucia).

Associate Member is in the early stagesof developing an NQF (TCI)

The CVQ-CQF Alignment

CANTA

PROPOSED RVQF

The Trinidad

and Tobago

Experience

Challenges of:

Fluctuating momentum in the development and revisions of

CVQs Limited marketing and

promotion A lack of clarity on mechanisms

to support portability Reconciling TVET’s language

Cohesion in CVQ alignments

Successes:

Strong buy in from industry Allow for competency based

training and assessment Aid in transforming the education

and training environment

Questions | Comments | Concerns

Thank You