What is the Australian Qualifications Framework?

Another important stakeholder is the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Council. The framework (AQF, 2013) is the national policy for regulated qualifications in the Australian education and training system. One of the key objectives of the AQF is to facilitate pathways to, and through, formal qualifications. The AQF was first introduced in 1995 to underpin the national system of qualifications in Australia, encompassing higher education, vocational education and training (TAFE) and schools. The AQF is the agreed policy of Commonwealth, State and Territory ministers, and is administered by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training.

The AQF provides an integrated policy that comprises the:

• learning outcomes for each AQF level and qualification type;
• specifications for the application of the AQF in the accreditation and development of qualifications;
• policy requirements for issuing AQF qualifications;
• policy requirements for qualification linkages and student pathways;
• AQF qualifications and qualification pathways; and
• policy requirements for the addition or removal of qualification types in the AQF, and the definitions of the terminology used in the policy. 

 

Image source: http://www.aqf.edu.au/