QUALIFICATION

Frameworks
ASEAN
Qualification Reference Framework
 WHAT IS ASEAN
QUALIFICATIONS REFERENCE
FRAMEWORK?
THE ASEAN QUALIFICATIONS REFERENCE FRAMEWORK
(AQRF) IS A COMMON REFERENCE FRAMEWORK THAT
ENABLES COMPARISONS OF EDUCATION
QUALIFICATIONS ACROSS PARTICIPATING ASEAN
MEMBER STATES (AMS).
 THE OBJECTIVES OF AQRF INCLUDE:
 Support recognition of qualifications
 Encourage the development of qualifications frameworks that can
facilitate lifelong learning
 Encourage the development of national approaches to validating
learning gained outside formal education
 Promote and encourage education and learner mobility
 Support worker mobility
 Improve understanding of qualifications systems
 Promote higher quality qualifications systems
ORIGIN
 The AQRF developed is based on agreed understanding between
AMS. By design, it aims to have a neutral influence on national
qualifications frameworks (NQF) of participating AMS. AMS are
invited to participate in AQRF on voluntary engagement and
implementation. More important, engagement in AQRF does not
require changes to national qualifications systems (NQS). AQRF
respects the specific structures and processes of participating AMS
to maintain their responsiveness to national priorities.
 The AQRF was endorsed by the ASEAN Economic Ministers
(AEM) in August 2014; the ASEAN Education Ministers (ASED) in
September 2014; and the ASEAN Labour Ministers (ALMM)
through ad-referendum from November 2014 to May 2015.

Subsequently, the AQRF Governance and Structure document

 was endorsed by ALMM and ASED in May 2016, and AEM in
August 2016, and provided the basis for the establishment of the
AQRF Committee to implement the AQRF.
Role of AQRF in ASEAN Community Building
 The AQRF aimed to support ASEAN Community building and
specifically through the process to achieve the following goals:
 free flow of skilled labour (through harmonisation and
standardisation) within the region, as indicated in the ASEAN
Economic Community (AEC) 2015 Blueprint; and
 ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) 2015 Blueprint
which seeks “to establish national skills frameworks as an
incremental approach towards an ASEAN skills recognition
”
framework
With the launch of the AEC and ASCC Blueprints 2025, AQRF
will continue to play an important role in facilitating the
seamless movement of skilled labour within ASEAN towards a
highly integrated and cohesive economy, and human capacity
development respectively.
Above all, AQRF is an initiative in line with the ASEAN
Charter’s objective to develop human resources
through closer cooperation in education and life-long
learning to empower the peoples of ASEAN and to
strengthen the ASEAN Community.
In short, AQRF is a unique ASEAN’s cross-sectoral and cross-pillar initiatives and plays
an important role in supporting ASEAN Community building.
PHILIPPINE
Qualification Framework
 WHAT IS ASEAN QUALIFICATIONS
REFERENCE FRAMEWORK?
PQF is a quality assured national system for the development,
recognition and award of qualifications based on standards of
knowledge, skills and values acquired in different ways and
methods by learners and workers educated/trained in the
Philippines.
 PHILIPPINE QUALIFICATION
FRAMEWORK OBJECTIVES
PQF aims to benefit various sectors and stakeholders
of education and training by encouraging lifelong
learning of individuals; providing employers specific
training standards and qualifications that are aligned to
industry standards
Its specific objectives are as follows:
 to adopt national standards and levels of learning outcomes of education; 
 to support the development and maintenance of pathways and
equivalencies that enable access to qualifications and to assist individuals
to move easily and readily between the different education and training
sectors and between these sectors and the labor market; and 
 to align domestic qualification standards with the international
qualifications framework thereby enhancing recognition of the value and
comparability of Philippine qualifications and supporting the mobility of
Filipino students and workers.
 MAPPING OF QUALIFICATIONS
AGAINST THE PQF LEVELS
The PQF has eight (8) Levels of qualifications differentiated
by descriptors of expected learning outcomes along three
domains: knowledge, skills and values; application; and
degree of independence.
BENEFITS OF THE PQF
Philippine Qualification Framework
FOR THE PERSON

Encourages lifelong learning allowing the person to start at

the level that suits him and then build-up his qualifications
as his needs and interests develop and change over time
certificates and licenses recognized by government.
FOR THE EMPLOYERS

Assures that standards and qualifications are

consistent to job requirements/demand.Provides
common understanding on standards, qualifications
and levels
FOR THE E & T PROVIDERS

Ensures transparency in training provision,

conformance to standards and preciseness of
accountability for learning outcomes. Provides
common understanding of policies and guidelines on
credit transfers, articulation, portability, bridges
pathways and RPL.
FOR THE AUTHORITIES

Provides the standards, taxonomy and typology of

qualifications as bases for granting approvals to
providers and stakeholders. Harmonizes
qualifications in E & T across Philippines.