Dutch qualification structure

The labour market is in constant development. Globalisation and economic developments cause continuous change. Borders gradually disappear and international trade becomes more and more important. Mobility and employability become increasingly significant on a globalising labour market. The professional expertise of practitioners from various countries is used to stimulate economic growth.

This asks for flexibility and broad employability of employees. More and more employees fill several positions with several employers in the course of their career. For them, it is essential that they can continue to develop, both with regard to knowledge as to skills, so that they can move along with the changing labour market.
For employers it is important that employees not only have professional knowledge, but also general competencies, such as the abilities to cooperate, communicate, take political responsibility, deal with authorities and to keep appointments.
The labour market acts as the basis for the qualification structure in senior secondary vocational education and training (VET).

The competency-based qualification structure that is used in the Netherlands is the link between the labour market and the programmes for vocational education and training in senior secondary vocational education. All jobs and functions are described in occupational profiles. These occupational profiles form the basis for the qualification files. One qualification can contain several occupational profiles. These qualification files describe the knowledge, skills and competencies a person needs, to fulfil a job or function. Education and training are based on the qualification files. The content of the programme is determined by the schools. The subject matters offered to the participants are laid down in the curricula.

The Netherlands have a unique system of senior secondary vocational education. In this system, trade and industry play an important role. For more information about the Dutch senior secondary vocational education system, visit the website of the Dutch National Reference Point.