Educational qualifications

Depending on the level of education and the type of education/orientation, an educational qualification consists of attainment goals, specific learning objectives, professional qualifications or partial qualifications. View the content of educational qualifications above.

You can use the digital application form for educational qualifications (in Dutch)(opens in new window) to request the Agency for Higher Education, Adult Education, Qualifications and Study Grants to develop or update a proposal for an educational qualification.

A proposal for an educational qualification describes the attainment goals, specific learning objectives, professional qualifications or partial qualifications that form part of it. It also contains information indicating the necessity and relevance of a new/updated educational qualification and its place in the education and training structure.

By whom: the Agency for Higher Education, Adult Education, Qualifications and Study Grants on its own initiative or at the request of stakeholders who provide all the necessary information for this purpose.

Based on established criteria, the competent authority advises on the proposed educational qualification. This step does not apply in the case of updating an educational qualification that is limited to technical adjustments.

By whom: Flemish Education Council.

Based on the (recognition) advice, an educational qualification will be recognised or updated, or not.

By whom: For new educational qualifications and updates to educational qualifications that go beyond technical adjustments: the Government of Flanders. For updates to educational qualifications that are limited to technical adjustments: the Flemish Minister responsible for education and training.

Deadline: For applications submitted by October 1st at the latest, the Government of Flanders will decide by March 31st at the latest.

The recognised educational qualification will be included in the qualifications database.

By whom: Agency for Higher Education, Adult Education, Qualifications and Study Grants.

If one or more professional qualifications are recognised at level 5, the Agency for Higher Education, Adult Education, Qualifications and Study Grants will assess whether a level 5 educational qualification can be developed that encompasses the professional qualification(s). The Council of the Flemish Universities of Applied Sciences and Arts is consulted to provide advice on the scope of the programme (the number of credits) and to make suggestions regarding the name of the educational qualification (the programme) and any specialisations.

By whom: Agency for Higher Education, Adult Education, Qualifications and Study Grants in consultation with the Council of the Flemish Universities of Applied Sciences and Arts.

Based on established criteria, the Agency for Higher Education, Adult Education, Qualifications and Study Grants advises on the desirability of developing an educational qualification.

By whom: Agency for Higher Education, Adult Education, Qualifications and Study Grants.

Based on the advice of the Agency for Higher Education, Adult Education, Qualifications and Study Grants, a decision will be made on whether to develop the educational qualification.

By whom: The Government of Flanders.

Discipline specific learning outcomes are developed on the basis of the underlying professional qualification(s). Discipline specific learning outcomes cluster all competencies from the professional qualification.

By whom: Council of the Flemish Universities of Applied Sciences and Arts in consultation with the Agency for Higher Education, Adult Education, Qualifications and Study Grants.

The discipline specific learning outcomes are submitted to the Dutch-Flemish Accreditation Organisation (NVAO) for validation. The validated discipline specific learning outcomes are automatically recognised as educational qualifications.

By whom: the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders.

The recognised educational qualification will be included in the qualifications database.

By whom: Agency for Higher Education, Adult Education, Qualifications and Study Grants.

For each programme, discipline specific learning outcomes are described that graduates must achieve.

The discipline specific learning outcomes of the bachelor’s and Master’s programmes automatically constitute the qualifications for qualification levels 6 and 7.

By whom: The higher education institutions offering the programme, under the coordination of the Flemish Higher Education Council.

Was the procedure followed correctly and is the level indication within the Flemish qualification framework correct? Then the discipline specific learning outcomes are automatically recognised as a qualification.

By whom: The Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders.

The recognised educational qualification will be included in the qualifications database.

By whom: Agency for Higher Education, Adult Education, Qualifications and Study Grants.