European Framework Curricula for welders implemented in the Croatian Qualifications Framework

PORTO SALVO, Portugal - Jan. 13, 2020 - PRLog -- Welding qualifications are driven by an international system that ensure a consistency on the profile of the professionals performing similar functions. In spite of their high desirability, international qualifications need to be broadly adopted at the national level in order to drive workforce mobility and overall competitiveness of European Industry. To expedite adoption, it is needed to design innovative European welder curricula with a completely new approach through occupational and qualification standards that are meant to build a bridge between national and international qualifications.

To address this issue, the WeldChance Erasmus + KA2 partnership project has committed to analyse the EWF qualifications currently in use in 29 member countries in Europe and the Croatian qualifications for welders to design an architecture aimed at facilitating the integration of EWF's international curriculum in National Qualifications Frameworks, thus to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), using the Croatian case as an example. Following this, a restructuring of the European qualification offered by EWF, in a modular structure was designed.

The first step was to create occupational and qualification standards for arc welders with the purpose of harmonisation of national and international qualifications on European grounds. The guiding thought was: Equal competences are required to perform one and the same job anywhere in Europe regardless of where the welder was educated, and if international qualifications are those that worldwide thoroughly correspond to the labour market demands, then all national qualifications need to be harmonised accordingly.


Key achievements

Design of curricula architecture was the first step towards creation of European curricula for arc welding processes to train, qualify and certify welders in any country in Europe. The designed architecture shows:

·        A pathway for transition of International Welder Qualifications (EWF qualification and certification) to national levels by linking the modules, it is possible to achieve a horizontal passageway through different welding processes, different types of joints and different materials and, at the same time, the path towards international certificates was made easier;

·        Vertical passageway is also possible - the path to IWP (International/European Welding Practitioner) or IWS (International/European Welding Specialist) depending on the previous level of primary or vocational education;

·        Both theoretical and practical education support introduction of VWTS (Virtual Welding Training System) and an interactive, and modern approach to learning, thus catering to the demands of younger generations with regards to educational methods;

·        The curricula are available for public use in EU dissemination Platform (https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/projects/eplus-project-details/#project/2016-1-HR01-KA202-022187) and Weldchance website (www.weldchance.eu) as a result of a European Erasmus+ KA2 Strategic partnership project "Welding is your chance" (Acronym: "WeldChance") as a collaboration of experts from 5 European countries.

Best practice example in Croatia

Upon completion of the WeldChance project, the Croatian Ministry of Education and Science has recognised its advantages. Workgroups have been established to implement the project's results into the Croatian Qualifications Framework and consequently into Croatian educational system. Arrangements have been made to write the occupational standard for arc welders and three qualification standards for levels 2, 3 and 4.1 according to Croatian Qualification Framework, which correspond to levels 2 and 3 according to EQF.

Advantages gained through this implementation are:
·        Harmonisation of national qualifications for arc welders with international ones;
·        Bringing order in the area of resources required in order to be able to deliver quality training (trainers/instructors, equipment, machines, etc.);
·        External evaluation of educational results as a guarantee of the premise: equal competences for the same job regardless of where they were required and whether they were required through formal, non-formal or informal education;
·        And finally - competent welders at global level.

Implementation is expected to be finished by 31 March 2020.

Project partners

This project's consortium includes organisations from five countries, Croatia - College ULJANIK (coordinator), Industrial and Trade School, Končar Steel Structures and Croatian welding Society as the associated partner; Belgium – EWF; Spain – CESOL; Italy - IIS Progress and Switzerland SVSXASS.

About the European Federation for Welding, Joining and Cutting

EWF is a pioneer in implementing a harmonized qualification and certification system for joining professionals. Through European projects EWF has been innovating in training methodologies and involved in the development of new technologies and uses for joining. Through its member organisations, EWF has established a firm link to the local industry, providing knowledge and training as well as participating in research initiatives that address the most pressing questions and challenges in the field of joining technologies.