ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) Economic Cooperation Support Programme (AECSP)

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1 ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) Economic Cooperation Support Programme (AECSP) Consulting Opportunity for Workshop Facilitation on Referencing National Qualifications Frameworks (NQF) to the ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework (AQRF) under the AANZFTA ECWP Project on Education and Training Governance: Capacity Building for NQF Phase IV [AANZ-0064-SER-12] Lodgment of Tenders/Applications to: Program Coordinator AANZFTA Support Unit External Economic Relations Division, ASEAN Economic Community Department The ASEAN Secretariat 70 A Jl. Sisingamangaraja Jakarta 12110, Indonesia ecwp@asean.org Please indicate in the subject line: Workshop Facilitation on Referencing National Qualifications Frameworks (NQF) to the ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework (AQRF) Closing date and time: 31 August 2016 (Close of Business, Jakarta time) 1

2 ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) Economic Cooperation Support Programme (AECSP) Title of Assignment: Consulting Opportunity for Workshop Facilitation on Referencing National Qualifications Frameworks (NQF) to the ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework (AQRF) under the AANZFTA ECWP Project on Education and Training Governance: Capacity Building for NQF Phase IV [AANZ-0064-SER-12] I. Project Summary 1. The ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework (AQRF), endorsed by the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) in August 2014, the ASEAN Education Ministers (ASED) in September 2014, and the ASEAN Labour Ministers (ALMM) in May 2015, functions as a device to enable comparisons of qualifications across ASEAN Member States (AMS). 2. The Free Trade Agreement Joint Committee endorsed Phase IV of the NQF Project in To date, the AANZFTA Economic Cooperation Support Programme (AECSP) project on Education and Training Governance, Capacity Building for National Qualifications Frameworks, has also supported the development of the AQRF in three (3) phases: Phase I ( ) developed a policy concept paper, convened a regional forum to discuss the findings and held national consultation workshops; Phase II ( ) established a Task Force of AMS and non-voting representatives from Australia and New Zealand to develop the AQRF and agree on its implementation; Phase III ( ) provided planned, tailored and practical technical support for NQF development and implementation to AMS through exchanges of officials and technical experts. 3. Phase IV ( ) The NQF Phase IV project on Referencing National Qualifications Frameworks (NQF) to the ASEAN Qualification Reference Framework (AQRF) aims to support the referencing process of the AMS national qualifications frameworks (NQFs) or qualifications systems to the AQRF. The project will see at least two (2) AMS undertake referencing to the AQRF. To guide the referencing process by participating 2

3 AMS, AQRF Referencing Guidelines 1 and Concept Notes on AQRF elements has been developed by the Task Force-AQRF. 4. The NQF Phase IV will be implemented by the AQRF Committee 2 over six (6) two-day AQRF Committee meetings (including technical expert workshops to be held back-toback with the AQRF Committee meetings) during the period between June 2016 and June The technical expert workshop will be supported and facilitated by an international expert consultant (the consultant). 6. The technical expert workshop will focus on identifying and addressing implementation challenges, the needs of AMS undertaking referencing, developing referencing reports, policy papers and concept notes, as well as defining the future workplan. The outcome of each technical expert workshop will support the discussions and decision making at the AQRF Committee meeting. 7. By the conclusion of the NQF Phase IV, the AQRF Committee will review and comment on at least two referencing reports. Whenever necessary, the international expert consultant, in consultation with the AQRF Committee, will assist in development of technical documents (i.e. Concept Notes) on the elements of referencing, and policy papers (i.e. communication strategies, referencing and institutional principles) to promote the AQRF. II. Purpose of the Assignment and Terms of Reference 8. The Project requires engagement of an international expert consultant who will assist and support the functions of the AQRF Committee in developing its work plan and the referencing process of AMS NQFs to AQRF, policy papers, concept notes and referencing reports, as well as identifying and advising on the needs of AMS undertaking referencing. 9. Specifically, the expert consultant will undertake the following tasks in consultation with AQRF Committee: (a) To facilitate and moderate six (6) Technical Expert Workshops; 1 2 AQRF Referencing Guidelines is a living document and its content is subject to revision to reflect the latest developments on global referencing standard and procedures, as well as quality assurance. The Terms of Reference (TOR) for the AQRF Committee is currently going through the requisite formal endorsement/approval by the three ASEAN Ministries. Once established, the AQRF Committee shall comprise one (1) representative from each AMS. In accordance with the ECWP guidelines, Australia and New Zealand would both have seats and participate at the AQRF Committee meetings as non-voting members during the transition phase between 2016 and

4 (b) (c) To present the following at the First Technical Expert Workshop: a workplan for the subsequent five (5) meetings; Reference Report template to be used by participating AMS; and Reviewing process of Referencing Reports; At the subsequent Technical Expert Workshops: to develop and present concept notes and policy papers with reference to the AQRF Referencing Guidelines as necessary to ensure the relevance to the latest development of international referencing standards and procedures, as well as quality assurance; to provide advice on the review of the referencing reports and reviewing process as necessary; and to support the AQRF Committee in reviewing the workplan as necessary; (d) (e) Prior to each technical expert workshop, the expert consultant would review the referencing reports submitted by the participating AMS based on the template proposed, and highlight issues to be discussed by the technical expert meetings, including suggestions for the participating AMS to provide additional information; and By the conclusion of the Sixth AQRF Committee Meeting, to support the finalisation and endorsement of at least two (2) referencing reports. III. Required Activities 10. Prior to the commencement of the First Technical Expert Workshop, a draft Referencing Report template, a draft Process for Reviewing Referencing Reports, and a draft work plan will have to be submitted to the ASEAN Secretariat, and in consultation with the relevant stakeholders, for comments. 11. Subsequently, the main output documents of this project will be, but not limited to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) Concept notes and policy papers as necessary; PowerPoint presentation and materials for each of the six (6) workshops; Summary report on the outcome of each of the six (6) workshops; Summary report on the feedback received in intersessional consultations with AQRF Committee; Referencing reports of the participating AMS; and Final/Completion Report to outline the progress and accomplishments of the project. 4

5 IV. Previous or Related Projects and Documentations to be considered 12. The ASEAN Secretariat will provide the expert consultant the reports and materials of the NQF Phase I, II and III projects. The selected expert consultant will be invited to go to to download the AQRF document, and two Concept Notes developed by the TF-AQRF in NQF Phase II. 13. In addition, the expert consultant is encouraged to review other related resource materials on regional qualifications frameworks (RQF) and quality assurance, such as the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), the Australia and New Zealand Qualification Frameworks Referencing Report, European Qualifications Framework (EQF), European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP), United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), East Asia Summit Quality Assurance TVET Framework, the ASEAN Quality Assurance Framework (AQAF), and the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE). 14. The expert consultant may also wish to review relevant and related initiatives of Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) and International Labour Organization (ILO). V. Consultant s Qualifications 15. The consultant should demonstrate extensive experience in referencing processes with experience in initiatives of various international fora, such as Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), ILO and UNESCO. 16. In addition, the consultant should be an internationally recognised expert in NQF or RQF. 17. Consultant with first-hand experience or consulting work in ASEAN as a region and with individual AMS is preferred but not necessary. VI. Timetable and Deliverables 18. The proposed timetable and deliverables of the project is as follows: Deliverables and Milestones 1. Submission of the following documents: a draft Referencing Report template, a draft Process for Reviewing Referencing Reports, a proposed work plan/activities for workshops/aqrf Dates 15 October

6 Deliverables and Milestones Committee under NQF Phase IV 2. Submission of the above three (3) revised document incorporating comments received from the ASEAN Secretariat 3. Presentation of the above three (3) documents at the First Technical Expert Workshop 4. Provision of technical and expert assistance as required at the subsequent five (5) Technical Expert Workshops Dates 10 November 2016 TBC January 2017-June 2018 VII. Submission of Application 19. Selection Criteria - an application should include the consultant s qualifications and expertise as follows: At least five years experience in related referencing work relevant to the project, and a list of projects undertaken in the form of brief summaries of; Expertise and knowledge in ASEAN NQFs; and List of relevant publications on RQF and NQF, as well as quality assurance. Please provide links to the publications if available, or attach selected publications in softcopy in the application. 20. The application should also include the cost of consultancy with the following details: Consultancy fee for developing the three (3) documents to facilitate the First Technical Expert Workshop in unit cost and the number of hours/days; Consultancy fees for presentation of the paper and provision of technical expertise in each of the five (5) subsequent Technical Expert Workshops in unit cost and the number of hours/days; and Miscellaneous charges, if applicable. 21. The cost of travel and accommodation for the consultant, as may be required by the ASEAN Secretariat, shall be paid based on actual costs and borne by the Project Fund. 22. Interested applicants/experts are invited to respond to this advertisement electronically by 31 August