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Author(s): Ulpukka Isopahkala-Bouret, Teemu Rantanen, Katariina Raij & Eeva Järveläinen Publication: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HIGHER EDUCATION, 2011; 1(1): 22-38 Abstract: With the moderating power of the European Qualification Framework (EQF), European higher education has, for some time, been moving in a competence-oriented direction in some educational systems. The EQF is a competence framework that defines standards to all levels of qualification. The framework is set up to facilitate comparison of qualifications and qualifications' levels between and within different national educational systems. In this article, we are using the EQF to set the standards for the comparison between different higher education qualifications. The purpose is to reflect upon the differences of graduates with academically-oriented and professionally-oriented Master's degrees. We approach this problem by asking employers (survey, n=134) and graduates (interviews, n=30) for their opinion of how well the competence of academic and professional Master's degrees fit the objectives of the EQF level 7. Moreover, we are interested to explore how well the EQF lends itself to this kind of a comparison. The particular context for this study is the Finnish dual system of higher education.

Author(s): Hanne Shapiro, Danish Technological Institute; John René Keller Lauritzen, Danish Technological Institute Publication: October 2011 Abstract: This report presents research findings from a transatlantic comparative study on Emerging skills and Competences. The study contributes to the on-going policy dialogue between the US Department of Education and the European Commission, DG Education and Culture on the future strategic direction of education and training systems. More specifically, the study explores approaches adopted to make education and training systems more responsive to emerging skills needs to match future demands in more globalised labour markets. Through exploratory interviews with a range of stakeholders and through a limited number of illustrative case studies, the study has identified a number of promising practices emerging on both sides of the Atlantic, An inventory of European practices of forecasting and anticipation of emerging skills was prepared as part of the study.