Framework conditions

Several strategies or developments of European education policy can be mentioned as drivers for the recognition and crediting of competences for higher education studies and programmes, in particular the Bologna Process (higher education), the Lifelong Learning (LLL) Strategy, the Copenhagen Process (vocational education) and the Lisbon Strategy in education, which has a bundling effect on the different strands.

At the national level, the Austrian lifelong learning strategy 'LLL:2020' was adopted by the federal government in July 2011, which envisages that acquired skills and competences 'are recognised and certified as qualifications regardless of where they were obtained, and are equal to non-formal and informal education processes.' (LLL:2020, p. 44).

Since 2014, AQ Austria has been involved in several projects supported by the Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research (BMFWF) on questions of quality assurance of procedures for the recognition of non-formally and informally acquired competences.

In 2021, the legal basis will be created that will enable RPL in all higher education sectors.

As of 1.1.2021, AQ Austria has also been legally mandated as a contact point for information and counselling on the recognition of non-formally and informally acquired competences (Act on Quality Assurance in Higher Education - HS-QSG § 3 para. 3 line 12).

The new legal regulations in particular ensure the commitment of education policy to the implementation of recognition of non-formally and informally acquired competences.

The recognition of prior learning (learning outcomes) is regulated by law for all higher education sectors and all forms of study (regular and non-regular studies). The provisions cover the recognition of skills acquired at higher education institutions, at secondary schools and in the context of professional and non-professional activities. A validation procedure must be carried out for the recognition of professional and non-professional qualifications.

The law does not stipulate any upper limits for the recognition of skills acquired at universities. Competences acquired at higher education institutions and professional or non-professional qualifications can only be recognized up to a maximum of 60 ECTS credits. In total, a maximum of 90 ECTS credits applies for these two forms of recognition.