A workshop
titled “Key Competences” was held in Belgrade on 16 October 2025 as part of the
project “Increased Offer and Diversification of Accredited Non-Formal
Training Courses and Adult Training Providers”,funded by the European
Union.
The event brought together representatives of the Serbian Qualifications
Agency, the Office for Dual Education and the National Qualifications
Framework, the Institute for the Improvement of Education, the Institute for
the Evaluation of Quality in Education, and the Sector for Secondary Education
and Adult Education of the Ministry of Education.
The workshop opened with a presentation of its objectives and methodology, followed by a joint review of opportunities for the systematic inclusion of key competences in the National Qualifications Framework of Serbia (NQFS). Participants highlighted the limitations of the existing model and the need for stronger alignment with European frameworks and good practices, in order to enhance the applicability and visibility of key competences. It was emphasized that improving the current model would enable stronger horizontal and vertical connectivity between qualifications, as well as more effective recognition of prior learning, which requires clearer definition of expected competence levels within the NQFS.
Throughout the full-day programme, participants worked through several thematic units. The session began with consideration of defining four levels of eight key competences, followed by analysis and discussion of descriptors, with a focus on their application within qualification standards and learning outcomes. It was particularly underlined that defining key competence descriptors enables their visibility in qualification standards and consistent application across various education and training programmes.
The next segment presented a programme for the development and assessment of key competences in line with the key competence framework. Special attention was devoted to aligning with European reference frameworks such as DigComp, EntreComp, LifeComp and the CEFR, to ensure the applicability of European standards in the national system. Various assessment models used in European practice were examined—including integrated approaches, portfolio models, standardized tests and combined models—along with considerations of their feasibility within Serbia’s existing qualifications system.
The second part of the workshop focused on presenting recommendations for improving the current methodology for developing qualification standards. Through discussion and proposed solutions, participants analysed possibilities for a more precise definition of learning outcomes, stronger links between formal and non-formal education, and ensuring horizontal and vertical coherence of qualifications within the NQFS.
The workshop concluded with a summary of recommendations and agreement on next steps, alongside a shared conviction among participants that the proposed improvements will contribute to modernizing the qualifications system and creating better conditions for recognising key competences in adult education.