Key concepts

In the IQS, “accumulation of achievements” means gaining a qualification in stages. In this case, a person seeking a qualification has their competences assessed in several separate stages that do not follow immediately one after another. Only competences that are related to one another and form a coherent whole can be assessed and formally confirmed […]

In the IQS, an achievement is a separately assessed and formally confirmed part of the competences (learning outcomes) required for a qualification. Only requirements that are presented in the qualification description as a module can be confirmed separately. Such a module is a distinct unit of related learning outcomes that together form a coherent whole.

A PQF level is assigned to a qualification by comparing the competences (learning outcomes) required for that qualification with the level descriptors of the Polish Qualifications Framework. The comparison is carried out by a panel of experts appointed for this purpose. The relevant PQF levels for full qualifications are specified in Article 8 of the […]

Within the IQS, an “awarding body” is a training company, higher education institution or other entity authorised by the relevant minister to award a specific qualification. More broadly, the term awarding body refers to any entity that awards qualifications.

Certification means awarding a qualification. It is a series of activities that results in a person seeking a qualification receiving a document confirming that a specific qualification has been awarded. Under the IQS Act, certification takes place after a positive validation outcome has been obtained. Only authorised institutions may award qualifications. Education or training, validation […]

Under the IQS Act, craft qualifications are qualifications for which the examination requirements are set by the Polish Craft Association. Craft qualifications are awarded to people who have passed the relevant examinations before examination boards of chambers of crafts.

In the terminology used in the IQS, “external quality assurance” means the monitoring and periodic evaluation of activities related to the awarding of qualifications, carried out by an entity independent of the awarding body. The requirement for external quality assurance was introduced by the IQS Act. External quality assurance helps ensure that standards for awarding […]

To ensure the reliability of qualifications awarded within the IQS, validation and certification are subject to external quality assurance. This task is carried out by institutions that are independent of the awarding body. The IQS Act sets out provisions for assigning an external quality assurance body (EQA body) to an awarding body. The EQA body […]

The IQS Act divides qualifications into full and partial qualifications. Full qualifications are awarded exclusively within the school education and higher education systems, after completing primary or secondary school or a higher education programme. All types of full qualifications are listed in Article 8 of the IQS Act.

The Integrated Qualifications System has been operating in Poland since 2016, following the adoption of a special act by the Polish Parliament. The integrated system encompasses a significant portion of Polish qualifications which have been included in it under the provisions of the act or by the competent ministers. The integrated system operates based on […]

The Integrated Qualifications Register is a public register maintained in an ICT system. It contains all qualifications included in the IQS. Being entered in the Register means that a qualification is reliable and has been assigned a PQF level. Qualifications that are not included in the IQS cannot be entered in the IQR. Qualification data […]

In the terminology used in the IQS, “internal quality assurance” means the monitoring and periodic evaluation by an awarding body of its own activities related to the awarding of qualifications. The requirement for every awarding body to have an internal quality assurance system was introduced by the IQS Act. Internal quality assurance strengthens an awarding […]

The IQS Stakeholder Council is an advisory body to the Minister-Coordinator of the IQS. The Council supports the Minister-Coordinator in ensuring the consistency and comparability of the system and in improving the mechanisms operating within the IQS. The composition of the IQS Stakeholder Council is set out in the IQS Act. The Council includes representatives […]

Knowledge consists of objects and facts, processes, principles and regularities that people have learned about, as well as an understanding of theories developed through scientific research. In the terminology used in the IQS, “knowledge” is one of the three categories of learning outcomes distinguished in the PQF. The requirements for individual qualifications refer to selected […]

Learning outcomes are the knowledge, skills and social competences acquired through learning in the broadest sense – not only at school or university, but also through work and a range of other activities. The learning outcomes specified in a qualification description define: In theory, learning outcomes are divided into three categories. In practice, however, a […]

Market qualifications operate on the “open qualifications market”, which means that they are not regulated by generally applicable legislation. Some large companies, corporations, associations and organisations develop market qualifications for their own purposes. These qualifications may relate to occupational activities as well as other types of activity, including educational and youth development activities (for example, […]

There are several types of partial qualifications, including regulated, market, sectoral and craft qualifications. Compared with full qualifications, partial qualifications cover a narrower range of required competences. These requirements are usually linked to clearly defined types of activities. A partial qualification may extend or deepen a full qualification. For example, doctors may obtain a specialist […]

The Polish Qualifications Framework (PQF) describes the qualification levels established in Poland. As in many other countries, the PQF is one of the key elements of the qualifications system. Like the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), the Polish framework has 8 qualification levels. The higher the PQF level, the greater the requirements for people seeking a […]

A PQF (Polish Qualifications Framework) level provides general information about the scope and complexity of the knowledge, skills and social competences required of people seeking qualifications at that level. The PQF level assigned to a particular qualification is determined by comparing the requirements set out in the qualification description with the level descriptors in the […]

This is a set of statements that describe, in the most general terms, the knowledge, skills and social competences corresponding to a given PQF (Polish Qualifications Framework) level. The Polish Qualifications Framework includes first-stage and second-stage PQF level descriptors.  The first-stage descriptors are universal – they apply to all types of qualifications. The second-stage descriptors […]

A qualification is a formal confirmation that a person has demonstrated, in accordance with the applicable procedure, that they have achieved the required learning outcomes (competences) specified for that qualification. A document confirming the award of a qualification may be, for example, a school certificate, diploma or certificate. A qualification can be awarded only if […]

If people who obtain a qualification are then able to perform well in the tasks that the requirements set out in the qualification description are intended to prepare them for, this indicates that the qualification is of good quality. The quality of a qualification depends first and foremost on the selection of learning outcomes (competences) […]

A regulated qualification operates on the basis of legal provisions other than those governing the education system (under the terminology used in the IQS Act, school certificates and higher education diplomas are not regulated qualifications). From the perspective of the economy and the labour market, regulated qualifications are an essential complement to full qualifications obtained […]

Ministers responsible for individual branches of government administration are responsible for qualifications falling within those branches. The relevant minister for a given qualification: Only one minister can be responsible for a given qualification. This also applies to qualifications that fall within more than one branch of government administration. If there is any doubt as to […]

A sectoral qualification is not regulated by generally applicable legislation. It is an occupational qualification that responds to specific needs of a particular industry or sector. Only an institution operating in the relevant industry or sector may be authorised to award a sectoral qualification.

Sectoral Qualifications Frameworks contain level descriptors that use terminology specific to particular sectors or industries. This makes it easier to determine the PQF levels of qualifications operating within a given sector or industry. Depending on the needs of a particular sector or professional community, Sectoral Qualifications Frameworks may cover different numbers of levels (for example, […]

A skill is an acquired ability to carry out specific activities and tasks effectively and to solve problems. In the terminology used in the IQS, “skills” are one of the three categories of learning outcomes. In the requirements for individual qualifications, skills relate to a particular field of learning or professional activity. In everyday language, […]

Social competences are the ability to carry out professional tasks autonomously and responsibly and to participate in social life, taking ethical considerations into account. In the terminology used in the IQS, “social competences” are one of the three categories of learning outcomes. In the requirements for individual qualifications, social competences relate to a particular field […]

Transfer of achievements means that an awarding body recognises a positive validation outcome obtained through validation carried out by another institution. The transfer of achievements means that competences already confirmed for a person seeking a qualification do not need to be assessed again. The IQS Act allows achievements to be transferred, but an awarding body […]

In the terminology used in the IQS, “validation” means checking whether a person seeking the award of a qualification has achieved the required competences. Validation may cover all the requirements set out in the qualification description or only a distinct part of them. Validation should not be confused with the recognition of qualifications. If a […]