Malta Qualifications Council chief executive James Calleja chaired a round table on key lessons learned by national experiences with the European Qualifications Framework at a conference in Rome.

The Malta Qualifications Council and the Malta Institute of Financial Services participated at the event as partners in the EU-funded project ‘FIRST’. The project promotes the application of the European Qualifications Framework as a mechanism to create a modern, competence-based qualification infrastructure for the financial services sector across the EU.

The final dissemination conference of the FIRST project in Rome was themed ‘Skills and Qualifications for the Financial Services Sector in the EU: The EQF era’ and showcased FIRST’s achievements. The methodological approach adopted and the tailor-made EQF translator which facilitates the interpretation of EQF and the allocation of its levels to qualifications in the financial services sector were highlighted. Several case studies were also presented.

A second round table discussion focused on ‘EQF – Future perspectives and opportunities. How can we make it happen?’

While the FIRST project is specifically addressed to the financial sector, its sectorialisation approach also makes it relevant to other areas.

IFS Malta was represented by committee member Wendy Zammit, who was highly involved as a partner throughout the project.