Description

Country
Focus area
The SVQ is designed for the assessment and certification of a person's competences in real or/and simulated working conditions. The Vocational Qualifications Standards (VQS) define the framework for the training and development of the individual. The SVQ constitutes an integral part of the Cyprus Qualifications Framework (CyQF), which is linked to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). The SVQ provides the opportunity for interested persons to obtain a certificate in one or more professional qualifications depending on the qualifications and/or experience they have.
Implementation level
At what level is the initiative implemented?
National
Starting period
TIMESPAN: In what year did the initiative commence?
2020
Perspective
PERSPECTIVE: is the initiative based on evidence derived from skill forecasts or foresight activities?
No
Policy area
To which POLICY AREAS(s) does the initiative apply?
Funding
How it is funded?
Funded by the EU
ESF

Skill mismatch

Skill mismatch target
What type(s) of skills MISMATCH does the initiative aim to addresses?
Overqualification (individuals' qualifications/credentials are above their job's needs)
Underqualification (individuals' qualifications/credentials are below their job's needs)
Skill shortages (employers cannot fill their vacancies due to a lack of skills in the labour market)
Skill gaps (worker's skills are below the level of proficiency required by their employers and jobs)
Skills obsolescence (some or all of an individual's skills are no longer relevant to the current employer or in the labour market generally)
Skills matching focus
How does  the initiative address skills mismatches?
Skills delivered
What types of skill  does the initiative deliver?
Basic literacy and numeracy skills
Basic digital skills
More advanced digital skills
General employability skills (team working, communication, etc.)
Green skills

Methods

Methods
What methods of undertaking skills assessments and / or skills anticipation does the policy instrument utilise?
Skill audits
SVQ evaluates and assess the skills of persons and certificates their competences using skills forecasting control systems and skills audits with auditors, evaluations and visits
Use of skills intelligence
How is labour market information / skills intelligence used within the initiative?
SVQ has standards and accreditation in order to evaluate and assess persons skills and competences
SVQ has also training career guidance and counsellors in order to assess the skills mismatch of adults, employers and employees

Stakeholders

Main responsible body
Main body or organisation with overall responsibility for the initiative.
National agency
THE HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF CYPRUS (HRDA)
Other involved organisations
Which other organisations have a role in the initiative?
National agency
THE HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF CYPRUS (HRDA)
Training Providers
Training providers can organize shorten training program to the participants
Beneficiaries
Who are the intended beneficiaries?
Adults with low basic skills
SVQ aims to evaluate adults with low basic skills and assess their competences
Adults in employment with upskilling potential
SVQ aims to evaluate adults in employement with upskilling potential
Adults in employment with reskilling potential
SVQ aims to evaluate adults with reskilling potential and give certification of their competences and the level of their advanced skills and knowledge

Sustainability

Success factors
SUCCESS FACTORS in the implementation
The SVQ constitutes an integral part of the Cyprus Qualifications Framework (CyQF), which is linked to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). The SVQ fills a prior gap by providing the opportunity for interested persons to obtain a certificate in one or more professional qualifications depending on the qualifications and/or experience they have.
Barriers
BARRIERS in the implementation
N/A
Monitoring and evaluation
MONITORING and EVALUATION: Is progress measured regularly? What are the indicators used to measure progress of the policy instrument? Have any evaluations been conducted?
Quality Assurance for Professional Qualifications concerns the reliability, objectivity, consistency and independence of the results. For this purpose, quality criteria / controls have been defined and applied, as well as for the process of evaluation and certification of professional qualifications, in order to ensure that the evaluation is in accordance with the Standards, is reliable and objective and is applied consistently, regardless of the CAPs and the Assessors involved in the process.
Updates
UPDATES: whether there have been any major updates of the initiative since it has been implemented?
No
Effectiveness
EVIDENCE ON EFFECTIVENESS: How effective is the policy instrument?
The development of the Professional Qualifications Standards must be characterized by precision and clarity and must include all the tasks determined by the Technical Qualifications Committees and approved by the Board of HRDA to meet the needs of the economy. Evaluators should use the defined evaluation methods and be characterized by responsibility, objectivity, transparency and consistency. The dispute resolution process should be done in accordance with the established procedures and the principles of meritocracy and equal treatment.
Sustainability
SUSTAINABILITY: How sustainable is the policy instrument? Do you expect the instrument to continue over the next few years and why?
In the context of the continuous upgrade of human resources, the Government has set high in its priorities the operation of the SVQ in Cyprus. SVQ will bring about very significant changes in the whole institution of the original and continuing training and in general the development and utilization of human resources in Cyprus. Certification of professional qualifications is evidence that the person has the necessary knowledge and skills of a specific level of profession that meet the real needs of the labor market. This implies recognition of professional qualifications and ease of finding work as well as increased development prospects.

Other instruments in Cyprus