Sihtasutus Kutsekoda
Organisation
Estonian Qualifications Authority
The Estonian Qualifications Authority is an impartial platform for cooperation that is tasked with identifying the skills and professions needed today and in the future.
The Estonian Qualifications Authority is working daily to ensure that the labour needs of the future are integrated into education and bring about real change.
OSKA surveys on the needs for labour and skills, together with professional standards, to help people make informed career choices. Professional certificates lend support in choosing skilled professionals.
OSKA surveys contribute to the formulation of forward-looking employment and education policies.
The Estonian Qualifications Authority (trademark – Kutsekoda) as a private legal entity (foundation) was established in August 2001 in order to continue developing the occupational qualifications system launched by the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 1997.
Kutsekoda was established by the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Estonian Employers’ Confederation, Ministry of Social Affairs, Ministry of Education and Research, the Estonian Employees’ Unions’ Confederation (TALO) and the Confederation of Estonian Trade Unions.
In addition to the founders of Kutsekoda, the Supervisory Board of Kutsekoda includes a representative of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications.
Kutsekoda is developing a support structure for occupational qualifications system in order to increase the competitiveness of Estonian employees and promote the development, assessment, recognition and comparison of their occupational competence.
Functions of Kutsekoda
To develop and implement the occupational qualifications system.
To organise and coordinate the activities of occupational qualification councils and the cooperation between the councils.
To develop and approve the common methodology for preparing occupational standards and awarding qualifications.
To develop and approve the methodology, document forms and samples related to the occupational qualifications system.
To organise the development and updating of occupational standards on the basis of decisions made by occupational qualification councils.
To organise administrative supervision over the awarding bodies.
To maintain, the register of occupational qualifications.
To organise consultation and training related to the occupational qualifications system.
To introduce the Estonian occupational qualifications system on the national and international level by creating conditions for the mutual comparison of qualifications.
To develop occupational qualification certificate supplements.
To organise the registration and issuing of occupational certificates.
To analyse the skills and labour needs required for the development of the Estonian economy and to prepare forecasts;
To organise the work of the OSKA Coordination Council and expert panels;
To organise the work of Europass Centre.
- To act as a NCP (National Coordination Point) for implementing EQF (European Qualifications Framework).
The Team
Manager of the of National Support Service (NSS) Estonia:
Georgi Timcenko
Manager of International Projects
Heli Oruaas
Specialist of International Projects
Adult Learning
Adult education is organised learning activity aimed at acquiring, maintaining, or improving knowledge, skills, and competences. Learning may take place at any level and by any method. It may also substitute or complement initial education acquired in school, college, or university.
Adult education is directed at adult learners – that is, individuals who study alongside employment, family life, or other activities. In other words, learning is not their main occupation.
The field is regulated by the Adult Education Act.
For most training courses, it is not necessary to apply for a training licence; instead, providers may submit a notice of economic activity.
The right to submit a notice of economic activity applies to all continuing education institutions, regardless of ownership form.
A continuing education institution that has submitted a notice of economic activity must comply with all requirements established by this Act or under legislation based on it. The Ministry of Education and Research supervises the compliance of their activities with these requirements. The requirements are set out in the Continuing Education Standard.
The right to study leave and the possibility to apply for an income tax refund has, since 30 June 2016, been extended only to training courses that are licensed or for which a notice of economic activity has been submitted.
Only training provided by a licensed continuing education institution or one that has submitted a notice of economic activity may be funded from the state budget, local government budgets, or structural funds.
Coordination of Adult Education
The Department of Higher and Vocational Education Policy and Lifelong Learning at the Ministry of Education and Research is responsible for planning and implementing national education policy principles and objectives in the field of adult education.
Under the Adult Education Act, Estonia also has the Adult Education Council, whose role is to advise the Ministry of Education and Research and other stakeholders on adult education issues. The Council includes representatives of different ministries, employers’ and employees’ organisations, trainers, and other relevant organisations.
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