Estonian Qualifications Authority
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, Estonian Employers' Confederation, Ministry of Social Affairs, Estonian Employees' Unions' Confederation (TALO) and the Confederation of Estonian Trade Unions. In addition to the founders of the Kutsekoda, the Supervisory Board of the Kutsekoda includes a representative of the Ministry of Education and Research.
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.
Main functions of Kutsekoda
- to organise and coordinate the activities of sector skills councils;
- to provide counselling and assistance for awarding bodies;
- to keep 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 occupational qualifications;
- to organise the development and updating of occupational qualification standards on the basis of decisions made by sector skills council;
- to organise the work of Europass Centre;
- to act as a national reference point for vocational qualifications and as a national coordination point for the EQF implementation.
