This section provides explanations of the terms used in the Database.

Process for assessing education institutions and/or education programmes – in the higher education the field of studies – for compliance with certain set criteria and requirements. The State Education Quality Service (SEQS) ensures accreditation of general and vocational education programmes (LQF levels 1-4), as well as general education institutions, vocational education institutions and examination centres. Academic Information Centre – Higher Education Quality Agency (HEQA) provides accreditation of the higher education institutions, including colleges and fields of studies in which respective study programmes are grouped.

Accreditation and therefore also rights to issue certificates or qualifications are issued to education institutions for a certain period of time depending on the results of assessment – for two or six years.

Procedure and criteria of accreditation are stipulated in the Cabinet of Ministers Regulations No.852 “Procedure of Accrediting of General and Vocational Education Programmes, Education institutions and Examination Centres”  (14.09.2010) and the Cabinet Regulations No. 407 “Regulations of Accreditation of Higher education institutions, Colleges and Fields of Studies” (14.07.2015).

Latvian Qualifications Database contains qualifications which can be obtained within accredited education programmes.

Common European classification system of qualifications allowing to compare qualification systems of various countries (AIC, 2016).

EQF covers all types of education (general, professional, higher education, non-formal and informal learning) and all stages of education (basic education, secondary and higher education). The eight levels of EQF have been defined on the basis of learning outcomes achieved in the ascending order (1 – the lowest, 8 – the highest). Learning outcomes are expressed as knowledge, skills and competences. EQF was developed according to the Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning (April, 2008) for purpose of improvement of comparison of qualifications of various education systems, facilitating of transparency of education, recognition of qualifications, thus, building comprehensible network of education systems at the European scale.

For full scale use of the created tool, the Recommendation (April, 2008) provided that qualification documents (diplomas, certificates) obtained within national education systems have a reference to respective EQF level.

For the qualifications included in the Latvian Qualifications Database, LQF and EQF levels, as well as PQL are assigned according to the Cabinet Regulations No. 990. ”Regulations of Classification of Latvian Education” (02.12.2008, amended on 09.10.2010) and from the June 13, 2017 according to the Cabinet Regulations No. 322. “Regulations of Classification of Latvian Education” (13.6.2017.), where LQF/EQF levels are indicated for education programmes.

Note. On April 23, 2015 amendments to the Vocational Education Law were introduced, including reference of professional qualifications levels to the LQF. However, the amendments to the Vocational Education Law apply only to the professional qualifications, and there is a lack of recent legislative regulation providing LQF levels for all qualifications. Therefore, qualifications included in the Latvian Qualifications Database are classified according to the Cabinet Regulations No. 990 „Regulations of Classification of Latvian Education” (2.12.2008, amended on 9.10.2010) and from the June 13, 2017 according to the Cabinet Regulations No. 322. “Regulations of Classification of Latvian Education” (13.6.2017.).

International Standard Classification of Education developed by the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). Education programmes available in the Latvian education system are classified and coded according to the ISCED classification.

The Cabinet Regulations No. 990. „Regulations of Classification of Latvian Education” (2.12.2008, amended on 9.10.2010) and from the June 13, 2017 the Cabinet Regulations No. 322. “Regulations of Classification of Latvian Education” (13.6.2017.) regulate compliance of education programmes with ISCED classification.

International Standard Classification of Occupations developed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), is used for classification and grouping of occupations.

PClassification of Occupations regulated by the Cabinet Regulations No. 461 „Regulations of the Classification of Occupations, Core Duties of an Occupation and Procedure of Use and Updating of Classification of Occupations” (18.05.2010), is a systemised list of occupations (trades, positions, specialities). The Classification has been developed for purpose of ensuring registration and comparison of workforce in a manner compliant with international practice, since the classification of occupations in Latvia is done by application of ISCO-08 principles.

For the professional qualifications (including higher education) reflected in the Latvian Qualifications Database a code of occupation given in the Classification of Occupations is indicated.

Education system of Latvia is organised in four consecutive stages – levels of education: pre-school education, basic education, secondary education and higher education.

Qualifications obtained at basic education, secondary education and higher education stages are referenced to the Latvian Qualifications Framework.

Education in Latvia is divided into three types: general education, professional education, academic education. General education is obtained in stages of pre-school, basic education and general education. Professional education is obtained in stages of basic education, secondary education and higher education. Academic education is obtained in the stage of higher education.

In the context of qualification framework and Latvian Qualifications Database it is a certificate confirming knowledge, skills and competences acquired within the period of learning and which gives its holder rights related to further education and/or work.

A tool for classification of qualifications according to certain set of criteria included in the descriptions of levels of learning outcomes in ascending sequence of complexity. Qualification frameworks can be built by various scales – regional (e.g., European Qualifications Framework), state (e.g., Latvian Qualifications Framework) or a field of education (e.g., European Higher Education Area Qualifications Framework) (AIC, 2016).

In Latvia, education institution or examination centre accredited by the state awards qualifications. Rights to issue qualification recognised by the state are entrusted with accredited education institution and examination centres, which provide education institution accredited education programmes.

A system of arranging qualifications in eight levels is available in Latvia. Descriptions of LQF levels are based on the learning outcomes in ascending order of complexity (1 – the lowest, 8 – the highest). Similar to the EQF, the learning outcomes are expressed in knowledge, skills and competences. Descriptions of levels were developed on the basis of state education standards, occupational standards and descriptions of the EQF levels.

LQF includes formal qualifications; higher, secondary education and basic education stage qualifications; and general, professional and academic qualifications.

LQF levels, which are referenced to EQF, are stipulated by the Cabinet Regulations No. 990. “Regulations of Classification of Latvian Education” (2.12.2008, amended on 9.10.2010) that serve as a basis for reflecting qualifications in the Latvian Qualifications Database.

LSince 2013, for purposes of international comparability of qualifications, in higher education Diploma Supplements contain a reference to the respective EQF or LQF level (the Cabinet Regulations No.202 “Procedure According to which State Recognised Documents of Higher Education are Issued”, 16.04.2013). While in the vocational education, the relevant LQF level will be indicated in qualifications by 1st January 2017 (Vocational Education Law, amended on 23.04.2015).

A set of knowledge, skills and competences that the learner has acquired during the period of learning. The learner should be able to demonstrate learning outcomes at the end of respective period of learning and are certified by the qualification obtained.

Education institution formulate expected learning outcomes considering respective state education standards and (if applicable) occupational standards.

In the context of EQF knowledge is theoretical and/or facts knowledge. Skills mean ability to apply knowledge and use skills for solving practical and theoretical tasks. Competences are proven ability to apply knowledge, skills and personal, social and/or methodical skills in work and studies related situations and in professional and private development.

Latvian professional education system of five levels, which covers only professional qualifications. PQL shows theoretical and practical readiness to perform work of certain complexity and responsibility (1 – the lowest, 5 – the highest). The first three PQL are obtained in the basic and secondary stages of education, the PQL 4-5 are obtained in the higher education. PQL are not automatically referenced to the LQF levels.

* Arodizglītība is one of the types of vocational education programmes, see Education system.

Occupational standard is one of the documents regulating content of the professional education. It defines tasks and responsibilities set for certain profession, and general and professional knowledge, skills and competences required for their performance.

Knowledge, skills and competences defined in the occupational standards make up the contents of qualifications included in the Latvian Qualifications Database, in cases when an occupation is acquired. Qualifications including acquisition of occupation are obtained in the stages of basic, secondary and higher education.
Occupational standards are regulated by the Cabinet Regulations No.461 “Regulations of the Classification of Occupations, Core Duties of an Occupation and Procedure of Use and Updating of Classification of Occupations” (18.05.2010).

Register of vocational standards is available at the website of the National Centre for Education.

State Education Standard is a document in Latvia that determines, in conformity with the stage of education (basic education, secondary education, higher education standard) and type of education (general, professional and academic education standard), the main goals and objectives of education programmes, and the mandatory basic content of education. (AIC, 2016).

In developing education programmes leading to the qualifications listed in the Latvian Qualifications Database, the education institutions use relevant state education standards.

State education standards are regulated by respective Regulations of the Cabinet:

1. The Cabinet Regulations No.468 “Regulations of the State Basic Education Standard, Standards of Basic Education Subjects and Model Programmes of Basic Education” (12.08.2014.)
2. The Cabinet Regulations No.281 “Regulations of the State Secondary Education Standard, Standards of Secondary Education Subjects and Model Programmes of Secondary Education” (21.05.2013.)
3. The Cabinet Regulations No. 211 “Regulations of the State Secondary Vocational Education Standard and State Vocational Education Standard” (27.06.2000.)
4. The Cabinet Regulations No.141 “Regulations of the State Standard of the First Level Professional Higher Education” (20.03.2001.)
5. The Cabinet Regulations No.240 “Regulations of the State Academic Education Standard” (13.05.2014.)
6. The Cabinet Regulations No.512 “Regulations Regulations of the State Standard of the Second Level Vocational Higher Education” (26.08.2014.)