In 2003 at the Directors of Education Meeting in the Cook Islands a decision was made that the Pacific Qualifications Register be set up instead of the Pacific Qualifications Framework. Following this, at a meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum in 2004, it was agreed that SPBEA take the lead role in the establishment of the PQR.

Funding from AUSAID has made possible the implementation of the programme over a five year period which is now at Stage 3.

Stage 1: Introductory development

Stage 2: Resourcing of SPBEA for the development of the register

Stage 3: Development of the Regional Qualifications Template

Stage 4: Development of National Qualifications Register and National Qualifications Framework

Stage 5: Development of the Pacific Qualifications Register

Stage 6: On-going operation / maintenance of the Pacific Qualifications Register

The PRQR Programme Objectives

The programme has five key objectives:

• Establish an accreditation unit at SPBEA
  
• Develop a Regional Qualifications Register template
  
• Oversee the complete development of National Qualifications Registers and National Qualifications Frameworks
  
• Develop the Regional Qualifications Register and commence development of the Regional Qualifications Framework
  

Secure the on-going operation and maintenance of the Regional Qualifications Framework

The Pacific Qualifications Register Template

A draft Template for the Pacific Qualifications Register was presented at the PQR Regional Consultation in Nadi from September 28 to October 2, 2009. The representatives from 14 Pacific Forum Island Countries and other regional organizations modified it to the following.

1. The Pacific Qualifications Register will include the following:
   a. Quality assured qualifications offered in member states through the National Qualifications Agencies (NQAs) and relevant ministries ;
   
   b. Traditional knowledge and indigenous skills (TKIS)
   
   c. Professional and occupational standards
   
   d. Regional Benchmarks for Basic and Primary education
   
   
2. The Pacific Qualifications Register will be based on the following organizing principles:
   
   a. A unified qualifications system comprising:
   i. ten levels
   
   ii. level descriptors
   
   iii. qualification types
   
   iv. qualifications descriptors
   
   v. credits (where one credit is equivalent to 10 notional hours of learning)
   
   b. Quality assurance of qualifications on a national level only
   
   c. Support and guidance offered to countries in developing national quality assurance systems, including templates
   
   d. International benchmarking to facilitate recognition of Pacific qualifications
   
   e. Format for qualifications, including: purpose statement, qualification title, outcome statement, level, supporting evidence, credit value, components and entry
   requirements.
   
   f. An external quality assurance mechanism to ensure that the organizing principles as outlined above are adhered to
   
   
3. The SPBEA will champion and coordinate the development of the Pacific Qualifications Register as mandated by the Pacific Forum Ministers of Education.
   

Next steps

Participants further agreed that in order to facilitate the development of the Pacific Qualifications Register the following steps will be undertaken between November 2009 and July 2010:

1. The Pacific Qualifications Register Consultation Document will be reworked by the SPBEA to reflect the conceptual clarity achieved through the regional consultation.
   
   
2. A pilot project including a selection of qualifications from Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, a country from Northern Pacific and Samoa, will be undertaken by the SPBEA to refine the draft level descriptors, qualifications descriptors.
   
   
3. The current PATVET inventory will be explored as a source of information for the Pacific Qualifications Register.
   
   
4. Closer alignment with labour mobility initiatives, such as the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA), Temporary Movement of Natural Persons (TMNP) Scheme, will be pursued.
   
   
5. Consider the feasibility of supporting mechanisms for the Pacific Qualifications Register:.
   • a. Forum of representatives from member states to oversee the registration of qualifications on the Pacific Qualifications Register
   • b. Pacific network of NQFs/NQAs
   • c. Independent review panels to conduct external quality assurance
     
6. Work will be done to compare the Pacific Qualifications Register with similar international developments to ensure educational portability and labour mobility
   
   
7. An initial online version of the Pacific Qualifications Register will be developed and trialed, after which it will be presented to members states by mid-2011.
   
   
8. Ministers and senior officials of member states will be briefed on progress.