I am pleased to present this global study on the use of level descriptors in the twenty-first century. The book includes a comprehensive review of the most current developments in this field. The findings are unique in that they provide for the first time a comprehensive overview of the different ways in which learning is recognized in contemporary education and training systems. More importantly, this study provides key insights into how learning may be recognized in the future. The effort by the authors to map the field, supported by eminent experts from across the globe, is commendable and offers an important basis for the work of UNESCO in this area. Given the diversity of contexts, it is remarkable how many countries around the world are using qualifications frameworks to facilitate the recognition of learning outcomes within a broader lifelong learning perspective.
Qian Tang, Ph.D. Assistant Director-General for Education UNESCO