Section 3 of this book presented ongoing reforms of education and training system in 23 countries. It analysed the conceptual frameworks underpinning qualifications systems and examined contexts and drivers that have created conditions for qualifications systems reform in ETF's partner countries, in EU member states and beyond. The overall aspirations were therefore to generate knowledge about—as well as critical reflections on—the way partner countries are reforming their education systems. A word of caution is necessary here as this review is necessarily limited because partner countries, and also some of EU member states, are still at an early stage of reforming their qualifications systems.

A first theme emerging from this book, and in general from ETF work in the field of qualifications, is that NQFs are potentially a tool for education and training reform. But because of that, the book stresses that, they are not easy to design and implement, nor are they in themselves a solution to all issues that countries may experience with their education and training systems. In this context, the country section demonstrates that while there may be common ground with EU member states, there are also necessarily specificities in the way NQF is considered and taken up in partner countries.