The paper deals with qualifications framework development for the Russian forestry sector, carried out in accordance with the Tempus SUFAREL project of the consortium of Russian and EU universities and organizations. The authors emphasize the need for effective estimation and regulation methods based on the competence-oriented qualifications descriptors reflecting the employers’ demands. The publication analyzes professional competences formation in European universities, descriptor contents of national qualifications frameworks, education specificity and requirements for the forestry sector in different countries. The research outcomes provide a basis for qualifications framework development in the Russian forestry sector including the main descriptors of responsibility and authority, skills and competences.

The authors believe that the above qualifications framework can reinforce qualifications system developments and advanced vocational training, as well as the labor market strategy elaborations.

1. Blinov V. I. National Qualifications Framework of Russian Federation. Moscow: Federal’nyj institut razvitija obrazovanija. 2010. 7 p. (In Russian)

2. Coulz M. Oleinikova O. N., Murav’eva A. A., Natsional’naia sistema kvalifikatsii. Obespechenie sprosa i predlozheniia kvalifikatsii na rynke truda. [National Qualifications System. Ensuring a balance of demand and supply on the labour market]. Moscow: RIO TK im. A. N. Koniaeva. 2009. 115 p. (In Russian)

3. Kurbanov E. A. EU experience of elaboration the system of competences and qualifications in forestry. Vestnik PGTU. Joshkar-Ola: Povolzhskij gosudarstvennyj tehnologicheskij universitet. Ser. Les. Jekologija. Prirodopol’zovanie. [Bulleting of Volga Tech. Yoshkar-Ola: Volga State University of Technology]. 2012. № 2. P. 92–94. (In Russian)

4. Kurbanov E. A., Vorobiev O. N. Higher forestry education and certification of qualifications in France. Materialy mezhdunarodnogo seminara proekta Tempus SUFAREL «Ramka kvalifikacij i nepreryvnoe obuchenie dlja ustojchivogo lesopol’zovanija» [Materials of international seminar of Tempus SUFAREL project «Qualifications framework for sustainable forestry and lifelong learning»]. Yoshkar-Ola. 2014. Available at: URL: http://sufarel.marstu.net/eng/files/Proccedings%20SUFAREL%202.pdf. (In Russian)

5. Muraveva A., Coles M., Oleynikova O. Printsipy i protsedury razrabotki natsional'noi ramki kvalifikatsii. [Principles and procedures of development of national qualifications framework]. Moscow: Centre for VET Studies. 2006. 160 p. (In Russian)

6. National Qualifications Framework of Russian Federation (draft). Available at: http://www.nark-rspp.ru/?page_id=328. (Translated from English)

7. SUFAREL Tempus project web page. Available at: http://sufarel.marstu.net/rus/main_rus.html. (Translated from English)