Riyadh, Muharram 20, 1448 AH (July 5, 2026) SPA – The Education and Training Evaluation Commission has launched the third edition of the National Qualifications Framework in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as the national reference for designing, organizing, and developing educational and training qualifications based on clear learning outcomes. This enhances the competitiveness of Saudi human capabilities, contributes to raising the quality and reliability of national qualifications, elevates the quality of education and training, and keeps pace with national and global changes. The third edition extends the Commission's role in building a high-impact Saudi model for ensuring and controlling the quality of education and training. The framework serves as a reference tool providing a common language among education and training institutions, qualification-granting bodies, and employers in both the civilian and military sectors for designing, developing, and leveling qualifications at clear levels, ensuring consistency between education and training outputs with development requirements and the labor market, enhancing transparency and trust in national qualifications, and aligning with international qualifications frameworks. The third edition represents a qualitative leap in the development of the National Qualifications Framework, which organizes qualifications across multiple levels, starting from Level 0 as an entry point, with qualifications placed across eight levels: Level 1 for primary education or equivalent, Level 2 for intermediate education or equivalent, Level 3 for secondary education or equivalent, Level 4 for associate diploma or equivalent, Level 5 for intermediate diploma or equivalent, Level 6 for bachelor's degree or equivalent, Level 7 for master's degree or equivalent, and Level 8 for doctorate or equivalent. The progression illustrates the depth, breadth, and complexity of learning outcomes at each level of the framework. Key transformations in the third edition include supporting lifelong learning by incorporating vocational qualifications, short program certificates, and professional certifications, as well as enhancing flexibility and competitiveness by enabling a direct doctorate path after a bachelor's degree, developing a mechanism for calculating credit hours and learning hours, strengthening alignment with international qualifications frameworks, and developing future skills by including artificial intelligence and cybersecurity skills, enhancing digital skills, social and emotional skills, consolidating national identity and values, and aligning with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. To view the National Qualifications Framework in the Kingdom, visit: https://etec.gov.sa/l/ENCOS. These transformations contribute to building a flexible and competitive national qualifications system, empowering Saudi human capital with future skills, and enhancing international recognition of national qualifications. It is noteworthy that the Education and Training Evaluation Commission, based on its mission and objectives, works in cooperation and integration with national entities on a transformation journey toward a globally leading Saudi model for ensuring and controlling the quality of education and training in the Kingdom, contributing to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and the targets of the Human Capability Development Program. These transformations contribute to building a more flexible, transparent, and competitive national qualifications system, empowering Saudi human capital with the knowledge, skills, and values needed for the future, enhancing opportunities for recognition of national qualifications, and expanding horizons for education, training, and employment within and outside the Kingdom. // End // 10:38 T M 0022

Riyadh, Muharram 20, 1448 AH (July 5, 2026) SPA – The Education and Training Evaluation Commission has launched the third edition of the National Qualifications Framework in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as the national reference for designing, organizing, and developing educational and training qualifications based on clear learning outcomes. This enhances the competitiveness of Saudi human capabilities, contributes to raising the quality and reliability of national qualifications, elevates the quality of education and training, and keeps pace with national and global changes. The third edition extends the Commission's role in building a high-impact Saudi model for ensuring and controlling the quality of education and training. The framework serves as a reference tool providing a common language among education and training institutions, qualification-granting bodies, and employers in both the civilian and military sectors for designing, developing, and leveling qualifications at clear levels, ensuring consistency between education and training outputs with development requirements and the labor market, enhancing transparency and trust in national qualifications, and aligning with international qualifications frameworks. The third edition represents a qualitative leap in the development of the National Qualifications Framework, which organizes qualifications across multiple levels, starting from Level 0 as an entry point, with qualifications placed across eight levels: Level 1 for primary education or equivalent, Level 2 for intermediate education or equivalent, Level 3 for secondary education or equivalent, Level 4 for associate diploma or equivalent, Level 5 for intermediate diploma or equivalent, Level 6 for bachelor's degree or equivalent, Level 7 for master's degree or equivalent, and Level 8 for doctorate or equivalent. The progression illustrates the depth, breadth, and complexity of learning outcomes at each level of the framework. Key transformations in the third edition include supporting lifelong learning by incorporating vocational qualifications, short program certificates, and professional certifications, as well as enhancing flexibility and competitiveness by enabling a direct doctorate path after a bachelor's degree, developing a mechanism for calculating credit hours and learning hours, strengthening alignment with international qualifications frameworks, and developing future skills by including artificial intelligence and cybersecurity skills, enhancing digital skills, social and emotional skills, consolidating national identity and values, and aligning with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. To view the National Qualifications Framework in the Kingdom, visit: https://etec.gov.sa/l/ENCOS. These transformations contribute to building a flexible and competitive national qualifications system, empowering Saudi human capital with future skills, and enhancing international recognition of national qualifications. It is noteworthy that the Education and Training Evaluation Commission, based on its mission and objectives, works in cooperation and integration with national entities on a transformation journey toward a globally leading Saudi model for ensuring and controlling the quality of education and training in the Kingdom, contributing to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and the targets of the Human Capability Development Program. These transformations contribute to building a more flexible, transparent, and competitive national qualifications system, empowering Saudi human capital with the knowledge, skills, and values needed for the future, enhancing opportunities for recognition of national qualifications, and expanding horizons for education, training, and employment within and outside the Kingdom. // End // 10:38 T M 0022