The emergence of quality assured qualification frameworks for lifelong learning, strongly promoted by the EQF, calls for reflections on a sector-based approach to quality assurance and on whether it is possible to identify some basic principles and guidelines valid across sectors and applicable to all qualifications.

At European level, the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG), developed in 2005, have helped convergence of QA across countries and provided a framework for cooperation between QAAs.

As an example, the Maltese QA-VET project resulted in guidelines for VET institutions to apply the indicators; a Dutch project developed a bottom-up approach towards QA by working with VET providers and promoted a quality culture[23].

As an example, the Maltese QA-VET project resulted in guidelines for VET institutions to apply the indicators; a Dutch project developed a bottom-up approach towards QA by working with VET providers and promoted a quality culture[23].

Whereas information on the results of monitoring programmes is particularly appropriate for treatment, storage and transmission by electronic/informatic methods; whereas formats have been developed for supply in diskette form to the EU Member States by the Commission; whereas the same format could be used by the EFTA States; whereas the EFTA States should therefore be able to send their reports to the EFTA Surveillance Authority in the standard format; whereas the further development of such a standard format is most effectively undertaken by the development of guidelines;

*These two indicators will be used in a combined way to match the purpose of the guideline, which aims at "equipping schools with computer equipment and facilitating student access to the internet".