The targeted profiles selected belong to ISCO 08 / 3435 / Artistic and cultural associate professionals not elsewhere classified. Ideally, the project focuses on the following ESCO profile:

·       lighting technician

·       lighting operator

·       lighting designer

                                                  TALQ project aims at providing an exhaustive mapping in at least 10 eligible countries, starting from a quick scan of the whole EU. TALQ will search and analyze contents and structures of existing training and formal education systems, matching them with information on labor market and qualifications and mapping them against the ESCO competences of the chosen profiles. The process of defining the EQF level will be based on the work of a group of experts chosen by the stakeholders and will use a quantitative as well as a qualitative approach to reach consensus. Moreover, TALQ will take advantage of the investigation to develop a common set of quality assurance principles and quality criteria for the assessment, validation and award of qualifications procedure. The aim is to implement a standard pattern that can be applied and customized to other similar profiles within and outside the sector of reference.

                                                  TALQ supports a research activity to map national qualifications and certificates to ESCO based international profiles. The investigation activity will represent the basis to propose and test possible procedures, approaches and quality criteria shared and applicable at EU level. The project’s activities will be developed according to the policies related to the EQF, thus linking international profiles to framework. TALQ answers to the Theme C of the call, aiming at developing three potential European core profiles based on ESCO. The targeted profiles selected belong to ISCO 08 / 3435 / Artistic and cultural associate professionals not elsewhere classified. Ideally, the project is focused on the following ESCO profiles:  lighting technician, lighting operator, lighting designer. Those three profiles represents a good test case for the different EQF levels within level 4 of ISCO. The project will involve the whole EU countries, as the research activities will be implemented with the support of the social partners and professional organisations participating in the membership of the project (STEPP, Pearle*, UNI MEI). Thus, the research activities will exploit the existingnetwork in order to reach all the stakeholders in the collection of relevant information. The process of defining and validating profiles is in a quadrant including: Employers’ associations, Employees’ organizations (labor unions), Education and Vocational Training institutes and Professional associations. Moreover, on the top of these groups stand different governmental services and policy makers belonging to national/regional public authorities. Since not in all EU countries a formal education system related to technical professions in the field of performing arts exists, not all the countries will be deeply involved by the investigation, but all of them will be informed, consulted, updated and involved in the action.

                                                  TALQ will provide stakeholders with:

·       awareness of quality standards

·       deeper insight into the EU education market

·       transferable methodology based on 3 levels of professionalism (technical, operational, design) in and out the performing arts sector

·       awareness of competence certification and assessment

·       transparency about education  for the labour market

·       practical reference documents to upgrade training programs and assessment methods to the EU level