According to the European Qualifications Framework definition, a qualification is “a formal outcome of an assessment and validation process which is obtained when a competent body determines that an individual has achieved learning outcomes to given standards”.
The main criterion is that the participants in an ESF operation need to pass a formal examination which attests the knowledge, skills and competence acquired on completion of the learning process. Participants who are given simple attendance certificates at the end of a course should not be counted in the indicator “Participants gaining a qualification upon leaving”. It is recommended to define "qualification" in the national context on national, Operational Programme and/or project level.