NQF 5 – Working workshop – Questionnaire as a starting point for qualification development

On February 7, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., a working workshop on NQF Level 5 took place in Hall in Tirol. The meeting focused on the needs analysis questionnaire, which was used as a starting point for all further content considerations.

The questionnaire was discussed intensively and in technical detail. The focus was on the question of which skills in the painting trade will need to be mapped to NQF level 5 in the future. Topics discussed included existing skills gaps, challenges with modern building materials as substrates, uncertainties in working with lime and clay coatings, and companies' expectations of a new, formally recognized higher vocational qualification. 

The workshop was also used to recruit existing networks for the online survey. 

Based on the online questionnaire, the next step was to develop initial ideas for possible learning outcomes at NQF level 5. These considerations mark the transition from purely assessing needs to actually developing qualifications and form the technical foundation for further work on the project.

Another focus of the workshop was an in-depth technical discussion of possible substrates for lime and clay coatings, regardless of whether these are used in modern residential construction, renovation, or historic preservation, such as: 

•   Wood and wood-based materials
•   clay tiles
•   concrete
•   Brick or stone masonry
•   Mixed masonry (e.g., concrete and brick)
•   Lightweight panels (e.g., plasterboard, Heraklit, Rigips)
•   Cement, gypsum, lime, or clay-based plasters
•   Plastic-modified plasters (after testing and pre-treatment)
•   Existing coatings such as fillers, smoothing compounds, and paint systems
•   Render base mats (e.g., brick/metal mesh, reed mats)
•   Thermal insulation systems (thermal insulation plaster and composite thermal insulation systems)

Another point of discussion was the strategic integration of the Federal Guild of Painters and Decorators. An important next step in this regard is the Federal Guild Committee meeting at the end of April 2026, at which the approval of the professional group is to be obtained in order to actively support the project and develop it further together.

The core of the project is the Higher Vocational Qualification (HBQ) in "Lime and Clay Techniques." In addition, there are plans to incorporate mold control and decorative painting techniques into a further formal qualification.

For the next project phases, it was agreed to specifically expand the expert group in order to meet the requirements of the HBB Act for the development of higher qualifications—in particular, to include employee representatives and a future examination or certification body.