| AIR | American Institutes for Research |
| ANQ | National Agency for Qualification (Agência Nacional para a Qualificação), |
| ANQEP | National Agency of Qualification and Vocational Education and Training (Agência Nacional para a Qualificação e o Ensino Profissional) |
| BA | Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) |
| BBiG | Federal Law for Vocational Education and Training (Berufsbildungsgesetzes) |
| BDA | Federal Association of German Employers’ Associations (Bundesvereinigung der Deutschen Arbeitgeberverbände) |
| BDI | Federal Association of German Industry (Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie) |
| BfB | Federal Association of Free Vocations (Bundesverband Freier Berufe) |
| BIBB | Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung) |
| BMAS | Federal Ministry for Labour and Social Affairs (Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales) |
| BMBF | Federal Ministry for Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung) |
| BMWi | Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie) |
| CDU | Christian Democratic Union (Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands) |
| CSU | Christian Social Union in Bavaria (Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern) |
| Cedefop | European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training |
| CMEs | Co-ordinated market economies |
| CNQ | National Catalogue of Qualifications (Catálogo Nacional de Qualificações) |
| DEEC | Department of Early Education and Care |
| DESE | Department of Elementary and Secondary Education |
| DGB | German Trade Union Confederation (Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund) |
| DIHK | Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag) |
| ECTS | European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System |
| ECVET | European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training |
| EHIS | Estonian Education Information System (Eesti hariduse infosüsteem) |
| EIS | Examination Information System (Eksamite infosüsteem) |
| ELA | English Language Arts |
| EQ | Preparatory traineeship (Einstiegsqualifizierung) |
| ESSA | Every Student Succeeds Act |
| ETIS | Estonian Research Portal |
| EWII | Early Warning Indicator Index |
| EWIS | Early Warning Indicator System |
| FDP | Free Democratic Party (Freie Demokratische Partei) |
| GILL | Gyeonggi Provincial Institute for Lifelong Learning (경기도평생교육진흥원) |
| GNLC | Global Network of Learning Cities |
| HITSA | Information Technology Foundation for Education (Hariduse Infotehnoloogia Sihtasutus) |
| HRD | Human Resource Development Service of Korea (한국산업인력공단) |
| HRK | Conference of University Rectors (Hochschulrektorenkonferenz) |
| HwO | Trade and Crafts Code (Handwerksordnung) |
| IAB | Institute for Employment Research (Institut für Arbeitsmarkt und Berufsforschung) |
| ICT | Information and communications technology |
| IEFP | Institute for Employment and Vocational Training (Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional) |
| IG | Industrial Union (Industriegewerkschaft) |
| KEDI | Korean Educational Development Institute (한국교육개발원) |
| KLI | Korean Labour Institute (한국노동연구원) |
| KMK | Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder (Kultusministerkonferenz) |
| KORCHAM | Korean Chamber of Commerce (대한상공회의소) |
| KRIVET | Korean Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training (한국직업능력개발원) |
| KSQA | Korean Skills Quality Authority (직업심사능력평가원 ) |
| LMEs | Liberal Market Economies |
| LO | Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (Landsorganisasjonen i Norge) |
| MASCA | Massachusetts School Counsellors Association |
| MCAS | Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System |
| MERA | Massachusetts Education Reform Act |
| NAEP | National Assessment of Educational Progress |
| NAV | Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (Nye arbeids- og velferdsetaten) |
| NCLB | No Child Left Behind Act |
| NEET | Not in Education, Employment or Training |
| NGO | Non-governmental organisation |
| NHO | Confederation of Norwegian Enterprises (Norwegian Næringslivets Hovedorganisasjon) |
| NILE | National Institute for Lifelong Education (국가평생교육진흥원) |
| NPM | New public management |
| ÕIS | Study Information System (Õppeinfosüsteem) |
| PIAAC | Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competences |
| PISA | Programme for International Student Assessment |
| POCH | Human Capital Operational Programme (Programa Operacional Capital Humano) |
| POISE | Operational Programme for Social Inclusion and Employment (Programa Operacional Inclusão Social e Emprego) |
| QNQ | National Qualifications Framework (Quadro Nacional de Qualificações) |
| RTK | State Support Service Center (Riigi Tugiteenuste Keskus) |
| SAIS | Admission Information System (SisseAstumise InfoSüsteem) |
| SANQ | Qualification Needs Anticipation System (Sistema de Antecipação de Necessidades de Qualificações) |
| SCS | Student course schedule |
| SER | Socio-Economic Council |
| SIMS | Student Information Management System |
| SLDS | Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems |
| SNQ | National Qualifications System (Sistema Nacional de Qualificações) |
| SPD | Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands) |
| SSDR | School Safety Discipline Report |
| TBU | Norwegian Technical Calculation Committee for Wage Settlements (Teknisk beregningsutvalg for inntektsoppgjørene) |
| UNIO | Confederation of Unions for Professionals (Utdanningsgruppenes Hovedorganisasjon) |
| VET | Vocational education and training |
| Virke | Enterprise Federation of Norway |
| VoC | Varieties of capitalism |
| VOFO | Norwegian Association for Adult Learning (Voksenopplæringsforbundet) |
| VOX | Norwegian Agency for Lifelong Learning (Nasjonalt senter for læring i arbeidslivet) |
| YS | Confederation of Vocational Unions (Yrkesorganisasjonenes Sentralforbund) |
| ZDH | Central Association of the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (Zentralverband des Deutschen Handwerks) |