OHE has developed a National Qualifications Framework (NQF) for PNG, this is established as a reference point for all providers of education and training and pathway for all to articulate to the next level of individual aspiration on the qualifications ladder.

Although the framework for institutional accreditation for higher education in PNG had been established, its successful implementation has been hampered due to the following reasons:

• OHERST has limited institutional capacities in providing services to the CHE and higher education institutions.
• The slow implementation of the National Higher Education Plan for PNG.
• The difficulty for the government to maintain satisfactory levels of funding.
• OHERST and many higher education institutions lacked staff capacities and numbers, financial management systems, resource planning and management.
• The NHEQAAC lacked the capacity and logistics to sustain efforts to accredit and certify higher education institutions.

The Transnational Qualifications Framework (TQF) for International Accreditation for the Virtual University for the Small States of the Commonwealth (TQF for VUSSC:Procedures and Guidelines) was formally launched in April 2010. It is heralded the introduction of probably the most international, collaborative system for capacity building, skills development and greater access to quality-assured qualifications. Since the VUSSC is not an accrediting or awarding body, the institutions that offer the courses must accredit them locally. The aim of a TQF should be to ensure that all the open educational resources that are being created collaboratively can be adapted into recognised courses that students can take for credit through the recognized institutions of the small states. The TQF is to act as a translation point for modules/units and qualifications between countries. An additional benefit of the TQF may be to discourage bogus providers, which are particularly active in trying to sell fake qualifications in the small states.