This paper introduces "The Quality Reference Framework (QRF) for the Quality of MOOCs". It was developed by the European Alliance for the Quality of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), called MOOQ. Overall, MOOQ could address and reach out to more than 100,000 MOOC learners, designers, facilitators and providers through dissemination and exploitation activities. Main objective of MOOQ was the development of the QRF finalized and published in the year 2018 after more than three years of revisions. In close cooperation with leading international institutions and associations, MOOQ could involve in the QRF finalization more than 10,000 MOOC learners, designers, facilitators and providers through divers means including the Mixed Methods research with the Global MOOC Quality Survey (GMQS), the MOOQ presentations and workshops at regional, European and international conferences as well as communication and collaboration in traditional channels and social media. The QRF consists of three dimensions: Phases, Perspectives and Roles. They were carefully selected, discussed and agreed with all MOOC stakeholder groups to cover the different views, requirements and responsibilities during the lifetime of a MOOC. The paper presents the two QRF quality instruments: the QRF Key Quality Criteria for MOOC experts and the QRF Quality Checklist for MOOC beginners.