UNDERSTANDING QUALIFICATIONS

Understanding qualifications

Every country issues many different qualifications. But for the European labour market to work as intended – that is, for European citizens to be able to work in any EU country – employers, schools and education authorities need to understand what qualifications from other EU countries represent.

Cedefop helps to achieve this mutual understanding by contributing to the concept, design, development and implementation of common European tools and principles in education and training. These are designed to help people progress through education and training at any age, to change career or move abroad for work or further education. They are also expected to lead to greater consistency in employment, education and training policy throughout Europe. In addition, ESCO, the classification of European Skills/Competences, Qualifications and Occupations aims at providing a single language for all jobseekers, employers and educators.

The learning outcomes approach is a “glue” that binds together the common EU tools and principles which include:

• The European Qualifications Framework (EQF)
• The European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET)
• Europass
• European Quality Assurance in Vocational Education and Training (EQAVET)
• Validation of non-formal and formal learning

ES.pdf European inventory on validation of non-formal and informal learning 2014 Country report: Spain. Third sector organisations 

In the third sector, the main measures implemented have been the recognition of ‘career profiles existing in the youth field through the system of Occupational Standards’ 41. Accreditation of professional skills gained through informal or non-formal learning is now under progress within the education system, in three VET Diplomas: Advanced Technician in Socio-Cultural and Touristic stimulation, Advanced Technician in Socio-Cultural and Touristic training and stimulation or Technician on Natural Environment and Leisure Guide. Furthermore, in 2011, three new occupational standards have been developed and approved by the government: Management and coordination of educational leisure activities for children and young people, Stimulation of educational leisure activities for children and young people, and Youth Information42. These standards have been included in the VET Diplomas mentioned before. The Youth Institute (INJUVE) is the Spanish national agency for the Youth in Action Programme and is responsible of its promotion and implementation. Those that participate in the Youth in Action Programme receive the Youthpass certificate, which describes what they have done and learnt, recognising their non-formal learning.

Nokut.no. Foreign education. NORWAY