Welcome to ECVET!
The development of the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training was initiated in 2004 following requests made by the Member States for a European credit system to increase transparency and portability of learning achievements of learners across Europe. ECVET is a European instrument to support lifelong learning, the mobility of European learners and the flexibility of learning pathways to achieve qualifications. ECVET came into effect following its adoption by the European Parliament and by the Council.
The purpose of the recommendation was ‘to create a European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (‘ECVET’) intended to facilitate the transfer, recognition and accumulation of assessed learning outcomes of individuals who are aiming to achieve a qualification. This will improve the general understanding of citizens’ learning outcomes and their transparency, transnational mobility and portability across and, where appropriate, within Member States in a borderless lifelong learning area. This will also improve the mobility and portability of qualifications at national level between various sectors of the economy and within the labour market; furthermore, it will contribute to the development and expansion of European cooperation in education and training.’
What are the main aims of ECVET?
For individuals:
- To support students and ultimately employee mobility for European citizens through recognition of units of learning outcomes across Europe.
- To encourage and facilitate lifelong learning through the flexibility of programmes and pathways to achieve qualifications.
For VET providers:
- To define clear learning objectives.
- To support in designing training programmes which are more relevant to industry.
- To provide individualised, tailored and flexible training programmes.
- To communicate better about the training programmes offered by the institution.
- To co-operate with other institutions both local and transnational.
- To better manage the mobility of the learners.
For Sectors and employers:
- To develop job profiles.
- To select training programmes which answer the needs of the company or the sector.
- To understand better the qualifications acquired by prospective employees.
- To look at any skills gaps within the sector.
In an effort to better communicate what ECVET is about, the EUPA produced the following three videos:
For more information about ECVET please refer to the following link.