providing clarity. releasing potential

1. providing clarity. releasing potential Improving the Transparency of Qualifications Maryanne Hall, Europass Co-ordinator Chris Bye, Project Development Officer Dora Timar, Accreditations and Recognitions Manager, (International) City & Guilds November 2008

2. Introduction to Europass helps individuals demonstrate what they can do is a tool that has been developed by the European Commission makes it easier for individuals to find employment or a study/training course abroad promotes mobility, which in turn increases employability

3. Europass Documents There are five documents that help improve the transparency of qualifications throughout Europe: • Europass CV • Europass Language Passport • Europass Mobility • Europass Diploma Supplement • Europass Certificate Supplement

4. European Curriculum Vitae • Europass Curriculum Vitae (CV) helps users highlight their skills, qualifications and work experience. It provides a template to help users draw attention to the attributes that will set them apart from others • It is available to anyone wanting to work in Europe irrespective of their educational or employment history • It allows users to highlight their skills rather than their ability to format a document • The information is presented in a standardised European format which can be easily understood by employers and education providers in Europe • It can be completed and edited online through the Europass website

5. Europass Language Passport • The Europass Language Passport makes it possible for users to record their language abilities. Users can record language courses they have completed, any language experience they have and rank their proficiency to a common European scale of language • Users can record their language skills and abilities, including language courses and informal learning experiences • Individuals can use the Europass Language Passport alongside their CV to provide further information on their language abilities, useful for employers and education providers • The common European scale, used on the Language Passport, allows users to rate their reading, writing, listening and speaking skills in a particular language

6. Europass Mobility • Europass Mobility allows users to record a period that they have spent learning or training abroad • These experiences can help increase cultural awareness and improve employability • Europass Mobility can also help with the recognition of an individual’s learning • Europass Mobility will allow employers to easily see the transferable skills an individual gained during their time abroad • Employers will see the language skills and any qualifications gained during their time spent abroad • It ensures that employers/education providers are aware that an individual took part in a genuine development programme as the Mobility document validates the experience

7. Diploma Supplement • Benefits of the Diploma Supplement to individuals: • It contains more information than a transcript • It generally increases mobility and helps employers to see what skills and competencies students have gained during their time at university. • UK students need to compete • One document • It helps to enable student mobility

8. Europass Diploma Supplement Benefits of the Diploma Supplement for Organisations: • It demonstrates the desire of the university to enhance student employability at national and international level • It facilitates the admission of students into its own institution • It enhances upward mobility and improves connections with other institutions in Europe • It provides a positive reflection of a university’s involvement towards the EHEA (European Higher Education Area)

9. Europass Certificate Supplement • Europass Certificate Supplement • The Certificate Supplement allows users to communicate details of a qualification • It enhances information that is already included in the official certificate • It helps employers to understand the unique skills an individual has gained and at what level

10. Europass can help students Europass helps in the understanding of qualifications, competences and skills across borders It provides information in a standardised format, which is used in all EU countries It presents information in a clear and transparent manner, making it easier to understand what an individual can offer It enables individuals to be able to make the most of opportunities on a European level and enhances mobility

11. This will be City & Guilds slides • See City & Guilds slides and include them in this section!

12. Inland Mobility Pilot • UK and Dutch NEC chosen by the European Commission to pilot a new inland mobility scheme • The existing Europass Mobility document is suitable for those involved in internationally based work, training or study • However there has been growing demand for a document to reflect authentication of time spent training, working or studying within the confines of an individual’s own country • The pilot will be implemented to assess the suitability of a new document and results will be fed back to the Commission • The pilot will be run in association with City & Guilds using two of their learning centres

13. providing clarity. releasing potential Thank You www.uknec.org.uk