EProjectConsult and The benefits of ECVET on Vocational Training
The benefits of ECVET on Vocational Training
As we explained in our previous blog post, ECVET is a technical framework of the European Union that helps individuals to get their qualifications and skills (“learning outcomes”) be accepted by other institutions in other EU member states. Through the ECVET system, students engaged in vocational training will have the chance to complete different parts of their studies abroad, thus enhancing the recognition of knowledge and skills as well as opening up endless possibilities for the potential participants.
The benefits of ECVET
The ECVET system is beneficial for students, institutions and states alike, since it makes administration much easier for all parties involved, while it is as a very important step towards a truly integrated labour market.
- Chance to learn abroad for students in vocational education
While the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) allows students to get their studies from abroad since more than a decade, until a few years ago, there was no similarly comprehensive programme for students in vocational education. ECVET was designed to fill this void and offer the chance for the participants to truly harvest the opportunities offered by the integrated Europe.
- Facilitate cooperation
The European spirit is all about cooperation and networks across borders, where people from different backgrounds can share their experiences and knowledge with each other for mutual personal growth. Via the ECVET system, these cooperations between establishments will be much more attractive for the participants, since this way there is no danger that any effort would be “lost” in the complex administrational systems of the states. Through the so-called “Memorandum of Understanding” and “Learning Agreement”, involved parties create a strong mutual trust which ensures that the qualifications achieved at one institution will be accepted at the other.
- Enrich the training
It’s not just the students themselves, but also the trainings themselves can benefit a lot from ECVET, and the higher amount of foreign students involved, since the participants arriving from different countries can also share their national or regional practices and experiences, giving a much wider range of perspective on the (current or future) profession of the students. Many studies have proven that studying in a multicultural, multilingual group is much more effective than doing so in a homogenous environment.
- Raise the attractiveness of the training
It is clear that many people choose not to pursue their studies partially abroad in training courses, because they believe that without any sort of certificate received that their home institution would accept, it would just be a waste of time. With ECVET, this obstacle will not be present anymore, so that anyone who has the willingness to take a course abroad as part of their studies can be completely confident that their efforts will be appreciated – and this will surely raise the number of participants in such programmes.
- Strengthen the link between training, education and the labour market
The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) has many studies that prove the benefits of vocational education (even versus traditional education), and these benefits are even more enhanced when they are done partially in different countries. Via ECVET, it is much easier for employers and businesses to fully understand the extent of the formation of the candidate, including a detailed view on the qualifications they have obtained abroad. This way the educational systems and the labour market can have a much more fruitful cooperation which can contribute to a more efficient European economy.
A new era in European Vocational Education
In sum, the ECVET system is a new, highly beneficial opportunity for cooperation between various institutions of the EU member states that has a profoundly positive effect on the way cross-border vocational training is conducted in Europe. It allows current and future workers to easily and seamlessly enrich their education to become more knowledgeable in their professions and be more attractive on the labour market. Any student in vocational education is highly encouraged to learn more about their possibilities, for example by checking out the Frequently Asked Questions or at the relevant office of their home institution.
How we can help our partners for ECVET implementation in mobility projects
The European Credit system for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) is a technical framework for the transfer, recognition and accumulation of learning outcomes of individuals so that they can gain a qualification to support mobility. ECVET has been created to facilitate the recognition of learning outcomes and thus the use of the knowledge and skills gained in other institutions abroad. ECVET is intended to facilitate the full integration of mobility with learning paths of learners and to increase the visibility and recognition of knowledge and skills acquired abroad.
In the case of organized mobility (ie. when the learner goes abroad as part of an agreement between the institutions), the process is carried out on the basis of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), accompanied by a personalized Learning Agreement (LA). In this way, the learning outcomes to be achieved, the process of assessment, validation and recognition are fixed by the relevant institutions, which facilitates the recognition of achievements.
Host institution assesses the extent to which the learner has achieved the learning outcomes (defined in terms of units), and submit proof of the results of the evaluation (eg. a written statement on achieved learning outcomes or assessment sheet).
Sending institution performs the validation process and recognizes the learning outcomes. ECVET points are awarded for achieved learning outcomes, which enables learners to add these items to the quota needed for achieving a qualification. Units of learning outcomes achieved abroad, are stored in the personal transcript of the learner.
1. Before mobility
Establishing partnerships
Signing MoU
The term unit (s) of learning outcomes for mobility
Overview of assessment of learning outcomes
Explain the process of validation and recognition of learning outcomes signing LA
2. During mobility (EProjectConsult tasks):
The organization of learning activities which will lead to achieve learning outcomes set out in LA
The assessment of that learning outcomes have been achieved by the learner
Presentation of proof of the results of the assessment of the learner (including personal list of achievements)
3. After mobility
In accordance with the provisions of the MoU and LA
Validation of the achievements of learners gained abroad
The recognition of the achievements of learners gained abroad
a) Use of standard evaluation sheets, which record the results of evaluating learners.
b) A written statement on the evaluation. What has been achieved fully, partly etc.
c) Degrees – in this case, it is important that the partner institutions can understand well mechanisms of assessments, as many education and training systems use different approaches to grading scale.