Practicing ECVET

High number of health care and social workers are mobile across Europe, but the recognition of their competences and qualifications, gained in other contexts and learning settings is hardly achievable as no specific or equivalent qualifications exist in different European countries. The lack of common frameworks for the evaluation, transfer, validation and recognition of learning outcomes and the rarity of related flexible training solutions still delays a full labor market integration, the development of human capital and the increase of mobility. This is visible in the social skills recognition, different countries define the social skills differently, making it hard to validate the social skills gained in different countries. Skill systems need to become more flexible in responding to changing skills and needs in the labor market. The European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) is an instrument introduced to promote mutual trust and mobility in vocational education and training, and needs bigger promotion and usage. The increased utilization and efficiency of ECVET will allow VET learners to acquire competences that will be recognized in other countries, which will increase the mobility.

The aim of the project was to enhance the practical usage of the ECVET instruments and principles in VET education. The increased usage of ECVET by health and social care education providers helps systems adapt to the frequent changes of the European labor market, but more importantly enable access to education and transferability of gained education for learners within the EU member and candidate countries. Transparency and recognition of learning outcomes and qualifications were analyzed in depth and positive experiences of their usage is shared. The project developed guidelines for education providers and tools that help them self-asses and improve the implementation of ECVET principles within their institutions. The project’s overall objective was: to promote recognition of learning outcomes and qualifications, including informal and non-formal learning by using ECVET. The specific objectives of the project were: Fostering implementation of the core ECVET principles: Learning outcomes, Units of learning outcomes, ECVET points, Credit, Mutual trust and Partnership; Establishing a concept of ECVET implementation among the partner institutions, by signing a Memorandum of Understanding among partners; and Promoting the ECVET.