The European Commission has presented plans for a Europe-wide credit system in vocational education and training. This system, called ECVET--

ECVET the European Credit system for Vocational Education and Training

, would make it easier for citizens to get formal recognition of knowledge, skills and competences they have gained in another country.

Member States are encouraged to sign up to this voluntary scheme that does not seek to replace national systems but to facilitate the transfer between them.

In ECVET, learning outcomes acquired by an individual in different contexts, whether this is abroad or under another system, can be easily transferred to the individual's home context for accumulation and the achievement of a qualification.

The Commission has also put forward plans for a new reference tool that would help Member States exchange best practice in vocational education and training policies. The European Quality Assurance Reference Framework (EQARF), which is the subject of a separate Recommendation, aims at increasing transparency and consistency of policy developments in this field. Member States are invited to improve their quality management practices by applying this set of common criteria and indicative descriptors and measure their policies against it.

In ECVET, learning outcomes acquired by an individual in different contexts, whether this is abroad or under another system, can be easily transferred to the individual's home context for accumulation and the achievement of a qualification.

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