ECVET - European Credit system for Vocational Education and Training - a passport to recognition of vocational qualifications

The European Social Partners Conference on ECVET (the European Credit system for Vocational Education and Training) was held in Thessaloniki on 12-13 February at CEDEFOP (Europe 123, Pylea). The purpose of the conference was to inform the social partners about this new system and its technical specifications, and to discuss practical ways of implementing it in the Member States as well as its possible impact on vocational training policy and the labour market.

The conference was organised in the context of the European Commissions call for consultations on the development of a European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training.

The object was to develop a tool for use on a voluntary basis that will facilitate the transfer, accumulation, validation and recognition of individual learning outcomes, especially during periods of mobility, when people move from one learning system to another. ECVET should be developed and implemented on a voluntary basis without creating binding legal obligations.

Participants in the conference included representatives of the European Commission, experts and social partners from all over Europe.