- 2022Implementation
Background
Euroguidance is an initiative of the European Commission, consisting of a network of national information centres and resources on career guidance. It aims to raise awareness about international mobility related to education, training and professional activity in Europe and the need to plan and manage a professional career throughout life.
Europass, another European initiative, offers a set of free, multilingual digital tools and resources to support citizens' preparedness for the job market and lifelong learning. This set of tools is being developed and managed by the European Commission in cooperation with EU Member States and other participating countries as elaborated in the Europass decision.
Objectives
- dissemination of the Europass-Mobility electronic document;
- support for advice on and use of the digital Europass service;
- facilitating access to information on learning opportunities in Europe, mainly in connection with learning mobility.
Description
The main objective of the activities of the combined National Europass and Euroguidance Centre is to implement Decision (EU) 2018/646 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 April 2018 on a common framework aimed at providing better quality services in skills and qualifications (Europass). The National Europass Centre (NEC) deals with coordinating the issuance of Europass documents and promoting the Europass initiative, in particular for career counselling and information institutions. NEC is a national partner in the European network of National Europass Centres.
NEC issues electronic Europass-Mobility documents; trains and advises stakeholders on the new digital Europass service; cooperates with other institutions and is engaged in international cooperation.
In Poland, the activity of NEC is carried out by the Foundation for the Development of the Education System on behalf of the Ministry of Education and Science.
The centre collaborates with the Polish Craft Association in handling templates of supplements to documents issued in crafts. Since 2013, Chambers of Crafts have been issuing Europass-Supplement documents for the master's diploma and the journeyman's certificate based on the Europass-Mobility On-Line (EMOL).
The NRC is a measure included in the VET action plan for 2022-25.
In 2022, support for beneficiaries with the electronic Europass-Mobility On-Line (EMOL) system continued, and the system itself was updated. In 2022, 52 124 documents were approved for 24 398 people.
Dissemination and training activities (for pupils, students, guidance practitioners, teachers) included promoting Europass and Euroguidance in electronic and social media, daily information services, as well as producing and distributing information and promotion materials.
Europass digital credentials, the so-called European digital credentials (EDC) were presented. Activities implementing EDC at the national level continued as part of trainings for beneficiaries.
Bodies responsible
- Ministry of Education and Science
- Foundation for the Development of the Education System (FRSE)
Target groups
Learners
- Learners in upper secondary, including apprentices
- Adult learners
- Persons in employment, including those at risk of unemployment
Education professionals
- Teachers
- Trainers
- Guidance practitioners
Entities providing VET
- VET providers (all kinds)
Other stakeholders
- Social partners (employer organisations and trade unions)
Thematic categories
Transparency and portability of VET skills and qualifications
European principles and tools, such as EQF, ESCO, ECTS, Europass and ECVET, provide a strong basis for transparency and portability of national and sectoral qualifications across Europe, including the issuing of digital diplomas and certificates.
This thematic category looks at how individuals are supported in transferring, accumulating, and validating skills and competences acquired in formal, non-formal and informal settings – including learning on the job – and in having their learning recognised towards a qualification at any point of their lives. This is only possible if qualifications are transparent and comparable and are part of comprehensive national qualifications frameworks. Availability of qualifications smaller than full and acquirable in shorter periods of time is necessary; some countries have recently worked on developing partial qualifications, microcredentials, etc.
This thematic sub-category refers to the application of EU transparency tools that allow recognition of qualifications among EU Member States (EQF, Europass, ESCO, ECTS). Among others, it includes linking national VET platforms and databases to Europass in accordance with the Europass Decision and EQF Recommendation and the use of the ECVET principles and tools, such as memoranda of understanding or learning agreements applied in mobility actions. The sub-category also covers measures on recognition of foreign/third-country qualifications for specific target groups, e.g. migrants or highly skilled professionals.
European and international dimensions of VET
This thematic category covers both European and international cooperation in initial and continuing VET, aimed at promoting EU VET systems as a European education and training area and making it a reference for learners in neighbouring countries and across the globe.
Expanding opportunities and increasing participation of VET learners, young and adult, and staff in international mobility for learning and work, including apprenticeship and virtual and blended mobility, account for most initiatives in this thematic category.
Apart from established and financially supported EU cooperation, VET opens up to cooperation and promotion of European values and national practices beyond the EU, which is becoming a trend. This thematic category also encompasses internationalisation strategies, transnational cooperation projects and initiatives – including those where joint VET programmes, examinations and qualifications are developed – and participation in international skills competitions that promote the image of VET. Using international qualifications – awarded by legally established international bodies or by a national body acting on behalf of an international body – in the national VET systems and recognising them towards national qualifications is also in focus.
This thematic sub-category refers to providing opportunities for, implementing and increasing rates of, learning mobility of VET and adult learners and staff, including virtual mobility, apprenticeship placements, long-duration mobility and mobility to third countries, in line with national regulations, collective agreements and health and safety provisions. It also includes the provision of information about mobility, support structures and tools, strengthening the quality of mobility experiences and recognition of learning outcomes acquired abroad, including with the use of relevant EU tools, e.g. memoranda of understanding or learning agreements (ECVET elements).
European priorities in VET
VET Recommendation
- VET as an attractive choice based on modern and digitalised provision of training and skills
Osnabrück Declaration
- European Education and Training Area and international VET