Supporting citizens' mobility and lifelong learning
A number of instruments have been developed to support European citizens, learning providers, companies, guidance counsellors and educational authorities and allow them to fully exploit the potential of the European lifelong learning area and the EU-wide labour market.
- The European Framework of Key Competences identifies the skills that people need to lead successful lives in today's world.
- The European Qualification Framework for lifelong learning (EQF) aims at linking countries' qualifications systems, acting as a translation device for qualifications across different EU Member States, employers and individuals, and so make it easier for individuals to work or study abroad.
- Europass helps people make their qualifications and skills better understood and recognised throughout Europe.
- The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) provides a common basis to formally recognise study periods abroad.
- The National Academic Recognition Information Centres (NARIC) is a contact point for information on the academic recognition of diplomas and periods of study abroad.
- The European Credit system for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) is a system under development for the transfer, accumulation and recognition of learning outcomes in Europe, including those outside the formal training system. Other tools are also being developed for the validation of informal and non-formal learning.
- The European Quality Assurance Reference framework for Vocational Education and Training (EQARF) is a reference instrument to help Member States to promote and monitor continuous improvement of their Vocational Education and Training (VET) systems, based on common European references.
Read more about information and guidance tools that are available to help with lifelong learning in the EU, including in particular the PLOTEUS portal on learning opportunities and the Euroguidance network.
