On 13 May the Europass project team met with a representative from the Lifelong Learning Platform (LLLP) to discuss a closer involvement of the organisation in the ongoing development of the new Europass platform to see how it can support the lifelong learning of users.

LLLP is concerned that the ongoing development is too focused on issues around employment and labour mobility while some educational/trainings aspects are only addressed marginally. In this regard soft and transversal skills and validation of learning outside the formal education sector are crucial. This means that the platform needs to offer the possibility to include soft and transversal skills in the e-portfolio but also needs to provide adequate guidance to the users when completing these sections. The organisation considers the guidance function as the key added value of the new Europass compared to other platforms such as LinkedIn. The guidance offered on Europass could include:

• receiving tooltips when creating an e-portfolio 
• tips on how to create applications,
• find learning opportunities and
• importing open badges in the e-portfolio. A

One approach would be that Artificial Intelligence (AI) could be explored to provide initial guidance services before users are directed to ‘human’ counsellors for further guidance.

LLLP is happy to reach out to various groups of their stakeholders to support the project team in the user testing. The representative suggested using focus groups to make the testing more targeted and effective.