Website archived May 2014

Issue 17, January 2014

Issue 17 of the ECVET Magazine is entirely dedicated to the outcomes of the Joint ECVET Conference that took place in October 2013 in Brussels. It contains:

 
  • A synoptic article about the testing and development of ECVET between 2009 and 2013, with the following key messages:
  1. We have seen many examples proving that ECVET can work
  2. Now that we see that it can work, we need to implement solutions at the system level
  3. We need to ensure further buy-in from stakeholders
  4. We need to further convince, encourage and empower practitioners to use the tools developed
  5. More attention should be given to including learners in the process
  6. ECVET has made an important contribution to the shift to learning outcomes in VET
  7. We need to develop a culture of recognition that embraces diversity
  8. We need to ensure greater coherence between the European transparency instruments and national frameworks
  9. We are building up our expertise on ECVET and the rest of the instruments
  • A synthesis of the results of ECVET pilot projects. The pilot projects showed that ECVET can serve a variety of purposes and respond to different needs. It can offer solutions to a range of target groups. The projects’ experiences illustrate the diversity of situations that can be at least partially improved by the use of ECVET. Moreover, the added value of ECVET and its potential to help solve existing problems, needs to be further communicated to stakeholders to ensure they are on board and helping to promote ECVET.
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  • An article presenting the activities of the national teams of ECVET experts. The conference showed that there is a need to further work on the interface between policy, projects and mainstream practice - gateways between these strands should be created; and this should happen in the context of a broader national strategy. This strategy should create a link between the European transparency instruments, and should focus on the quality of VET as such. The national experts contributed significantly to paving the way towards such strategies.
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  • An article about the NetECVET workshops. At the joint ECVET conference, NetECVET organised six workshops. Guest speakers shared their experiences in how to work with the ECVET technical specifications - step by step - to improve learners’ mobility.