EASQ – European Area of Skills and Qualifications

'Learning outcomes are here to stay but a lot of work remains to be done'. The latest issue of the magazine includes interesting articles on the ECVET network's life and on the latest developments on ECVET.
EASQ – European Area of Skills and Qualifications
The European Commission has launched a consultation on the European Area of Skills and Qualifications. This on-line consultation contains seven groups of issues - your active collaboration will help to inform the future of the European Area of Skills and Qualifications.
This public consultation remains open until 15.04.2014 and respondents are invited to fill the electronic questionnaire on the website: http://ec.europa. eu/dgs/education_culture/more_info/ consultations/skills_en.htm The European Commission is collecting perspectives from stakeholders such as governmental bodies, education and training providers, employers, federations of employers, trade unions, workers, public and private em - ployment services, chambers of industry, commerce and skilled crafts, qualification authorities, guidance services, youth work organisations, voluntary sector organisations and individual learners, teachers, trainers and experts. This will help to identify the problems faced by learners and workers in relation to the transparency and recognition of their skills and qualifications when moving wit - hin and between EU Member States; the adequacy of the related European policies and instruments; and the potential benefits of developing a “European Area of Skills and Qualifications”. The consultation covers a broad range of topics such as:
• How to place a stronger focus on higher and more relevant skills;
• Further strengthening the links between education/training, mobility and the labour market;
• Adapting to internationalisation trends
• Ensuring overall coherence of the European instruments and policies and further implementing the learning outcomes approach;
• Ensuring clarity of rules and procedures for the recognition of skills and qualifications for further learning;
• Increasing the focus on quality assurance;
• Providing learners and workers with a single access point to obtain information and services supporting a European Area of Skills and Qualifications. See more in ECVET Magazine No 18 (March 2014)...