Save the date for the European conference on validation of non-formal and informal learning Making learning visible organised by Cedefop in close cooperation with the European Commission in Thessaloniki on 28 and 29 November. More...

The European Commission adopted on 10 June a new and comprehensive skills agenda for Europe. The aim is to ensure that people develop a broad set of skills from early on in life and to make the most of Europe’s human capital, which will ultimately boost employability, competitiveness and growth in Europe. More...

Cedefop’s European skills and jobs survey (ESJ survey) shows that by facilitating transparency of qualifications and skills as well as providing better skills intelligence, EU education, training and skill policies can significantly boost mobility of groups in need. However, many EU Member States are still treating education and training tools in silos. More...

Validation of non-formal and informal learning is about making visible and giving value to this diverse and often unique learning. One major purpose of validation is to make it possible for individuals to take advantage of the outcomes of their learning experiences and use them to gain access to employment and/or education opportunities. More...

Skills matching ranks low as a motive in individuals’ job choices, while job mobility favours the most skilled. Skill gaps are prevalent in some occupations and sectors and for some population groups (re)entering the job market (e.g. long-term unemployed); yet too many of EU workers’ skills are underused and unidentified. More...

Cedefop and the World Bank have strengthened their long collaboration over the last year and co-organised the first knowledge-exchange seminar on early leaving from education and training, which focused on lessons for Romania, in Thessaloniki on 25 May. More...

Spring is usually a busy time for visits – this year, Cedefop received visitors from various countries and institutions, including Athens College, universities from Greece, Finland and France, and two institutions dealing with the validation and recognition of qualifications: the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT) and the Ankara Chamber of Commerce from Turkey. More...

Following the first partnership forum organised on 12 and 13 May in Rome by ISFOL (ReferNet Italy), it was Eoppep’s turn (ReferNet Greece) to welcome the other half of the network on 19 and 20 May, this time in Athens. More...

The new provision aims to enable closer cooperation between schools and employers. Previously, VET learners have had only limited contact with the real work environment and practical training was usually organised in school. More...

Cedefop recently received two educational researchers from Andrés Bello University of Santiago, Chile. They are conducting a research project in view of implementing a system for the recognition of qualifications which could allow people enter tertiary education, and thus were interested in getting acquainted with European approaches to validation of formal and informal learning and policies which have proven successful. More...