“COMPETENCES, LEARNING OUTCOMES, QUALIFICATIONS: TRANSPARENCY CONTRIBUTING TO EMPLOYABILITY”

After the seminar “Mobility Beyond Borders” (Bucharest 23 march 2007), the Thematic Group on Transparency, Validation and Credit transfer has then arranged the conference “Competences, Learning outcomes, Qualifications: Transparency contributing to Employability”, which was held in Rome on 5-6 July 2007.

The conference aimed at exploring European policy developments and experiences in the fields of transparency of qualifications, credit transfer and validation of non-formal and informal learning from the perspective of how these arrangements contribute to the employability. The event intended to allow and stimulate mutual knowledge, exchange of experience and cross-fertilisation between VET policy makers, experts and practitioners, also in view of stimulating new project ideas in the framework of the Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-2013.

The plenary session was devoted to reflect on how an improved transparency of competences and qualifications can promote and support the employability of individuals. Different perspectives, from the experience of the Lifelong Learning – Leonardo da Vinci Programme to the needs expressed by the labour market, contributed to such reflection.

Six workshops were arranged:

1. Towards National Qualifications Frameworks: challenges and perspectives;
2. Learning outcomes as a basis for credit transfer;
3. Methods and tools for the assessment of competences;
4. The role of guidance to foster employability;
5. Sectoral approaches to qualifications;
6. Mobility as an asset for professional development.

Workshops included experts presentations and on the-field experiences on each theme.

A round table on “Transparency of Qualifications and Employability – Bridges and Challenges in Europe” has concluded the event.

This initiative is financed by the European Commission – Directorate General for Education and Culture in the framework of the Thematic Monitoring activities of the LLP Leonardo da Vinci Programme. National co-funding is provided by the Italian Ministry of Labour and Social Security – Directorate General for Guidance and Training Policies.