ECVET USERS' GUIDE

The document has been written by a group of European ECVET experts (members of the Users' Group) and approved by the ECVET Users’ Group, which brings together representatives of EU Member States and associated countries as well as representatives of European social partners.

Whom is this "Q&A" document for?
The "Q&A" document is intended for the use of people engaging in experimentation or implementation of ECVET.
These can be policy-makers, competent institutions in charge of designing and awarding qualifications, VET providers (such as training centres or enterprises) or any other stakeholders.

What can be found in it ?

The "Q&A" document is made of 3 different sections :
Part A – Contains explanations of key concepts and processes
Part B – Presents the functions of ECVET competent institutions
Part C – Highlights some examples and possible approaches to the concrete application of ECVET concepts and processes presented in Part A.
It uses a question-and-answer format. The list of questions has been classified in ten different rubrics : LEARNING OUTCOMES, UNITS, ECVET CREDIT POINTS, CREDIT TRANSFERT AND ACCUMULATION, ASSESSMENT OF LO, ECVET AND NON-FORMAL AND INFORMAL LEARNING, MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, LEARNING AGREEMENTS, PERSONAL TRANSCRIPT and COMPETENT INSTITUTIONS.

Two ways of consultation :

• an interactive way where you can have access in one click to all the developpements provided on the different questions
• a printable version (pdf format) where you'll find the list of questions at the beginning of the document and use it to navigate through the document.

This second version of  the ECVET USERS' Guide for geographical mobility  has been reviewed by the ECVET Users’ Group in 2012.

Purpose of the ECVET USERS' GUIDE (Part 2)

Contents :

• ECVET and geographical mobility
• Quality in ECVET mobility
• The phases of using ECVET for organised mobility
  - Before mobility
  - During the mobility period
  - After the mobility period
• Four important annexes :
  Annex A: Functions of ECVET competent institutions
  Annex B: Checklist for using ECVET for transnational mobility
  Annex C: Memorandum of Understanding and Learning Agreements
  Annex D : ECVET for mobility in practice

Download : ECVET for Geographical Mobility v2012 (pdf)

This third part of the USERS' Guide  was prepared by the ECVET Users’ Group and it was approved during the ECVET Users’ Group meeting in  November 2011. It complements the series of guidance documents and explanatory notes (Parts 1 & 2) which constitute the ECVET Users’ Guide.

Purpose of the ECVET USERS' GUIDE (Part 3)
This note presents the possibilities of how ECVET could be used to support the recognition of learning outcomes in a lifelong learning perspective. It contains no specific recommendations or guidelines but several possible situations and examples of learners’ paths in which ECVET technical specifications could be used to enable recognition of learning outcomes.

Contents :

• Why is ECVET relevant for lifelong learning policies
• (Non-)Formal learning while working using ECVET
• ECVET and learners’ change of pathways
• ECVET to facilitate updating workers’ qualifications
• ECVET and validation of non-formal and informal learning
• ECVET and recognition between different qualification systems and levels

Download : ECVET to support LLL (pdf)