Practicing ECVET

<< Background >>High number of health care and social workers are mobile across Europe, but the recognition of their competences and qualifications, gained in other contexts and learning settings is hardly achievable as no specific or equivalent qualifications exist in different European countries. The lack of common frameworks for the evaluation, transfer, validation and recognition of learning outcomes and the rarity of related flexible training solutions still delays a full labor market integration, the development of human capital and the increase of mobility. This is visible in the social skills recognition, different countries define the social skills differently, making it hard to validate the social skills gained in different countries. Skill systems need to become more flexible in responding to changing skills and needs in the labor market. The European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) is an instrument introduced to promote mutual trust and mobility in vocational education and training, and needs bigger promotion and usage. The increased utilization and efficiency of ECVET will allow VET learners to acquire competences that will be recognized in other countries, which will increase the mobility. << Objectives >>The aim of the project was to enhance the practical usage of the ECVET instruments and principles in VET education. The increased usage of ECVET by health and social care education providers helps systems adapt to the frequent changes of the European labor market, but more importantly enable access to education and transferability of gained education for learners within the EU member and candidate countries. Transparency and recognition of learning outcomes and qualifications were analyzed in depth and positive experiences of their usage is shared. The project developed guidelines for education providers and tools that help them self-asses and improve the implementation of ECVET principles within their institutions. The project’s overall objective was: to promote recognition of learning outcomes and qualifications, including informal and non-formal learning by using ECVET. The specific objectives of the project were: Fostering implementation of the core ECVET principles: Learning outcomes, Units of learning outcomes, ECVET points, Credit, Mutual trust and Partnership; Establishing a concept of ECVET implementation among the partner institutions, by signing a Memorandum of Understanding among partners; and Promoting the ECVET. << Implementation >>The activities planned in the project were focused on: Analyzes; Training/ workshops; Preparation and dissemination of guidelines and analyses. The activities implemented to achieve the project goals were:1. Four transnational Project team meetings; Every PTM was organized by each of the partners. The aim of the PMT meetings was to organize, follow and coordinate the realization and the dynamics of the activities, production of project results and dissemination. 2. Four short term training events; C1 - Practical examples for using ECVET .The first workshop was used for analyses of the ECVET principles of each project partner. The partners that have integrated ECVET in their curricula presented the process and the benefits. After the presentation the participants discussed and proposed recommendations for improvement of the curricula, own and partner’s. C2 - ECVET based curricula of project partners - this workshop’s goal was the participants to be informed about the curricula project partners have based on ECVET. C3 - Learning outcomes and Units of learning outcomes - the participants were focused on the ECVET principles one by one, especially focusing on the learning outcomes and Units of learning outcomes. All Units of learning outcomes were analyzed, in order to detect the similarities and the differences. During this best practices among participants was shared.C4 - Memorandum of understanding for mutual recognition of learning outcomes - because the ECVET as a system is analyzed fragmentally and generally on the previous workshops this one was focused on the mutual trust as one of the most important principles. All analyses are part of the memorandum of understanding. 3. Production of four project results; - Online Guideline for education providers for practical use of ECVET principles - Guideline for description of learning outcomes and learning UNITS according ECVET - ECVET principles compliance matrix (Analysis of the curricula) - Protocol for recognition and validation of knowledge (Memorandum) 4. Multiplier events, one in each partner country. In order to disseminate project results successfully, Multiplier events were organized in all project partner countries, in each of the consortium beneficiaries’ countries there was one public event at which project activities and goals were presented. Approximately 150 participants attended the multiplier events. << Results >>This project has direct and indirect effects not only on all participants in the project but to broader targeted groups. The teachers and organizations that past the workshops raised their awareness and capacity to evaluate the present situation regarding implementation of ECVET provisions in VET learning. Due to the openness and the proposed interaction during the workshops they are now able not only to evaluate their own work, but they have developed skills to evaluate other people’s experiences on the topic. By implementing the new skills and methodologies they directly change and modernize the VET education. Based on the analysis and the exchange of good practice some of the curricula are redesigned and will be a valuable input in their everyday work with their beneficiaries. VET learners on the other hand, benefit from the introduction of new principles, because they received recognizable certificate guaranteeing transferability of the gained knowledge. Consequently, they will be more interested in teaching process and the gap between the teaching and learning process is bridged. The prepared outputs enable environment for bigger quality of the adult learning and the mobility projects and ultimately increase the quality of life in the respective communities. For the learners, the signed Memorandums will give an opportunity to validate their learning effort and increase their mobility. The National institutions responsible for education in each of the respective countries can adopt the positive practice of the Action and initiate inter - state recognition of learning outcomes. Exchange of good practices among project partners created a base for future similar activities. This will improve the curricula in the fields of social and health care education which will impact the quality of the education provided to the beneficiaries, and ultimately the quality-of-service citizens receive from the trained. Using ECVET in the vocational education and training will utilize resources and initiate similar changes in curricula in other fields. Enabling a significant number of local trainers to participate in a process where they can analyze and propose recommendations, discuss advantages and disadvantages of current practices of ECVET implementation, constant updating of the current practices without being afraid of changes will lead to bigger quality of the education they provide. By creating a network of cooperation all the participants will be directly involved in making changes in the current practices. This will enhance vivid communication and collaboration among professionals and respective institutions internationally. This project was organized in a way that two specific outcomes were foreseen: 1. Firstly, improvement of human capacities in a field of vocational education. This is achieved through four separate workshops which function as a whole where the participants gained new competences regarding implementation of ECVET in the VET education. Participants improved their competences by: - gathering information about the current level of ECVET principles implementation in the organizations that participate in the project; - specifying the methodologies in use; - identifying the best practices in each organization, participant in the project. 2. Secondly, establishing a concept for ECVET implementation - Education and training systems that are better aligned to the needs of and opportunities offered by the labor market, and closer links to business and the community - Improved provision and assessment of basic and traversal skills, particularly in Health and Social Care education - Overcoming skills mismatches