EARLALL and Borås Stad (Region Västra Götaland) organized two successful webinars on EU Education tools

07/02/2022

On 24 November 2021, EARLALL hosted, with Borås Stad (on behalf of Västra Götaland region) the first webinar on EU Education tools. The session was organised in the context of the RegALE (Regional capacity for Adult Learning and Education) project. The event gathered Vocational Education and Training and Adult Learning providers, but also local and regional public authorities dealing with education and training.

Nina Ahlroos, National Coordinator for Euroguidance – Swedish Council for Higher Education introduced the Euroguidance network, which has three main aims: competence development, advocacy & networking and development & innovation. Then, Sanna Holmkvist, Coordinator Europass Sweden – Swedish Council for Higher Education introduced the EPALE platform, Europe’s largest network for professionals in the adult learning sector. She also presented the Europass tool, which can be useful for job search.

She was followed by Pernilla Öhberg – International coordinator & work based learning strategist at NTI Gymnasiet (Sweden) who explained the functioning of ECVET, the European Credit Transfer System in Vocational Education and Training. Maya Ivanova from the European Commission (DG EMPL) introduced the EQF, European Qualification Framework which aims to improve the transparency, comparability and portability of people’s qualifications.

Noelia Cantero, EARLALL Director, moderated the second webinar on EU Education tools, organised on 3 February 2022. Tim Schreiber, European Commission (DG EMPL, Unit B3 Vocational Education and Training) presented SELFIE, a self-reflection tool for schools to assess the school’s use of digital technology. An extension of this tool was launched in October 2021: it is SELFIE for WBL (Work-based learning). It brings VET institutions and companies closer together to jointly discuss how to best embed digital technology in the education and training provided.

Then, Francesco Losappio, European Commission (DG EMPL, Unit E1 – Labour Mobility, Public Employment) introduced the ESCO (European Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations) database. This tool aims at better connecting education and training to the labour market. The ESCO database categorises skills, competences, qualifications, and occupations.

To finish the webinar, Kjerstin Torpmann-Hagen, European Commission (DG EMPL, Unit B3 Vocational Education and Training) presented the European Alliance for Apprenticeships (EAfA) and the activities that will be conducted by the network in 2022.

Tim Schreiber and Kjerstin Torpmann-Hagen concluded the session by inviting participants to take part in events organised by the European Commission: