Professional qualifications that European recruiters love
Academic and professional qualifications vary from country to country, making it increasingly difficult for European employers to gauge the relevance of international job-hunters' skills and experience. There are a number of easy ways though to make your qualifications internationally recognisable - and make you a top candidate.
New qualifications continually appear worldwide and countries must constantly adjust their educational systems under the impact of rapid economic, political and technological change. As a result, it has become increasingly difficult for employers to gauge the level and function of one qualification and to then compare it to another country’s qualification.
For this reason, the EU has made several attempts to co-ordinate training and education across Europe. The Bologna Declaration (1999) marked a turning point in the development of European higher education, and the founding 29 countries pledged to reform their higher education systems to be more in line with one another by 2005, which has happened. New signatories have now brought the total to 46 participating countries, whose representatives meet and report on progress at biennial summits. The overall aim of the process is to create a European Higher Education Area (EHEA) by 2010.
So what does this mean for you and your degree? If you are planning to work abroad then the best way to
avoid employers becoming confused over your CV is to apply for one of the various diplomas or supplements
issued by the EU and recognised across the member states.
Europass...
… is an initiative of the European Commission and was established four years ago. It consists of five documents, which we’ll look at in more detail below, and is supported by a network of National Europass Centres across every EU/EEA country. For information on any of these documents, or to download them, go to http://europass.cedefop. europa.eu.
1. Europass Curriculum Vitae (ECV)
Like a normal CV, the ECV gives a comprehensive, standardised overview of the education attainments and work experience of an individual. While it is entirely optional, it is aimed at those who wish to study and work in the EU, although it is also designed to help educational institutions and employers gauge your experience. Available online or on paper, it includes biographical information, work experience, schooling and training, personal skills such as knowledge of foreign languages and social and technical skills.
2. Europass Language Portfolio (ELP)
The ELP is a document in which those who are learning or have learned a language – whether at school or elsewhere – can record and reflect their language learning and cultural experiences. The portfolio consists of three documents, including a language passport that should be regularly updated. A grid is also provided in order to describe your language competence according to common criteria throughout Europe. The third is a detailed language biography to describe your experience in each language.
The ELP is a document in which those who are learning or have learned a language
3. Diploma Supplement (DS)
The DS is a document attached to a higher education diploma (for example, a degree certificate) aimed at improving international ‘transparency’ and allowing academic and professional institutions to recognise different degree types across Europe. It is designed to provide a description of the level, context, content and status of the studies pursued and successfully completed by the named individual.
4. Certificate Supplement (CS)
The CS is similar to the DS but for people who have a vocational education and training certificate.
5. Europass Mobility (EM)
The EM is a record of any organised period of time spent in another European country for the purpose of learning or training. This could include an academic term on an exchange programme, a voluntary placement at a non-governmental organisation (NGO), or a work placement at a company. This experience is monitored by two partner organisations (one in the country of origin, the other in the host country) who both agree on the purpose, content and duration, and then identify a suitable mentor in the host country. These partners could be universities, schools, companies, NGOs etc.
The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS)
ECTS is intended to facilitate student mobility and international curriculum development. It is a ‘credit system’ – defined by ECTS as a systematic way of describing an educational programme by attaching credits to its components. Originally set up as part of Erasmus (now known as the Socrates programme) it is now the only credit system that has been tested and used across Europe. A specified student workload is required in order to meet the objectives of a programme. These objectives should be measured in terms of learning outcomes and competences to be acquired. To learn more about ECTS go to http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/ socrates/ects/index_en.html.
The European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)
The ECDL is the largest computer skills certification in the world
The ECDL is the largest computer skills certification in the world – over six million people have so far taken part in the programme. The foundation that governs the programme is a worldwide, not-for-profit organisation. Outside Europe, the certification is known as the International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL), meaning that the qualification is globally recognisable. The ECDL/ICDL certifies that the holder is competent in the use of a personal computer and common computer applications and knows the essential concepts of IT. It tests practical skills and competences through seven separate modules covering computer theory and practice. To learn more about the ECDL go to www.ecdl.com.
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