Passport to Communicating Skills and Learning in the European Union

The Europass. Passport to Communicating Skills and Learning in the European Union At a Glance Using Europass (a portfolio of five documents) improves EU workers ability to present their skills, knowledge, and qualifications to employers in a clear and consistent manner. Its effectiveness is sustained by continually improving the portfolio documents and strong promotional efforts in EU member states. Canada should consider adapting the Europass model and its tools to address some of its learning recognition challenges. BRIEFING JUNE 2016

The Europass Passport to Communicating Skills and Learning in the European Union Europass has allowed for easier comparison of skills and competencies across countries and, to some extent, across sectors. Executive Summary The European Commission (EC) officially launched the Europass initiative in 2005 to increase the educational and labour mobility of European workers. By making educational qualifications and work experience more transparent across borders, the initiative improves the ability of employers and workers to respond to changes in supply and demand in the European labour market. The Europass initiative offers a standardized format for job seekers to present their skills and qualifications clearly and consistently in a manner that employers can easily understand and evaluate. It comprises a portfolio of five documents that help individuals communicate their qualifications: the Europass CV, the Language Passport, Europass Mobility, the European Certificate Supplement, and the European Diploma Supplement. Individuals can create the CV and Language Passport for free online, while Europass Mobility, the Certificate Supplement, and the Diploma Supplement are issued by educational and training institutions. Implementing the Europass initiative is the joint responsibility of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP), a decentralized agency of the European Union, and the National Europass Centres, which focus on promoting Europass in their home country. There is a broad consensus that Europass has allowed for easier comparison of skills and competencies across countries and, to some extent, across sectors. For job seekers, a key benefit of Europass is that it encourages individuals to reflect on their skills and competencies and consider new ways to communicate them. Use of the Europass has steadily increased over time. In 2015, almost 18 million Europass CVs were created online; over 65 million have been created since 2005. 2

The Conference Board of Canada. All rights reserved. Please contact cboc.ca/ip with questions or concerns about the use of this material. The Conference Board of Canada Since its inception, the Europass initiative has faced a number of challenges. While the uniformity of the Europass documents is generally hailed as a strength, the standardized format of the CV in particular has been criticized as lacking in detail compared with local applications. The Europass documents also fail to recognize some forms of unpaid work experience, such as volunteering, although the European Commission is working to remedy this issue. Uptake is uneven: high among young people with an undergraduate degree, but more limited among lowerskilled individuals. Employer use is also uneven. In Canada, learning recognition issues are a significant challenge affecting 2.8 per cent of adult Canadians. 1 The Europass initiative provides a model that Canada should consider and tools that could be adapted to address some of Canada s learning recognition challenges. This spotlight study was prepared with financial support from the Centre for Skills and Post-Secondary Education, The Conference Board of Canada. Overview The free movement of workers is a founding principle of the European Union (EU). 2 However, EU workers have often been reluctant to relocate from their home country for work. In 2011, only 0.2 per cent of Europeans migrated from one EU country to another. 3 In comparison, 3 per cent of Canadians moved from one province to another in the same year. 4 Some workers are reluctant to relocate and pursue work in another European country due to personal reasons such as family and home ownership. Other inhibiters of free movement include language barriers (there are 1 Grant, Brain Gain 2015, 18. 2 Although the free movement of workers is enshrined in EU law, workers from some countries that have recently joined the EU have faced temporary restrictions on their mobility from other member states. See Canetta, Fries-Tersch, and Mabilia-Milieu, 2014 Annual Report on Labour Mobility. 3 The Economist, On the Move. 4 Grant, Brain Gain 2015, 15. 3

The Europass Passport to Communicating Skills and Learning in the European Union 27 official languages in the EU) and a lack of recognition of prior work experience and credentials earned elsewhere in the EU. The European Commission (EC) created the Europass initiative to help promote labour mobility and lifelong learning among European workers. Europass is a portfolio of five documents or tools that help individuals clearly and easily communicate their skills and qualifications to employers throughout the EU: The Europass CV allows individuals to create an online CV using a template and tutorials. The Language Passport is a self-assessment tool that allows individuals to communicate their language skills and qualifications. It can be created online using a template and tutorials. The Europass Mobility provides a record of formal training or learning (e.g., a work placement in a company, an international exchange as part of a university degree program) that an individual participated in abroad. The information in this document is confirmed by both host and sending organizations. 5 The European Certificate Supplement and the European Diploma Supplement are standardized documents issued by post-secondary institutions and training organizations to individuals who have earned a credential. They aim to ensure that credentials are easily understood outside the issuing country by providing a description of the qualification, the skills gained, the manner in which the certification was granted or conducted, and the name of the accrediting body. 6 The European Skills Passport is an online folder where individuals can assemble their Europass documents and upload additional files (e.g., diplomas, publications, recommendations, pictures) that validate their skills and qualifications. 7 5 Interview findings. 6 Interview findings; Europass, About Europass; Europass Hungary, Opening Doors to Learning and Working in Europe. 7 Interview findings; European Civil Society Platform on Lifelong Learning, Information Note: The European Skills Passport. 4

The Conference Board of Canada. All rights reserved. Please contact cboc.ca/ip with questions or concerns about the use of this material. The Conference Board of Canada All EU citizens have free access to the online tools needed to create both the Europass CV and the Language Passport. All EU citizens have free access to the online tools needed to create both the Europass CV and the Language Passport. The Europass Mobility, Certificate Supplement, and Diploma Supplement are issued by educational and training institutions. 8 The Europass website and accompanying tools are available in the 27 official languages of the EU. 9 The European education and learning context is complex, with a number of overlapping bodies and structures that offer related services. For example, the ENIC/NARIC network of organizations across Europe also provides services that support the recognition of academic credentials. 10 Credential recognition is an important barrier to EU internal mobility. Similarly, it is a key barrier to interprovincial mobility and the integration of immigrants to Canada. (While this spotlight study focuses primarily on the recognition of skills and learning, credential recognition will be analyzed in future research from the Centre for Skills and Post- Secondary Education.) Objectives The objective of the Europass initiative is to support the educational and labour mobility of EU citizens so that they may nimbly respond to changes in supply and demand. More specifically, Europass aims to make skills, educational qualifications, and work experience more transparent across borders. 11 To achieve its objective, the Europass initiative was designed to provide a comprehensive and accessible electronic tool for citizens, support European policy developments related to the transparency of 8 Europass, About Europass. 9 Interview findings. 10 See www.enic-naric.net/index.aspx for more information. The Council of Europe and UNESCO established the ENIC Network (European Network of National Information Centres on academic recognition and mobility). The NARIC network, an initiative of the European Commission, aims at improving academic recognition of diplomas and periods of study in member EU states. 11 Public Policy and Management Institute, Second Evaluation of Europass, 8 9. 5

The Europass Passport to Communicating Skills and Learning in the European Union qualifications, increase awareness of Europass instruments among key stakeholders, and improve the impact of existing Europass components and related documents. 12 Within the EU, education and training is a national responsibility and qualifications are defined at a national level. The national variations lead to considerable differences across the EU and make it difficult for employers to understand the skills and learning obtained in another EU member state. 13 The Europass is one measure of several undertaken by the EU as part of the Bologna Process to support the transparency and recognition of knowledge, skills, and competences. 14 Other measures under the Bologna Process and related EU agreements include the European Qualifications Framework to help compare national qualifications frameworks, a European Inventory to help guide validation of non-formal and informal learning, and credit systems and quality assurance programs for higher education and vocational education and training, to name a few. Each of these efforts has made, and continues to make, progress toward standardizing learning recognition. Processes The creation of the five primary components of the Europass initiative dates back to the late 1990s. 15 However, Europass emerged as an overarching initiative in 2002 as a result of the Copenhagen Declaration, which called for increased transparency in vocational education and training through the implementation and rationalisation of information tools and networks, including the integration of existing instruments such as the European CV, Certificate and Diploma supplements, the Common European Framework of reference for languages, and the Europass into one single framework. 16 The creation of the Europass initiative was also 12 Ibid., 19. 13 Interview findings. 14 European Commission, Recognition of Skills. 15 Europass, The History of Europass. 16 Ibid. 6

The Conference Board of Canada. All rights reserved. Please contact cboc.ca/ip with questions or concerns about the use of this material. The Conference Board of Canada The National Europass Centres hold conferences, job fairs, and information days. motivated by the EU s Lisbon Strategy, which was launched in 2000 as a broad initiative to make the EU the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, and by the Bologna Process, which sought to ensure comparability in the standards and quality of post-secondary credentials. 17 Following consultations with national governments and other key stakeholders, the Europass Decision was officially endorsed by the European Parliament and Council in 2004. 18 The Europass initiative and its accompanying website were officially launched in 2005. In 2012, the European Skills Passport was launched. The Europass website and accompanying tools have been continually updated and improved since they were first introduced. 19 Implementing Europass is the joint responsibility of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) a decentralized agency of the EU, and the National Europass Centres (NECs). 20 CEDEFOP manages the Europass website and online tools, gives support to the NECs, and provides input into changes to the Europass framework. 21 The NECs raise awareness of Europass in their home countries and provide information on Europass to stakeholders. They undertake a wide variety of activities to promote Europass, including national Europass website development and maintenance; holding events such as conferences, job fairs, and information days; advertising; and media outreach. 22 The EC s Directorate General for Education and Culture (DG EAC) has the overall responsibility for content-related components of Europass, including network coordination, development, promotion, and evaluation. 17 Souto-Otero, Discretional Policies and Transparency of Qualifications, 355. 18 European Civil Society Platform on Lifelong Learning, Information Note; Europass, The History of Europass. 19 Interview findings. 20 Public Policy and Management Institute, Second Evaluation of Europass, 8. 21 European Commission, Evaluation of the Europass Initiative, 8. 22 Public Policy and Management Institute, Second Evaluation of Europass, 49. 7

The Europass Passport to Communicating Skills and Learning in the European Union The European Commission has spent approximately 35 million euros on the Europass initiative since 2005. The Education, Audiovisual, and Culture Executive Agency of the EC provides additional support for Europass (for example, by managing operating agreements with the NECs). 23 Resources The EC has spent approximately 35 million euros on the Europass initiative since 2005. Of that amount, about 3 million euros have gone to the design and maintenance of the Europass website and accompanying online tools. The rest of the funding has been allocated to the NECs. Together, the 37 NECs receive about 2 million euros from the EC each year. Member state governments are required to match the EC funding for each NEC. This brings the total annual funding for the NECs to approximately 4 million euros. The requirement that member states match the EC s funding has generally not been an issue. 24 NECs typically have small numbers of staff (for example, the U.K. Europass office has one full-time dedicated staff member and calls on the skills of several other individuals as needed for a total of about three full-time equivalent positions). Many NECs are co-located with another organization responsible for providing similar employment or credentialing services. 25 Innovations The Europass initiative offers a standardized format for job seekers to present their skills and experience to employers. The common format eases the burden of human resources departments in sorting and evaluating high volumes of resumés. The Europass CV and Language Passport platforms are free, user-friendly, do not require users to create an account, and allow users to easily switch between languages. The European Mobility document and the Certificate and Diploma 23 Ibid., 85. 24 Interview findings. 25 Ibid. 8

The Conference Board of Canada. All rights reserved. Please contact cboc.ca/ip with questions or concerns about the use of this material. The Conference Board of Canada supplements allow employers to quickly and easily interpret qualifications issued in other EU countries. While employers may have some understanding of qualifications earned in neighbouring countries, they often lack knowledge of those from more distant member states. 26 The NECs have been key to the Europass initiative successfully navigating the diverse national labour markets of the EU. The national structure is seen by some as necessary to promote Europass effectively and link and communicate effectively with relevant stakeholders. National bodies were deemed to have a comparative advantage because they had in-depth knowledge about national education and labour systems. 27 NEC representatives meet several times a year to exchange information and best practices. All attend an annual meeting organized by the EC, and another organized by the NECs themselves. The NECs also operate reference groups where representatives can share issues of interest and pool resources (e.g., relating to communication and promotion, inland mobility, and volunteering). In addition, NECs are organized into regional cluster groups that share similar issues and meet annually. Both the working groups and the cluster groups are kept to a modest size to facilitate one-on-one sharing of information and relationship-building. 28 Challenges and Solutions The Impersonal Nature of Europass Documents While the uniformity and clarity of the Europass documents are core strengths, the standardized CV format is seen as a weakness by some stakeholders. They argue that the standardized format of the CV results in an impersonal look, creates the potential for a voluminous document, and offers limited style choices. 29 26 Interview findings. 27 Public Policy and Management Institute, Second Evaluation of Europass, 71. 28 Interview findings; Europass, Europass Newsletter. 29 Public Policy and Management Institute, Second Evaluation of Europass, 33. 9

The Europass Passport to Communicating Skills and Learning in the European Union The uniformity of the Europass CV may reveal to employers that users come from a different country because their CV lacks the nuances and details typically seen in CVs from local applicants. For example, while the Europass CV is widely used by Dutch citizens in the Netherlands, the cover letter component of the CV is not because it lacks the detail and style that local employers expect. 30 One commentator views Europass as an average or safe bet in the presentation of qualifications and competences when individuals do not have an in-depth knowledge of the national or occupational context to which they are applying, seldom present[ing] skills and competences in the most relevant way. 31 Europass documents are continually updated and revised based on user feedback to ensure they remain easy to use and relevant to changing user needs. For example, in response to user feedback, users now have the option of removing the Europass logo from their CV. 32 Mixed Uptake of the Europass Certificate and Diploma Supplements Uptake of the Europass Certificate and Diploma supplements has been varied. While use of the Diploma Supplement is widespread in some EU countries, such as the U.K. and the Netherlands, in many countries, post-secondary institutions do not issue diploma supplements. Further, some individuals are unaware they have a Diploma Supplement because it is issued as an integral part of their diploma and its value or purpose is not communicated to graduates. In several EU countries, the Diploma Supplement is issued without the Europass logo or other indication that it is part of the Europass. Adoption of the Certificate Supplement has been even more limited. 33 30 Interview findings. 31 Souto-Otero, Discretional Policies and Transparency of Qualifications, 360. 32 Interview findings. 33 Interview findings; Public Policy and Management Institute, Second Evaluation of Europass, 56. 10

The Conference Board of Canada. All rights reserved. Please contact cboc.ca/ip with questions or concerns about the use of this material. The Conference Board of Canada One significant weakness of the Europass documents is a lack of recognition of informal learning and some forms of unpaid work, such as volunteering. NECs continue to promote the certificate and diploma supplements to post-secondary institutions. In countries with high usage of the diploma and/or certificate supplements, they are actively used by post-secondary institutions to verify the credentials of students who studied outside of the institution s home country. In the U.K., the Diploma Supplement is issued as the Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR), which provides a comprehensive picture of a student s activities at university, including academic work, extracurricular activities, awards, and voluntary work all verified by the issuing university. HEAR is unique in that it is available to students throughout their studies, rather than upon graduation. 34 Lack of Recognition of Informal Learning and Work Experience One significant weakness of the Europass documents is a lack of recognition of informal learning and some forms of unpaid work experience, such as volunteering. This can be particularly problematic for young people, especially in EU member states where volunteering or unpaid internships are common. 35 The EC and the NECs are working to introduce a document into the Europass portfolio that addresses these issues. 36 Struggle to Engage Employers NECs have struggled to engage employers in the Europass initiative, and private employment services have no fiscal incentives to adopt the Europass documents. 37 To overcome this challenge, the NECs continue to promote the Europass to employers, as well as stakeholder or umbrella organizations connected to employers such as career advisors and graduate recruiters. 34 Interview findings; Higher Education Achievement Report, About. 35 Interview findings; European Commission, Evaluation of the Europass Initiative, 3. 36 Interview findings; Public Policy and Management Institute, Second Evaluation of Europass, 53. 37 Interview findings; Public Policy and Management Institute, Second Evaluation of Europass, 56. 11

The Europass Passport to Communicating Skills and Learning in the European Union In 2015, CEDEFOP introduced the Europass Interoperability web portal as a tool to make Europass more appealing to employers. 38 Employers can download this web portal and require job applicants to apply for positions through it with the Europass CV. It also allows employers to download data from applicants CVs onto a spreadsheet for easy comparison of candidates. 39 CEDEFOP also recently introduced a link between Europass and European Employment Services (a European database of employer job postings) that allows Europass users to directly upload their CV to the European Employment Services platform to enable better job-matching. 40 Low Uptake by Lower-Skilled Individuals The Europass initiative is targeted at a broad population with widely varying skills and experience who are seeking employment across all sectors and European countries. The significant breadth of its scope creates challenges for promoting the Europass and ensuring it is relevant to all job seekers. 41 Uptake of Europass has been highest among young people (ages 20 to 35) with an undergraduate or post-graduate degree. 42 Uptake has been lowest among low-skilled individuals. This has been attributed to a lack of awareness of the Europass initiative; a lack of information and guidance on how to complete the Europass; and a lack of computer literacy skills. 43 To encourage low-skilled individuals to use the Europass, NECs have promoted the initiative at vocational schools and employment centres, and have trained employment counsellors on how to use the Europass. 44 38 Interview findings. 39 Interview findings; Europass Interoperability, Home. 40 Interview findings. 41 Public Policy and Management Institute, Second Evaluation of Europass, 53. 42 Interview findings; European Commission, Evaluation of the Europass Initiative, 5. 43 Interview findings; Public Policy and Management Institute, Second Evaluation of Europass, 20 25. 44 Interview findings. 12

The Conference Board of Canada. All rights reserved. Please contact cboc.ca/ip with questions or concerns about the use of this material. The Conference Board of Canada In 2015, almost 18 million Europass CVs were created online, and over 65 million have been created since 2005. Impacts and Benefits Since its launch in 2005, the Europass website has had over 126 million visits. The number of website visits has steadily increased over time in 2015, the website had 23.9 million visitors, compared with just 1.2 million in 2005 and 10.1 million in 2010. 45 Stakeholders generally have a positive view of the Europass website and accompanying documents. A 2012 survey found that 64 per cent of stakeholders deemed it to be userfriendly, clear, and effective at providing information. 46 The Europass CV is by far the most popular Europass document. In 2015, almost 18 million Europass CVs were created online, and over 65 million have been created since 2005. Uptake of other Europass documents has been more limited. A 2012 survey of Europass users found that only 22 per cent held a Europass Mobility Document, 18.8 per cent held a Diploma Supplement, and just 6.2 per cent held a Certificate Supplement. 47 Least used is the European Language Passport. Only 133,057 European Language Passports were created in 2015, and only 785,169 have been created since the initiative was first launched. 48 Europass uptake varies widely among countries. Uptake tends to be highest in southern European and smaller countries. This is largely attributable to two factors: first, there is a long-standing tradition of people immigrating from southern to northern Europe for employment; second, the recent great recession has had a larger and more lasting impact in southern Europe. Some southern European countries, such as Portugal, require the use of Europass when applying for public sector positions. A few private sector organizations are beginning to require job applicants to use Europass as well. 49 45 CEDEFOP, Europass Website Activity Report. 46 Public Policy and Management Institute, Second Evaluation of Europass, 10. 47 Ibid., 30. 48 Interview findings; CEDEFOP, Europass Website Activity Report. 49 Interview findings. 13

The Europass Passport to Communicating Skills and Learning in the European Union It is estimated that 844,238 adult Canadians (2.83 per cent) are affected by learning recognition challenges. There is broad stakeholder consensus that Europass has allowed for easier comparison of skills and competencies across countries and, to a lesser extent, across sectors. 50 Uptake of the Europass is most common in sectors with high levels of mobility, such as IT and hospitality. 51 For job seekers, one of the most beneficial aspects of the Europass is that it motivates individuals to reflect on their skills and competencies in new ways and better communicate them. 52 Applicability to Canada Learning recognition challenges are a significant issue in Canada. The Conference Board recently estimated that 844,238 adult Canadians (2.83 per cent) are affected by learning recognition challenges. Of those, nearly 200,000 said their main challenge was interprovincial challenges, while 120,000 said experiential learning was their main challenge. 53 It is estimated that Canada could gain $13.4 billion to $17 billion through better recognition of learning. Given Canada s aging population and projected future labour shortages, addressing learning recognition challenges is important to ensuring Canada s future economic competitiveness. 54 Addressing Canada s learning recognition challenges is a complex process that will involve numerous stakeholders. The Europass initiative offers a model that could play a role in helping to address some of Canada s learning recognition challenges. The relationship and parallels between recognizing foreign qualifications and recognition across provincial boundaries are noteworthy, given our multi-jurisdictional approach to education and the intra-european system. Tools modelled on the Diploma and Certificate supplements could assist in learning 50 Public Policy and Management Institute, Second Evaluation of Europass, 41; Souto-Otero, Discretional Policies and Transparency of Qualifications, 358. 51 Interview findings. 52 Public Policy and Management Institute, Second Evaluation of Europass, 12. 53 Grant, Brain Gain 2015, 18. 54 Grant, Brain Gain 2015, 19; see also Howard and Edge, Policies, Laws, and Regulations, 88 91. 14

The Conference Board of Canada. All rights reserved. Please contact cboc.ca/ip with questions or concerns about the use of this material. The Conference Board of Canada recognition for individuals moving between provinces. A tool such as the Europass Language Supplement could assist individuals assess and market their language skills, while a tool adopted from the Europass CV could assist individuals, particularly new Canadians, communicate their skills to employers. Conclusion The Europass initiative provides an important resource to facilitate skills and learning recognition throughout the EU. The continued improvement of the Europass components, as well as NECs ensuring that the promotion of the Europass is relevant in each national context, has helped increase its usage and ensure its long-term relevance to users. Tools modelled on the Europass components could well be used to good effect in Canada. Tell us how we re doing rate this publication. www.conferenceboard.ca/e-library/abstract.aspx?did=8053 15

The Europass Passport to Communicating Skills and Learning in the European Union Acknowledgements This spotlight study has been prepared by The Conference Board of Canada, under the direction of Dr. Michael Bloom, Vice-President, Industry and Business Strategy. The study was researched and written by Dr. Jessica Edge, Senior Research Associate. It was reviewed internally by Alison Howard, Associate Director, and externally by Doretta A. Thompson, Director, International Credential Recognition Programs, Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, and Timothy Owen, Director, World Education Services. This study was prepared with financial support from the Centre for Skills and Post-Secondary Education, The Conference Board of Canada. Our thanks to the many stakeholders of the Centre s work who read and commented on drafts of this study their helpful insights and feedback greatly contributed to its value. The findings and conclusions of this study are entirely those of The Conference Board of Canada. Any errors or omissions in fact or interpretation remain the sole responsibility of The Conference Board of Canada. About the Centre The Conference Board of Canada s Centre for Skills and Post-Secondary Education (SPSE) is a major five-year initiative that examines the advanced skills and education challenges facing Canada today. While education is a provincial/ territorial government responsibility, improving the skills and post-secondary education system is a national priority. The Centre involves a broad collaboration of public and private sector stakeholders working together to think through the development of a national strategy. The Centre addresses Canada s advanced skills needs by helping to renew the roles, structure, activities, and impact of post-secondary education, while ensuring Canada s skills development and sustainability, competitiveness, and quality. For more information about the Centre for Skills and Post-Secondary Education, visit www.conferenceboard.ca/spse. 16

The Conference Board of Canada. All rights reserved. Please contact cboc.ca/ip with questions or concerns about the use of this material. Appendix A The Conference Board of Canada APPENDIX A Bibliography Canetta, Emanuela, Elena Fries-Tersch, and Valentina Mabilia- Milieu. 2014 Annual Report on Labour Mobility. Brussels: European Commission, October 2014. CEDEFOP. Europass Website Activity Report Since February 2005. December 2015. https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/statistics/1._ Activity_since_launch/Europass_Statistic_Reports_SinceLaunch.PDF (accessed February 2, 2016). Europass. About Europass. https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/en/about (accessed January 5, 2016). Europass. Europass Newsletter no. 4, April 2013. http://europass. cedefop.europa.eu/newsletters/europass_newsletter_4_april_2013.pdf (accessed January 27, 2016). Europass. The History of Europass. https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/ en/about/history (accessed January 5, 2016). Europass Hungary. Opening Doors to Learning and Working in Europe. 2012. http://europass.hu/opening-doors-to-learning-and-working-ineurope (accessed January 5, 2016). Europass Interoperability. Home. 2015. http://interop.europass.cedefop. europa.eu/ (accessed January 27, 2016). European Civil Society Platform on Lifelong Learning. Information Note: The European Skills Passport. EUCIS-LLL, 2012. www.eucis-lll.eu/eucis- lll/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/eucis-lll_infonote_european-skills- Passport.pdf (accessed January 5, 2016). 17

The Europass Passport to Communicating Skills and Learning in the European Union European Commission. Evaluation of the Europass Initiative: Second Evaluation of the Decision of the European Parliament and the Council on a Single Community Framework for the Transparency of Qualifications and Competences (Europass). Brussels: European Commission, December 18, 2013. COM(2013) 899 final.. Recognition of Skills and Qualifications. 2016. http://ec.europa. eu/education/policy/strategic-framework/skills-qualifications_en.htm (accessed May 10, 2016). Grant, Michael. Brain Gain 2015: The State of Canada s Learning Recognition System. Ottawa: The Conference Board of Canada, January 2016. www.conferenceboard.ca/e-library/abstract.aspx?did=7607 (accessed May 18, 2016). Higher Education Achievement Report. About. www.hear.ac.uk/about (accessed February 2, 2016). Howard, Alison, and Jessica Edge. Policies, Laws, and Regulations: Governing Post-Secondary Education and Skills in Canada. Ottawa: The Conference Board of Canada, 2014. www.conferenceboard.ca/e-library/ abstract.aspx?did=6611 (accessed May 18, 2016). Public Policy and Management Institute. Second Evaluation of Europass: Final Report. Brussels: European Commission, March 2013. Souto-Otero, Manuel. Discretional Policies and Transparency of Qualifications: Changing Europe Without Money and Without States? Oxford Review of Education 37, no. 3 (June 2011): 347 66. The Economist. On the Move: European Labour Mobility. The Economist, January 13, 2014. www.economist.com/blogs/ freeexchange/2014/01/european-labour-mobility (accessed January 5, 2016). 18

The Conference Board of Canada. All rights reserved. Please contact cboc.ca/ip with questions or concerns about the use of this material. About The Conference Board of Canada We are: The foremost independent, not-for-profit, applied research organization in Canada. Objective and non-partisan. We do not lobby for specific interests. Funded exclusively through the fees we charge for services to the private and public sectors. Experts in running conferences but also at conducting, publishing, and disseminating research; helping people network; developing individual leadership skills; and building organizational capacity. Specialists in economic trends, as well as organizational performance and public policy issues. Not a government department or agency, although we are often hired to provide services for all levels of government. Independent from, but affiliated with, The Conference Board, Inc. of New York, which serves nearly 2,000 companies in 60 nations and has offices in Brussels and Hong Kong.

Insights. Understanding. Impact. The Europass: Passport to Communicating Skills and Learning in the European Union Jessica Edge To cite this briefing: Edge, Jessica. The Europass: Passport to Communicating Skills and Learning in the European Union. Ottawa: The Conference Board of Canada, 2016. 2016 The Conference Board of Canada* Published in Canada All rights reserved Agreement No. 40063028 *Incorporated as AERIC Inc. An accessible version of this document for the visually impaired is available upon request. Accessibility Officer, The Conference Board of Canada Tel.: 613-526-3280 or 1-866-711-2262 E-mail: accessibility@conferenceboard.ca The Conference Board of Canada and the torch logo are registered trademarks of The Conference Board, Inc. Forecasts and research often involve numerous assumptions and data sources, and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. This information is not intended as specific investment, accounting, legal, or tax advice. The findings and conclusions of this report do not necessarily reflect the views of the external reviewers, advisors, or investors. Any errors or omissions in fact or interpretation remain the sole responsibility of the Conference Board of Canada. 255 Smyth Road, Ottawa ON K1H 8M7 Canada Tel. 613-526-3280 Fax 613-526-4857 Inquiries 1-866-711-2262 conferenceboard.ca PUBLICATION 8053 8054 PRICE: Complimentary