Participation in higher education has been rising in recent years, partly in response to the labour market’s need for workers with graduate-level skills and competences. This need has evolved rapidly in the context of globalisation and, in particular, the challenges posed by climate change and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Employability and qualifications are thus a key concern for students, graduates, employers and society at large. They have become major policy considerations for universities which, while located in national or regional systems, produce graduates who wish to be employable across borders.
EUA is active in this field and facilitates good practice exchange among its members. The Association also contributes to the development of European policies and instruments in this area through participation in the European Qualifications Framework Advisory Group and the Europass Advisory Group organised by the European Commission. EUA monitors and shares expertise on the recognition of professional qualifications and launched a Learning & Teaching Thematic Peer Group on “Meeting skills and employability demands”.
Furthermore, EUA participates actively in the current discussions related to the development of micro-credentials and the European policy response. Micro-credentials, as small and flexible units of education, have the potential to support learners to gain new knowledge and competences, to grow professionally, and to advance in their career paths. EUA is a member of the European Commission’s micro-credentials consultation group and a partner in the Microbol project which aims to examine whether and how the existing Bologna tools can be used for or adapted to micro-credentials.
Complementary to the European Higher Education Area and the Bologna Process, which develop and maintain a shared understanding of comparable degrees and protocols for academic recognition and quality assurance, the European Union has designed its own instruments to facilitate the mobility of people and to maintain the competitiveness of its Internal Market. The European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning covers the recognition of academic and professional qualifications. Others are Europass and the European Skills/Competences, Qualifications and Occupations (ESCO) taxonomy.
EUA is a member of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) Advisory Group, which brings together representatives from member states and stakeholder organisations. The EQF is a “meta-framework”, providing shared reference points for EU member state qualifications frameworks. In doing so, it establishes equivalences and enables the translation of a qualification from one system to another.
EUA has been in dialogue with the European Commission and European Parliament since 2007 when the Directive on Recognition of Professional Qualifications came into force. While higher education is the sole competence of individual member states, the European Commission is empowered by EU legislation to oversee the recognition of professional qualifications in the framework of the Internal Market. EUA has continually monitored in detail the developments relating to:
In response to the European Commission’s public consultation to evaluate the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning (EQF), the European University Association (EUA) has developed a set of recommendations on the future development of qualifications frameworks. EUA has long played...
view moreThis briefing reports on recent developments affecting Europe’s recognition regimes – both...
read moreThis briefing reports on recent developments affecting Europe’s recognition regimes – both...
read moreThis self-assessment tool was developed by the European University Association (EUA) in...
read moreIn the last eight months, Europe’s recovery agenda has become clearer. The focus on digitalisation...
read moreThe present policy input comprises EUA’s key messages for the European Commission’s public...
read moreEU policy makers are facing increased urgency to integrate and energise the professional labour...
read moreThe TPG-LRC project, aimed at promoting the implementation of procedures compliant with the Lisbon Recognition Convention, has published a guide for higher education institutions. TPG-LRC stands for “Thematic Peer Group B on the Lisbon Recognition Convention” and the project has been coordinated...
view moreThe TPG-LRC project final seminar “Recognition in the European Higher Education Area: outlining the way forward” will take place on 25 May from 9.30 to 12.30 CEST. Registrations are open until 18 May for free and to all those involved in the recognition of qualifications. TPG-LRC stands for...
view moreThe STREAM online training platform, which provides training materials based on the European Recognition Manual for Higher Education Institutions (EAR-HEI manual), is open for a second round of training. The platform is specifically geared towards admissions officers working in higher...
view moreThe Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT) organises a series of five webinars as part of the Erasmus+ supported ARENA (Refugees and Recognition – Toolkit 3) project. The webinars will present refugees country briefings for Yemen, Sudan, Palestine, Burundi and...
view moreThe 2020 EUA Learning & Teaching Thematic Peer Group on “Meeting skills and employability...
read moreIn a wider context marked by the Covid-19 crisis, the transition to a digital and green economy,...
read moreThe “Spotlight on recognition” project has launched a series of activities and opportunities to engage. The project, co-funded by Erasmus+, is coordinated by EUA and will be of interest to higher education professionals and other stakeholders working in the field of recognition. The...
view moreMicro-credentials have attracted interest as a means to increase the effectiveness and flexibility...
read moreOn 1 July, the European Commission launched the European Skills Agenda for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience. It defines 12 actions for upskilling (improving existing skills) and reskilling (training in new skills) for the coming five years. With this Agenda, the European...
view moreThe European Commission has published the first report of the Eurograduate Pilot Survey, with insights on graduates’ education, skills, careers, mobility, and social outcomes, comparing eight pilot countries. EUA is member of the Eurograduate advisory board. The Eurograduate survey is a one-off...
view moreCIMEA, the Information Centre on Academic Mobility and Equivalence, and ESU, the European Students’ Union, have published a video and a leaflet entitled “Will my qualification be recognised? - Golden rules on academic qualification recognition for students in the European Higher Education...
view moreMicro-credentials are expected to widen participation in higher education by supporting inclusion...
read moreIn a rapidly-changing labour market, how can students be prepared to be citizens of the world, as...
read moreMicro-credentials are growing exponentially in popularity, attracting the interest of various...
read moreProviding students with the skills for multidisciplinary collaboration and entrepreneurship...
read moreRefugees bring with them skills, qualifications and experience – including in the medical field....
read moreThe importance of learning outcomes has gained traction at Europe’s universities in recent years....
read more