Keywords
Citation
(1999), "Professional training; work-linked and border-free", Industrial and Commercial Training, Vol. 31 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ict.1999.03731cab.003
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 1999, MCB UP Limited
Professional training; work-linked and border-free
Professional training work-linked and border-free
Keywords European union, Qualifications, Training
More borders are opening up. Soon Europeans both the young and not so young who undergo professional training, alternating between classrooms and the workplace, will be able to both study and work in several European Union (EU) countries in order to obtain their qualifications. Thanks to Europass, a kind of European passport given in the case of work-linked training, they will be able to secure recognition for the time they have spent in different countries. The scheme was approved recently by the EU Council of Ministers.
Each person who embarks on work-linked training including apprentices and some young people in higher education will receive a special certificate called Europass Training. This document will list the various stages in the trainee's "European pathway". It will set out the courses followed, as well as the qualifications obtained in the various countries visited.
Europass Training will specify the type of training chosen by the student or apprentice, or the courses selected by the employee undergoing retraining. It will also list the qualification, diploma, title or certificate the person in question expects to receive at the end of their European pathway. The document will also point out that the time spent in two or more EU countries forms a part of the training programme of the country which is the trainee's starting point and whose qualification they are seeking.
The European Commission will manage the system at the level of the EU and each member state will designate one or more bodies to implement it at national level. The EU budget will allocate ECU 7.3 million for the period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2004. The Europass Training Scheme meets a need, given that many Europeans wish to train in another EU country. This is clear from the success of the various exchange programmes.