Introduction to the ECVET Introduction to the ECVET Project Project

- VET Credit Conversion System -- VET Credit Conversion System -

Presented by: Louisa Pace Kiomall

ContentsContents 1. What is the ECVET project VET Credit Conversion

System all about?

2. Why, when, and how was the ECVET created?

3. The main objectives of the ECVET system

4. The main features and the necessary conditions to

affectively apply ECVET

5. How will Malta implement ECVET? 1

1. What is the ECVET project ‘VET Credit1. What is the ECVET project ‘VET Credit

Conversion System’ all about?Conversion System’ all about?

It is a Maltese Project co-funded by the EU and falls

under the Leonardo da Vinci project for Lifelong Learning

of the European Commission.

It is a sub-project of a wider European Union level project

called ECVET

European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training

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1. What is the ECVET project ‘VET Credit1. What is the ECVET project ‘VET Credit

Conversion System’ all about?...contConversion System’ all about?...cont

It is about creating a common (European) credit

system for Vocational education and training (VET)

ECTSECTS ECVETECVET

Academic Higher educationAcademic Higher education Vocational EducationVocational Education (Bologna Process) (Copenhagen Process) 3 3

1. What is the ECVET project ‘VET Credit1. What is the ECVET project ‘VET Credit

Conversion System’ all about?...contConversion System’ all about?...cont

Hence, it is about creating a system where we

could develop vocational qualifications which are

transparent, comparable, and transferable in order

to improve the flexibility of learning pathways and

mobility both locally and abroad.

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1. What is the ECVET project ‘VET Credit

Conversion System’ all about?...cont

In fact, the ECVET methodological framework is all about :

describing qualifications in terms of units of learning

outcomes with associated points, a transfer and

accumulation process, and complementary documents

such as student learning agreements, and the issuing of

personal transcripts.

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2. Why, When, and How was the ECVET created?2. Why, When, and How was the ECVET created?

The European Credit System for Vocational

Education and Training (ECVET) is a new European

Tool created for promoting, facilitating, and

enhancing the provision of flexible learning

pathways, student mobility across Europe, and after

all it is a tool for encouraging life long learning.

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2. Why, When, and How was the 2. Why, When, and How was the ECVET created?...ECVET created?...contcont

Through the Copenhagen Process the MS asked the Commission to develop a proposal for a European credit system in VET.

In turn, the Commission conveyed experts who designed the ECVET technical specifications.

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2. Why, When, and How was the ECVET 2. Why, When, and How was the ECVET created?...created?...contcont

The ECVET has then been adopted by the European

Parliament and the Council on June 18th 2009 and

provided the ECVET Recommendation document

which sets out the common principles and guidelines

for the proper implementation of ECVET.

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3. The main objectives and benefits of 3. The main objectives and benefits of the ECVET systemthe ECVET system

To support both student and ultimately employee To support both student and ultimately employee mobility across Europemobility across Europe

- through the recognition of the units of LO s that add up to a full qualification

To facilitate Life long learning To facilitate Life long learning

- through the flexibility of programmes and pathways to achieve qualifications

To encourage attractiveness of VET To encourage attractiveness of VET

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3. The main objectives and benefits of the 3. The main objectives and benefits of the ECVET systemECVET system...cont...cont

To ensure Quality in the provision of VET qualificationsTo ensure Quality in the provision of VET qualifications

To facilitate permeability between vocational and To facilitate permeability between vocational and academic higher education programmesacademic higher education programmes

OBJECTIVES

TARGETING:

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Student MobilityStudent Mobility Lifelong LearningLifelong Learning

Attractiveness to VETAttractiveness to VET More Quality in VETMore Quality in VET

PermeabilityPermeability

4. The main features and the necessary conditions to affectively apply ECVET

Learning Outcomes

Units

ECVET Points

Credit Transfer and Accumulation

ECVET and non-formal and informal learning

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

Learning Agreement

Personal Transcript 1111

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Learning Outcomes (LO s)Learning Outcomes (LO s)

To implement ECVET it is necessary that To implement ECVET it is necessary that qualifications are described using units of qualifications are described using units of learning outcomes.learning outcomes.

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Learning Outcomes (LO s)Learning Outcomes (LO s)

LOs are statements of what a learner knows, understands, and is able to LOs are statements of what a learner knows, understands, and is able to do at the end of a learning process and which are defined in terms of do at the end of a learning process and which are defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competences set according to the categories of the knowledge, skills and competences set according to the categories of the level descriptors of the EQF.level descriptors of the EQF.

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Learning Outcomes (LO s)Learning Outcomes (LO s)

Therefore, for each level descriptor (hence from level 1-8 of the Therefore, for each level descriptor (hence from level 1-8 of the MQF) , LOs are based on the knowledge, skills, and competences MQF) , LOs are based on the knowledge, skills, and competences expected on that level - which are fragmented as follows:expected on that level - which are fragmented as follows:

Knowledge Knowledge and UnderstandingKnowledge Knowledge and Understanding

Applying Knowledge and UnderstandingApplying Knowledge and Understanding

Skills Communication SkillsSkills Communication Skills

Judgmental SkillsJudgmental Skills

Learning SkillsLearning Skills

Competences Autonomy and ResponsibilityCompetences Autonomy and Responsibility

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Learning Outcomes (LO s)Learning Outcomes (LO s)

LOs in Malta are also based on the Bloom’s TaxonomyLOs in Malta are also based on the Bloom’s Taxonomy

classification of learning objectives using:classification of learning objectives using:

- Concise statements- Concise statements

- Clear, simple wording- Clear, simple wording

- Unambiguous language- Unambiguous language

- Future tense- Future tense

- Action verbs suggesting overt behavior- Action verbs suggesting overt behavior

- One verb for each outcome- One verb for each outcome

- Appropriate verbs that reflect both the level and the strand- Appropriate verbs that reflect both the level and the strand

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UnitsUnits

A Unit is a component of a qualification, consisting of a coherent A Unit is a component of a qualification, consisting of a coherent set of knowledge, skills, and competence that can be assessed, set of knowledge, skills, and competence that can be assessed, validated, and recognised.validated, and recognised.

Units enable progressive achievement of qualifications through Units enable progressive achievement of qualifications through transfer and accumulation of learning outcomes.transfer and accumulation of learning outcomes.

They are subject to assessment and validation which verify and They are subject to assessment and validation which verify and record that the learner has achieved the LO s expected.record that the learner has achieved the LO s expected.

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UnitsUnits

Units should be described in legible & understandable Units should be described in legible & understandable terms by referring to the knowledge, skills, and terms by referring to the knowledge, skills, and competences contained in them.competences contained in them.

Unit specifications should include the generic title of Unit specifications should include the generic title of the unit. the unit.

This means that the title of the study units should be This means that the title of the study units should be meaningful from the point of view of the industry.meaningful from the point of view of the industry.

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ECVET PointsECVET Points

Provide additional information about units and qualifications in a Provide additional information about units and qualifications in a numerical form. numerical form.

Numerical representation of the overall weight of LO s in a Numerical representation of the overall weight of LO s in a qualification and of the relative weight of units in relation to the qualification and of the relative weight of units in relation to the qualification.qualification.

In Malta, 1 ECVET Point = 25 hours of Total LearningIn Malta, 1 ECVET Point = 25 hours of Total Learning

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Credit Transfer and AccumulationCredit Transfer and Accumulation

Credit refers to the fact that the learner has achieved Credit refers to the fact that the learner has achieved the expected LO s, which have been assessed and which the expected LO s, which have been assessed and which can be accumulated towards achieving a full can be accumulated towards achieving a full qualification.qualification.

Credit is not to be confused with ECVET Points.Credit is not to be confused with ECVET Points.

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ECVET and non-formal and informal learningECVET and non-formal and informal learning

LO s achieved in informal and non-formal learning LO s achieved in informal and non-formal learning contexts should also be given credit for through the contexts should also be given credit for through the ECVET system. ECVET system.

This makes it easier for the competent institution to This makes it easier for the competent institution to identify what learners have already achieved in identify what learners have already achieved in

comparison to what is required in view of a qualification.comparison to what is required in view of a qualification.

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Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

Credit transfer is supported by mutual trust between the Credit transfer is supported by mutual trust between the competent institutions involved. – this is done through MoUcompetent institutions involved. – this is done through MoU

A MoU is an agreement between competent institutions A MoU is an agreement between competent institutions which sets the framework for credit transfer. which sets the framework for credit transfer.

It formalises the ECVET partnership by stating the mutual It formalises the ECVET partnership by stating the mutual acceptance of the status and procedures of competent acceptance of the status and procedures of competent institutions involved. It also establishes the partnership’s institutions involved. It also establishes the partnership’s procedures for cooperation. procedures for cooperation.

By setting up a MoU, competent institutions should By setting up a MoU, competent institutions should acknowledge their partners’ approaches to designing units, acknowledge their partners’ approaches to designing units, assessment, validation, and recognition as well as quality assessment, validation, and recognition as well as quality assurance.assurance. 21

Learning AgreementLearning Agreement

A Learning Agreement is an individualised document which sets A Learning Agreement is an individualised document which sets out the conditions for a specific mobility period. out the conditions for a specific mobility period.

It specifies, for a particular learner, which learning outcomes It specifies, for a particular learner, which learning outcomes and units should be achieved together with the associated ECVET and units should be achieved together with the associated ECVET points. points.

The learning agreement also lays down that, if the learner The learning agreement also lays down that, if the learner achieves the expected learning outcomes and these are positively achieves the expected learning outcomes and these are positively assessed by the “hosting” institution, the “home” institution will assessed by the “hosting” institution, the “home” institution will validate and recognise them as part of the requirements for a validate and recognise them as part of the requirements for a qualification. qualification.

Therefore, the learning agreement constitutes a commitment to Therefore, the learning agreement constitutes a commitment to the learner that his/her achievement, if in line with the expectations, the learner that his/her achievement, if in line with the expectations, will be recognised upon return.will be recognised upon return.

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Personal TranscriptPersonal Transcript

A Personal Transcript is a document that belongs to the A Personal Transcript is a document that belongs to the learner. learner.

While the learning agreement describes what the learner is While the learning agreement describes what the learner is expected to achieve, the personal transcript documents expected to achieve, the personal transcript documents what s/he has achieved. what s/he has achieved.

It is a record of learning achievements that contains It is a record of learning achievements that contains information on learner’s assessed learning outcomes, units, information on learner’s assessed learning outcomes, units, and ECVET points awarded. and ECVET points awarded.

It also specifies the identity of the learner and the It also specifies the identity of the learner and the competent institution/s that assessed, validated and competent institution/s that assessed, validated and recognised the learner’s credit.recognised the learner’s credit. 2323

4. How will Malta implement ECVET?

Through the national project – VET Credit Conversion System

It is a pilot project to test the ECVET implementation in Malta

8 partners are involved (3 foreign, 5 local)

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4. How will Malta implement ECVET?...cont

MQC is the coordinating partner

30 courses are selected from 4 local VET providers

Targeting 7 fields of studies : AgribusinessAgribusiness, ,

Art and DesignArt and Design, , Mechanical EngineeringMechanical Engineering, , TourismTourism, , Community Community ServicesServices, , Business and CommerceBusiness and Commerce, and , and ICT and ComputingICT and Computing

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4. How will Malta implement ECVET?...cont

Malta is to implement this initiative through developing and pilot-testing a conversion process for the 30 selected courses.

changing the 30 courses from their traditional system to one which uses ECVET.

Finally, a Manual needs to be developed which should serve as a guiding document at a national level to help any VET institution adhere to the ECVET system. 2727

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For further information :

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Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!