Europass Stakeholders Launch Event

Date released: 10 Nov 2005

Europass, a new EU wide initiative, was officially launched in Ireland today November 10 th by Brigid McManus, Secretary General, Department of Education and Science.

The Secretary General acknowledged the work of the National Europass Centre to date and in particular the development of a national Europass internet site that provides information on and links to the Europass documents.

Speaking at the launch the Secretary General said; " Europass aims to help people make their skills and qualifications clearly and easily understood in Europe, thus facilitating the mobility of both learners and workers. The Europass documents have been designed in such a way as to help people chronicle their skills and competences whether they are planning to enroll in an education or training programme, looking for a job, or getting experience abroad."

Europass essentially is a communications tool, comprising a portfolio of five documents; Europass CV, Europass Language Passport, Europass Mobility, Europass Certificate Supplement and Europass Diploma Supplement.

While these documents are separate and each has critical features of its own, they all share one and the same purpose - to help people communicate their qualifications and competences.

Today’s launch was attended by stakeholders and those involved in the delivery of the Europass, including representatives from education and training, employer groups, trade unions, state employment services and community and voluntary interest groups.

While the European Commission officially launched the Europass initiative in February 2005, today’s event in Ireland is one of a series of similar events that have been taking place right across Europe over the past year, bringing together the key organisations charged with implementing the Europass initiative in each respective country.

To date, a network of National Europass Centres has been established throughout Europe in order to co-ordinate the initiative. In Ireland, the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland is the designated National Europass Centre.

Speaking at the event Mr Seán Ó Foghlú , Chief Executive the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland said " The key role is to co-ordinate and promote the use of Europass nationally. This launch event is the first step in the promotion of Europass in Ireland to the main stakeholders who will be involved in implementing the various elements of Europass."

Ms Brigid McManus, Secretary General, Department of Education and Science delivers the keynote address at the Europass Launch

Attendees at the Europass launch

Attending the Europass launch, left to right, Peter McCabe, Construction Industry Federation and Liam Carroll, FETAC

Attending the Europass launch, left to right, Noreen Maloney, Leargas and Fiona Croke, Leargas

Attending the Europass launch, left to right, Séan Ó'Longáin, Donegal VEC, Séan Ó Foghlú, National Qualifications Authority of Ireland and Paddy McDonagh, Department of Science and Education

Panel of speakers at the Europass Launch, left to right, Ian McKenna, Department of Education and Science, Liam Carroll, FETAC, Sheena Duffy, HEA, Stefan Piskorski, Integrate Ireland Language Training, Ciaran Sheils, FAS

Attending the Europass Launch, left to right, Seán Ó Foghlú, National Qualifications Authority of Ireland, Claire Byrne, National Qualifications Authority of Ireland, Carlo Scatoli, European Commission, Ann Martin, National Europass Centre

Attending the Europass launch, left to right, Paddy McDonagh, Department of Science and Education, Neil Ryan, Public Appointments Service and Ian McKenna, Department of Science and Education