Working and learning in Europe made easier with launch of Europass

Date released: 20 Feb 2006

Europass, a new EU initiative designed to encourage mobility of workers and students by helping them make their skills and qualifications clearly understood throughout Europe, was today (20th February 2006) launched in Ireland by the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland, with information available through www.europass.ie

Consisting of a portfolio of five EU standardised documents that capture people's curriculum vitae, foreign language skills, vocational training, academic achievements and mobility experiences, Europass is a key element of the European Commission's programme to ensure transparency of qualifications and competences for both academic and work purposes throughout Europe.

Commenting on the announcement, Claire Byrne, Director of Corporate Affairs, National Qualifications Authority of Ireland, said: "Since being launched in Luxembourg a year ago, there have been over two million visits to the European Europass website and over 320,000 Europass CVs have been generated online. The Europass CV and documents will become increasingly well known and used throughout Europe and it is important for Irish employers and educators as well as workers and students to become familiar with Europass. "

Since being designated as the National Europass Centre in Ireland in May 2005, the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland has been working with key stakeholders of the initiative such as The Department of Education and Science, FAS, IBEC, Leargas, educational colleges and universities.

Today also marks the launch in Brussels of 2006 as the European Year of Workers' Mobility, which will emphasise the right to freedom of movement throughout the European Labour market and the advantages of cross-border transparency of qualifications.

Europass will participate at the FAS Opportunities Fair in Croke Park this weekend and further information can be obtained from www.europass.ie

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For further information contact: Sarah Ryan, Drury Communications 01 260 5000 / 087 6767452 / sryan@drurycom.com

Note to editor:

Photographs from the launch of Europass will either be sent to your photodesk or are available upon request.

Europass CV

An EU standardised curriculum vitae format that can be downloaded or completed online in different languages from www.europass.ie The common format facilitates employers when assessing and comparing CVs. In the first year since the launch of Europass over 300,000 Europass CVs have been created online.

Europass Language Passport

A self-assessment document to record language skills and allow the person to assess and record his or her own language skills according to the Council of Europe's common reference levels.

The self-assessment grid in the language passport summarises language proficiency at six levels in relation to five skills: listening, reading, spoken interaction, spoken production, writing.

Europass Mobility

An official record of any organised period of time (called Europass Mobility Experience) that a person spends in another European country for the purpose of learning or training. This includes:

• A work placement in a company
• An academic term as part of an exchange programme
• A voluntary placement in a non-governmental organisation

The mobility experience is monitored by two partner organisations, the first in the country of origin and the second in the host country. Both organisations agree on the purpose, content and duration of the experience and a mentor is identified in the host country. The partner organisations may be universities, schools, training centres, companies, NGOs etc.

Europass Diploma Supplement

A supplement issued to graduates of higher education institutions along with their degree or diploma. It helps to ensure that value and components of higher education qualifications are more easily understood, especially outside the country where they were awarded. The Europass Diploma Supplement is issued by the higher education institution awarding the original diploma or degree. The University of Limerick is the first European Higher Education Institution to issue digital Diploma Supplements.

Europass Certificate Supplement

A supplement delivered to people who hold a vocational education and training certificate. It adds information to that of the official certificate, making it more easily understood, especially by employers or institutions outside the issuing country. The information in the supplement is provided by the relevant certifying authorities.

Pictured as the butcher, baker and candlestick maker at the launch of Europass, the new Europe wide initiative designed to help workers and students make their skills and qualifications clearly understood throughout the EU are (L-R) Corina Grant from Ireland, Kristi Kuudisiim from Estonia and Yanis Gailitis from Latvia.