This result (in development) created a framework for a common certification system that all trainees participating in ENGAGE traineeships receive upon completion of their training. The development of a traineeship certification and recognition system, based on employers’ actual needs and requirements, offers an employment tool that trainees can directly add to their CV and present to potential employers as a work experience.
The main goal of the Certification and Recognition system is to provide a realistic traineeship experience closely resembling an internship in a real-world company that can be recognised as a real-world internship experience.
A system of certification for the traineeship experience was created that can be mainstreamed across the European Practice Enterprise network and have that certification recognized, as possible, as an official internship experience.
Engage Certification Model
Here, you can download the Engage online evaluation forms. These forms aim to evaluate the Practice Enterprise experience of the trainee. In the project, three online forms were developed:
- Trainee Entry Self-Evaluation: meant to be filled by the trainee before starting the PE experience
- Trainee Exit Self-Evaluation: meant to be filled by the trainee after the PE experience
- Trainer Evaluation of the Trainee: meant to be filled by the trainer to evaluate the trainee’s performance.
After completing the online forms the trainee will receive the Engage certificate. Here is an example of the Engage Certificate trainees receive.
The Certification and Recognition System draws upon already existing qualification frameworks, including but not limited to Europass (© European Commission, 2023), NQFs, DigCompEdu, and EntreComp to allow the highest possible recognition of the ENGAGE Traineeship across the EU.
Europass is an initiative of the European Commission to facilitate mobility in work and learning.
Europass aims to contribute to the mobility of students and the employability of workers both in their own country and throughout Europe, facilitating the comparison of their skills and qualifications and thus contributing to the removal of barriers to study or work in Europe.
It is a set of free tools that allow you to manage skills and plan your learning and career in Europe.
The user profile collects your skills, abilities and experiences in online format, you can record all these data related to education and training. All achievements regarding language skills, digital skills and volunteering experiences will also be able to be present in the Europass CV.
- You can use your profile to showcase your personal goals and interests and showcase your achievements to employers.
- Receive notifications or suggestions about jobs that match your profile.
- Gives you the opportunity to share your profile with new job opportunities, training or career guidance.
Your Europass profile requires you to prepare your applications and keep track of your applications. Update and complete your profile so that the information is accessible and can be shared with everyone.
In this way, the European Commission helps you develop your potential to the fullest and find opportunities throughout Europe that match your skills and experiences.
The Diploma Supplement is another of the tools offered by Europass, is a document which provides information that makes it easier for employers and education institutions to understand your qualification.
- The type and level of qualification awarded
- The institution that issued the qualification
- The content of the course and results gained
- Details of the national education system
This information can make it easier for an employer or education institution to understand your qualification and for you to take the next step with your learning and career.
Another tool that can help you is The Europass Certificate Supplement, can help you to showcase your vocational qualifications in Europe in a simple and understandable way.
- The purpose of your qualification
- It’s level
- It’s learning outcomes
- Information on the relevant education system
Finally, you can get your mobility document that recognizes the skills and experiences you have acquired thanks to an internship, volunteering or a stay abroad.
The Europass Mobility Document describes the skills that you have developed within the framework of a specific mobility experience. The document may include information about your tasks and responsibilities, job-related skills, your language and digital skills, and your organizational, management, and communication skills.
National qualifications frameworks (NQFs) help to make qualifications easier to understand and compare. They can also encourage countries to rethink and reform national policy and practice on education, training and lifelong learning.
NQFs classify qualifications by level, based on learning outcomes, that is, what the holder of a certificate or diploma is expected to know, understand, and be able to do. This classification reflects the content and profile of qualifications. The learning outcomes approach also ensures that education and training subsystems are open to one another. Thus, it allows people to move more easily between education and training institutions and sectors.
Here are the key aspects of the NQF:
Levels of Qualifications: NQFs typically categorize qualifications into different levels, usually numbered or named (e.g., Level 1, Level 2, Bachelor’s, Master’s, etc.). Each level represents a different stage of learning or degree of complexity.
Descriptors: Each level within the NQF comes with a set of descriptors that define the knowledge, skills, and competencies expected of someone who holds a qualification at that level. These descriptors help ensure consistency in the meaning and expectations associated with each level.
Qualification Framework: The NQF forms a framework that connects various qualifications, such as certificates, diplomas, degrees, and professional certifications, into a structured system. This framework allows for easy comparison and recognition of qualifications within and across countries.
Recognition and Transfer of Credits: NQFs facilitate the recognition and transfer of credits between institutions and education systems. This is especially important for students looking to continue their education or for professionals seeking mobility in the labor market.
Quality Assurance: NQFs often include mechanisms for quality assurance in education and training. These mechanisms help maintain the quality and standards of qualifications at different levels.
Alignment with International Standards: Many countries aim to align their NQFs with international frameworks and standards, making it easier for their citizens to work or study abroad and for international recognition of their qualifications.
DigComp is a framework that outlines the digital competences individuals need in order to effectively navigate the digital world. It was developed to promote digital literacy and skills across various sectors of society. The framework is organized into five areas.
- Information and Data Literacy: The ability to search, locate, retrieve, and store digital information efficiently and ethically
- Communication and Collaboration: Skills in using digital tools for communication, collaboration, and interaction
- Digital Content Creation: The ability to create and edit digital content using various tools and platforms
- Safety: Knowledge and practices related to online safety, privacy, and security
- Problem Solving: Capacity to use digital tools to solve problems, make decisions, and adapt to new digital technologies
DigComp is used as a reference for various educational and training programs to ensure that individuals are equipped with the necessary skills to thrive in the digital age.Being digitally competent is more than being able to use the latest device or software. Digital competence is a key transversal competence that means being able to use digital technologies in a critical, collaborative and creative way. DigComp supports a comprehensive understanding of digital competence including issues such as information storage, digital identity, developing digital content and behaviour online, in everyday life such as working, shopping and participating in society.
EntreComp is a framework designed to define and assess entrepreneurial competences. It acknowledges that entrepreneurship is not limited to starting a business but encompasses a wide range of attitudes and skills that are valuable in various contexts. The framework is divided into three competence areas.
- Ideas and Opportunities: Focusing on creativity, innovation, and recognizing opportunities
- Resources: Covering skills related to planning, organizing, and managing resources effectively
- Into Action: Encompassing competences related to taking initiative, persevering, and adapting in the face of challenges
EntreComp aims to foster a more entrepreneurial mindset and equip individuals with the skills needed to identify and seize opportunities, whether in business, social initiatives, or personal development. EntreComp has an important task in opening up conversations and understanding of what it means to be entrepreneurial in all aspects of llife. EntreComp establishes the importance of entrepreneurship and initiative and sets out how people can develop this competence to make a contribution to economic, social and cultural challenges.