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Inclusion in Mobility – the LbL20 Conference New Europass makes skills visible

“The new Europass is a European web service on lifelong learning and career planning for citizens.

The Learning by Leaving Conference 2020 – a joint conference for Eures, Eurodesk, Europass and Its main aim is to make visible and further strengthen skills acquired in different ways,” explains Mika

Euroguidance continued the series that aims to establish closer cooperation between the networks Launikari, who worked as an expert on career guidance and international mobility in the Europass

through regular exchange of information, best practices and peer learning. In times of lockdown due to project.

Covid-19, the Austrian organizers were faced with a sudden decision, and opted to go ahead with the

planned conference as a virtual meeting on June 4–5, 2020.

The idea with Europass is that users themselves Europass has a section for digitally signed

define the learning experiences that are important to credentials, such as diplomas, certificates and

“No one is a system error and every person, them and identify what they have gained from these references. These are verified digitally using a

regardless of gender, color, religion, origin, skin color, experiences. The described skills may have been method that excludes fake or forged documents. This

disability or sexual orientation, should have a chance

to find their calling.” acquired through formal, non-formal or informal increases the reliability of the documents and makes

learning. Evidence of the skills can be provided their handling between countries easier in processes

More than 120 colleagues from over 30 countries through merits and work samples compiled in a digital such as applying for a training placement or a job

entered into discussions during this 2-day virtual portfolio. The skills described in the personal abroad.

conference. When asked about the most important Europass profile can, for instance, be used to draw up

aspects to consider in order to achieve the overall a CV. Moreover, Europass has been designed to be

goal of “inclusion in mobility”, members of the four as intuitive to use as possible – even a less Launch

European mobility networks identified “cooperation”

as the most prominent starting point. experienced web user will easily learn the logic and

dynamics of the service.

The new Europass will be launched in July 2020. You

can read more about the Europass project website on

the European Commission’s Futurium service. For

LbL20 Zoom “family picture” European dimension

more detailed information on the new Europass,

contact your national Europass Centre.

Europass promotes international mobility. The service

The focus of the 2020 conference was inclusion in provides access to study places, training placements,

mobility, a topic that will also be at the heart of the new

Erasmus programme period. In her opening speech voluntary work and vacancies in different countries,

Alison Crabb (European Commission) stated: “As we as well as country-specific pages to national

look ahead to recovery from the economic and social information, guidance and counselling services. Mika Launikari

impacts of Covid-19, one feeling is emerging from the Additionally, various support material and articles on European Commission

crisis – there are also opportunities opening up for studying and working are available in 29 European

some fresh thinking and cooperation on e-guidance languages.

and on digital approaches and for smart investments.”

An inspiring speech by Ali Mahlodji, founder of the © Mentimeter LbL20

whatchado platform (originally an Erasmus+ project),

set the scene for intense discussion on inclusion and

how to achieve inclusive learning and work mobility:

Eva Baloch-Kaloianov

Euroguidance Austria