OPINION of the Economic and Social Committee on the Communication from the Commission on the recognition of qualifications for academic and professional purposes
Date: 1995-04-27
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: EU programme, free movement of persons, higher education, recognition of diplomas, vocational training













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51995AC0410

OPINION of the Economic and Social Committee on the Communication from the Commission on the recognition of qualifications for academic and professional purposes  


Official Journal C 155 , 21/06/1995 P. 0016 





Opinion on the Communication from  the Commission on the recognition of qualifications for academic and professional purposes(95/C  155/06)On 15 December 1994, the Commission decided to consult the Economic and Social  Committee under Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Community on the abovementioned  Communication. The Section for Social, Family, Educational and Cultural Affairs which was responsible for  preparing the Committee's work on this subject, adopted its Opinion on 10 April 1995. The  Rapporteur was Miss Maddocks. At its 325th Plenary Session (meeting of 27 April 1995), the Economic and Social Committee adopted  the following Opinion by a majority with 2 abstentions. 1. General comments 1.1. The Economic and Social Committee welcomes this Communication,  the purpose of which is to give a focus to improving matters in the recognition of qualifications  for academic and professional purpose. It is important to note that the Communication arose out of  a specific exercise concerning the links between recognition of qualifications for academic  purposes and professional purposes. Hence the proposals for improving the scope for the free  movement of students and those in the higher professions in the European area. Such proposals are  necessary as a contribution to an open and progressive education, training and qualifications space  to support the employment agenda firmly set out in the White Paper on Growth, Competitiveness and  Employment. 1.2. As an afterthought, the Commission acknowledges that the present work is a first stage  confined to higher education. The Communication therefore does not make a sufficiently wide  assessment of the current situation concerning mobility and mutual recognition needs of citizens  of, for example, vocationally qualified and skilled workers. Confining the current exercise to the  academic and higher professional areas is too restrictive for producing the relevant study and  analysis and creating an appropriate range of comprehensive proposals for the benefit of  professional and occupational groups at every level. Nor does it relate enough to the building of a  wider European space for education, training and qualifications. An essential aspect of which is  the need to see the solution to mobility problems for people as not just one of mutual recognition  of qualifications but also wider matters such as social security, foreign languages, etc. Clearly  then what is missing is a coherent perspective which sees the current and future needs for mobility  and mutual recognition of qualifications and skill for all EU citizens. For instance, consideration  of current and perspective measures does not relate to the comparability work on vocational  qualifications for skilled workers undertaken by the European Centre for the Development of  Vocational Training (Cedefop) as well as relating to the two General Directives on mutual  recognition for professional and occupational purposes. The Commission should consider developing  firm proposals building on these achievements so that all levels of occupations and related  vocational qualifications for skilled workers also benefit from further innovative measures that  give recognition benefits and open up mobility possibilities for workers. 1.3. The first and second General Directives on mutual recognition have been implemented, or are in  the process of completing implementation. The first General Directive (1989) concerning the  recognition of higher education diplomas awarded on completion of professional education and  training of at least three years duration has now been transposed into domestic legislation except  in two Member States. The second General Directive (1992) concerned with supplementing and  extending the first one through a second general system for the recognition of professional  education and training has been transposed in only four Member States so far. This represents  considerable progress but many obstacles remain particularly in the area where occupations are not  regulated. 1.4. Very relevant to such general considerations is the experience and contribution that the  social partners can make undertaking this wider assessment in the formulation and implementation of  proposals. For instance, the social dialogue produced an agreed Joint Opinion entitled Vocational  Qualifications and Certification wherein such an industrial perspective is taken and a coherent  view is given on the need to widen opportunities for mobility of employees at all levels. The  Communication is lacking a definition of the role of the social partners and other social and  economic actors at national level in the implementation of current and proposed mutual recognition  measures. 2. Specific comments 2.1. The Committee supports the case for improving existing measures for  coordinating and developing the recognition of academic and professional qualifications through the  fields of action identified in the Communication. In a dynamic labour market, it is very important  for the motivation of young people that professional and vocational qualifications and related  academic courses are up to date in terms of occupational requirements, so as to give them the best  chances of employment and career prospects. In particular the Committee sees potential for progress  in the implementation of relevant measures this year in the new Leonardo da Vinci and Socrates  programmes. But it will be essential to open up such measures to involve all the interests,  including the social partners, and professional associations, so that they can make a contribution  to their design and effectiveness for the free movement of workers at all levels. 2.2. Clearly the European higher education academic community need to have a prime role in  developing and progressing the academic recognition of qualifications across Member States. The  proposals made in the Communication concerning higher quality information exchanges and methods,  jointly agreed adaptation of training, and quality assessment would need to involve the  representatives of academic professionals and professional and managerial staff in the further  development, modification and implementation of such proposals. The Communication also stresses the  value of forums in taking forward these measures on a voluntary basis. But to ensure coherent and  coordinated practical results the Committee considers this process should be supported and  resourced at European level in such a way that allows for the wider development of the mutual  recognition of diplomas and qualifications for academic and professional purposes. The current  portfolio project supported by the Commission and aimed to design and test new, convenient,  portable means for recognizing qualifications and experience across Member States' borders could be  useful and relevant in this context. 2.3. There are a number of specific areas (for example, accrediting of prior learning, cross-border  mutual recognition arrangements), which the Communication does not give due consideration to in  developing a programme that would address in more comprehensive and practical terms the processes  of mutual recognition in practice for professional and occupational purposes. 2.3.1. In developing a concerted EU approach the Commission needs to include all vocational  qualifications and skill levels. Rather than structuring such an approach to a limited set of  measures the Commission should consider a more comprehensive approach that has an appropriate range  of experiments and pilot projects including consideration of prior learning and professional and  occupational experience including placements. This should include the results of the current  portfolio project. 2.3.2. Certainly in many professional and managerial, and other occupational areas, collective  agreements and/or professional agreements often involve classification systems and qualifications  requirements covering salaried employees and self-employed professionals. These would need to be  taken proper account of in the further implementation of mutual recognition measures. 2.3.3. There is also a need to invest in wider publicity and information for citizens generally on  such proposed measures at national and regional levels. 2.3.4. Equally there is a need to strengthen the European dimension of careers guidance services  for students and workers at national, regional, and local levels to ensure that they are based on  good quality transparent information facilities covering courses, qualifications, mutual  recognition and labour market matters. To keep constantly updated and relevant, this will require  more investment to strengthen and develop existing networks and databases, including links with  EURES. 2.3.5. It is essential that all mutual recognition measures are implemented on an equal  opportunities basis. A particular area that requires further attention and study from the  Commission is the need for third country nationals legally resident in Member States to have their  qualifications obtained elsewhere recognized for academic and professional purposes throughout the  EU. 2.3.6. It is also worth considering ways in which Member States recognize qualifications which  their nationals have obtained at educational institutions in third countries. 2.3.7. The Committee considers that the overall implementation and operation of the two General  Directives (see paragraph 1.3) should be reviewed in due course alongside the Committee's  suggestion for further proposals covering all levels of occupational skills groups in the European  workforce. Done at Brussels, 27 April 1995. The Presidentof the Economic and Social CommitteeCarlos FERRER