Council Recommendation on a European approach to micro-credentials for lifelong learning and employability

Summary:

Recommendation - adopted by the Council of the European Union on 16 June 2022 - setting out a European approach to micro-credentials for lifelong learning and employability.

Further information:

This Recommendation urges Member States to adopt a common approach to micro-credentials and in particular to apply a common EU definition, EU standards and key principles for the design and issuance of micro-credentials. These document the learning outcomes that a learner has acquired following a small volume of learning. Among other aspects, the Recommendation contains the following aspects:

• Standard elements to describe a micro-credential;
• Guidance to develop an ecosystem for micro-credentials.

The draft recommendation was tabled by the European Commission on 10 December 2021, delivering on one of the actions set out in the European Commission's latest European Skills Agenda and following up on its Communication focusing on the development of a European Education Area. It was adopted by the Council of the European Union on 16 June 2022 and published in the Official Journal on 27 June 2022.

Official

EUR-LEX: COM(2021)770: Proposal for a Council Recommendation on a European approach to micro-credentials for lifelong learning and employability https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2021:770:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2021)367: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2021:367:FIN

European Commission: European Education Area: Micro-Credentials https://education.ec.europa.eu/education-levels/higher-education/micro-credentials

European Commission: Press Release, 10/12/2021: Commission takes action to improve lifelong learning and employability https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_6476

European Commission: Questions and answers: Individual learning accounts and micro-credentials (10 December 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_21_6477

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 16/06/2022: Council recommends European approach to micro-credentials https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/06/16/council-recommends-european-approach-to-micro-credentials/

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