TVETipedia Glossary

The Bruges-Copenhagen Process aims to enhance cooperation in vocational education and training (VET) in Europe. Education Ministers from 31 European countries and the European Commission signed a declaration in Copenhagen in 2002 which will work towards creating a knowledge-based Europe and ensuring that the European labour market is open to everyone. This was preceded in 2001 by the Bruges meeting of Directors General for Education which laid the political foundations for transparency and cooperation in VET.The Process seeks to help European citizens meet the demands of the European labour market by allowing them to pursue their training needs between different levels of education, and different occupations, sectors and countries. It will also play a key role in achieving the Lisbon Strategy goal of making the EU the world’s most dynamic, knowledge-based economy by 2010.The work of the Bruges-Copenhagen Process is currently focusing on areas relating to quality assurance and the transparency and recognition of qualifications. Cooperation has begun on a number of practical projects:
◾The development of a single framework for transparency of competences and qualifications – Europass
◾A system of credit transfer for vocational education and training, similar to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) in higher education.
◾Common criteria and principles for quality in VET to serve as a basis for European-level initiatives in quality assurance.
◾Common principles for the validation of non-formal and informal learning to ensure greater compatibility between approaches in different countries.
◾Providing lifelong guidance with a European dimension.

Source: EU Commission LLP 2007-2013, Europe