During the 1980s and early 1990s, CEDEFOP co-ordinated a project on the comparability of vocational qualifications on behalf of the European Commission. The results of the project, which analysed and compared the job descriptions and diplomas of over 200 professions (amounting to circa 90% of "skilled worker" qualifications, i.e. EC level II), were published in the Official Journal of the EC (see EU statutory instruments). Finally in 1992, the European Commission decided to abandon this approach of comparing each occupation. As alternatives to this approach, a wide range of measures has been introduced. The Council Directive 92/51/EEC of 18 June 1992, on a second general system for the recognition of professional education and training, covers post-secondary professional (of at least one years duration) education and training. A principle of mutual trust is introduced, stating that training and education from one Member State should automatically be recognised in another Member State. If "fundamental differences" exist, individuals may be asked to compensate for this. The host country has, however, to document that such differences exist. This supplements Directive 89/48/EEC, which regulates the recognition of higher-education diplomas awarded on completion of professional education and training of at least three years duration. The Leonardo da Vinci programme can also be looked upon as an important Community measure, supporting a wide range of projects and initiatives in this area.

Irrespective of these initiatives, we can see a significant increase in the demand to have qualifications recognised and interpreted. This may be looked upon as a reflection of a gradual increase in the overall mobility within the Community. Many of the queries come to CEDEFOP because its name has been associated with research in this area for so long. However, it must be understood clearly that CEDEFOP’s work only provides a basis for recognition and comparability. Comprehensive information about whether a qualification is recognised can only be given in the relevant Member State.

There are a number of reasons why it is impossible to have a central point, such as CEDEFOP, to give information on questions of comparability and recognition of qualifications:

• national qualification structures are constantly evolving, and the latest information is available from responsible national bodies
• the work done by CEDEFOP is based on the picture in the mid 1980’s and, while it serves as a framework for the sectors it covers, it has never been updated
• Meanwhile due to overwhelming changes in the workplace, particularly as a result of automation and demand for a more highly qualified workforce, the EC levels of qualification (OJ. L199, 1985), no longer correspond to today’s reality
• Individuals seeking to have their qualifications recognised are often in possession of informal qualifications acquired through work experience and other forms of non-formal learning which are not covered by the legislation. Furthermore, the Member States themselves are only now seeking ways of accrediting such qualifications at national level.

The purpose of this brochure is to try to provide the user with a list of direct contact points in the Member States, which are capable of giving constructive information on comparability and recognition of qualifications. Providing such information is not an easy task because not all qualifications have yet been registered or interpreted in all Member States, thus many enquiries may be new and cannot be answered without investigation at national level. As the reader will see from the list, there are no uniform procedures in the Member States for providing such information. A great variety of bodies are involved, ranging from Ministries; training and educational organisations and institutions; bodies with this specific mission which is the case in the Netherlands; to a plethora of sectoral bodies in the UK. The bodies listed here are primarily responsible for awarding qualifications in their own national context. Because of this role, they are also the best suited bodies to offer an opinion on a qualification emanating from another Member State, but this can only be done with adequate background information about the qualification in question. At present, no formalised mechanisms exist to provide transparency of information on qualifications.

However, within the Leonardo programme, a project is being financed with this goal in mind. NETREF - This Network of National Reference Structures for Vocational Qualifications, is a project which aims to develop a "new, decentralised approach to transparency of vocational qualifications". It plans to do this by establishing an international network of expert awarding bodies, accrediting and/or developing vocational qualifications on a national level. This network would operate through a national reference structure in each of the participating Member States from which one key organisation would participate in the international network and act as co-ordinator of the many awarding bodies involved. Such a system would simplify procedures immensely.

A test phase involving six countries, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, was concluded in 1998. The project has now been continued through a Leonardo da Vinci "multipier project", involving four new countries. COLO (Centraal Orgaan van de Landelijke Opleidingsorganen van het bedrijfsleven), the Dutch partner, is pioneering this initiative and can be contacted for further information on its development.

Assuming that the results are positive this model could be extended to all Member States. In the meantime, we hope that the following addresses may be of use to those bodies or individuals seeking information on transparency and recognition of vocational qualifications.

Further information on the recognition of academic qualifications may be obtained from the NARIC’s (National Academic Recognition Information Centres), for contact points see Internet site: http://europa.eu.int/en/comm/dg22/socrates/agenar.html.

Information on the availability of jobs and working conditions in other Member States is provided by EURES - The European Employment Service, through the public employment offices in the Member States, and on the Internet at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg05/elm/eures/en/indexen.htm.

Tips & Download  

You may view the list of Awarding Bodies by clicking the country name on the left side.
You can also download a MS Word file with the list of awarding bodies for all countries - MS Word 6.0 - MS Word 97