Bruges Process

From SCOME Wiki

The term Bruges Process refers to the increased co-operation in European vocational education and training, similar to the Bologna process in higher education. At their conference in Bruges in October 2001, the Directors-General for vocational training initiated a co-operation process in the field of vocational education and training. The European Council affirmed this idea in Barcelona (15 and 16 March 2002). As an initial response, the European Commission invited representatives of 29 European countries (EU member states, future members of the EU and EEA countries) and social partners to a meeting in order to discuss concrete initiatives and measures to improve vocational education and training in Europe.

The transparency of qualifications and skills is to be improved through a new, universal instrument, integrating existing tools such as the EUROPASS Training, the European curriculum and the certificate supplement. In addition, strong support was given to a credit transfer system in vocational education and training at the European level, complementing European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) in higher education. These measures are to be implemented within a voluntary co-operation process, which will be top priority for the Danish presidency. A European framework for vocational education is to be developed by 2010 in order to enable the citizens to move freely between jobs, business sectors and countries. According to Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Education and Culture, the transfer of qualifications and skills is the precondition of lifelong learning and increased mobility.