USEFUL LINKS

Further guidance on the Europass initiative and instruments, as well as information to facilitate mobility for individuals intending to live, work, or study abroad, is available from various UK and European Bodies.

European Europass Portal

The European Europass web portal provides information on Europass and its instruments; it enables individuals to directly complete both their Europass CV and Europass Language Passport online, providing them with a tutorial and examples. Details and examples of the other instruments are also available to the competent organisations.

Network of National Europass Centres

National Europass Centres, coordinating all activities related to the Europass documents, exist in all European Union and European Economic Area countries. The National Europass Centres are the first point of contact for any person or organisation interested in using or learning more about Europass.

Euroguidance

Euroguidance is the network of National Resource Centres for Vocational Guidance. Euroguidance provides information on education and training systems and opportunities in Europe, supports the exchange of such information, and supports the Ploteus portal.

EURES

EURES (European Employment Service) seeks to assist the free movement of workers within Europe. EURES provides information and guidance to workers, employers, and other interested individuals, on living and working abroad. EURES also aims to support the placement and recruitment of workers abroad.

Ploteus

Ploteus aims to help students, job seekers, workers, parents, guidance counsellors, trainers to find out formation about studying in Europe. In Ploteus, you can find information on: learning opportunities and training possibilities available throughout the European Union; education and training systems; exchange programmes and grants; everything you need to know when moving abroad in another European country.

UK National Reference Point for Vocational Qualifications

In every country (European Union, European Economic Area and very soon in candidate countries), a National Reference Point gives access to information on vocational qualifications. All National Reference Points are part of a network.

Main functions:

serve as a first point of contact for questions relating to national qualifications, certificates and Certificate Supplements;
provide access to relevant information or serve as a point of contact with national bodies which hold the information;
act as a national partner in the European network of National Reference Points.

The National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom

The ENIC network (European Network of Information Centres) is made up of national information centres. The role of these centres is to provide information and advice on:

the recognition of foreign diplomas, degrees and other academic or professional qualifications;
education systems in other European countries and one's own country;
opportunities for studying abroad, including information on loans and scholarships, as well as on practical questions related to mobility and equivalence.

The NARIC network (National Academic Recognition Information Centres) was created in 1984. The network aims at improving academic recognition of diplomas and periods of study in the Member States of the European Union, the European Economic Area and Central and Eastern European countries.

Purple Passport

PurplePassport Ltd was established in 2003 with the specific objective to develop and market a generic, web based, all-sector skills passport network. The company now provides online skills passport schemes for five sector skills councils and supports the DIUS (Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills) skills coach trials.

The UK NEC is currently working in partnership with Purple Passport Ltd to co-ordinate efforts to assist the recognition of skills and increase mobility of individuals around Europe through the Europass CV and Purple Passport.

Europe Unit

The UK higher education Europe Unit is a sector-wide body launched in 2004 to strengthen the position of the UK HE sector in EU and Bologna Process policy-making forums.

The Unit has three primary objectives.

First, it acts as a central observatory of European HE and major research issues and informs all HEIs stakeholders accordingly.

Second, it seeks to coordinate UK involvement in European initiatives and policy debates.

Third, where possible, it produces collective UK statements in key areas of EU policy, lobbying to support them as appropriate.

The UK HE Europe Unit is jointly funded by Universities UK, the three funding Councils in England, Scotland and Wales, GuildHE and the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA).

The Unit works closely with the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, the Scottish Executive and the Welsh Assembly Government and the Department for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland is also kept informed of Unit activities. The Unit is supported by a large number of UK higher education organisations, including the British Council, the Association of UK Higher Education European Officers (HEURO), the UK Research Office (UKRO), the British Academy, the University and College Union (UCU) and the National Union of Students (NUS).

For more information visit: http://www.europeunit.ac.uk

Skills Challenge

Skills Challenge is a framework of local, regional and national skills competitions designed to test individuals against standards for work now in the future. There are over 70 competitions open to everyone regardless of age or skill level.

UK Guide for International Workers

Helpful guidebooks for international workers coming in to the UK, providing practical advice on all aspects of living and working. Information is included on employment rights, immigration, tax, study, religious support, opening bank accounts and much more.