Source: Author’s own elaboration
It should be emphasised that the volume of qualification required for a given qualification to be awarded is the same in the two cases, with only the educational profile being different. ECTS and ECVET operating as complementary systems would constitute a valuable tool by which to assess qualifications, not only for learners, but also for other stakeholders, such as employers and institutions operating in the formal and non-formal education sectors. We may imagine a situation in which a person holding a qualification on level 6 of the European Qualifications Framework wishes to achieve level-7 qualification by way of a programme whose profile is more practice- and vocation- oriented. In such a case, a diploma supplement would include, apart from ECTS credits, ECVET points ascribed to certain courses that are more practice- and vocation-oriented. Then, the HEI recruiting the candidate would have a transparent picture of his/her competences. It would readily identify and recognise the learning outcomes that are a precondition for enrolment on second-cycle vocational studies. ECVET would play a crucial role in supporting vertical mobility as part of general academic and practical education. It would also serve as a bridge spanning academic and vocational education.
Qualification Profile At present, there is an ongoing discussion in Poland in regard to the differentiation of practical and general academic profiles. A proposed dual system would be used to assign individual study programmes to specific profiles.
229 DEVELOPING COOPER ATION BET WEEN VET, HIGHER EDUC ATION AND ADULT LEARNING IN RESPONSE TO THE CHALLENGE OF LIFELONG LEARNING
DEVELOPMENT OF LIFELONG LEARNING COMPETENCES