Active areas

Globalisation creates opportunities for additional markets, access to new knowledge, networks and technologies. However, companies and institutions must improve their international orientation and capabilities to benefit from the opportunities that the world economy has to offer.
For greater mobility and better transparancy the educational systems, the Centres of Expertise and Colo are active in the following areas:

International Credential Evaluation (IDW)

Colo has the legal task to evaluate foreign diplomas in comparison to the qualifications at the level of senior secondary vocational education. For a more branch-specific evaluation the Centre of Expertise of this branch can be contacted. For more information, visit idw.nl

National Reference Point (NRP)

Colo has been appointed as National Reference Point by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. NRP Netherlands is part of a European network of NRPs, aimed at increasing the transparency of national qualifications and improving labour and study mobility within the European Union. The NRP draws up Europass Certificate Supplements, a description of the diploma at the level of senior secondary VET. Employers and educational institutes in the Netherlands and abroad get a better view on what the Dutch education and training program entails. They can be downloaded for free from the National Reference Point website.

European Qualifications Framework (EQF)

The EQF is a translation device to relate different countries' national qualification systems to a common European reference framework. The EQF was adopted by the European Parliament and Council in 2008. The Centres of Expertise and Colo contribute to the implementation of the EQF in the Netherlands.

International Practice Placement (IBPV)

The Centres of Expertise have the legal task to accredit training firms inside and outside the Netherlands. Moreover, Centres of Expertise stimulate students to do a work placement abroad. The workplacement project is an example of this.

The website Workplacement supports companies in finding the right Dutch trainee, preparing staff for an international work placement and by offering on-line guidance and assessment tools during the placement. Students will find here useful information for preparing an international work placement. For colleges this website provides checklists and instruments to develop policy on international exchanges.

Europass

Europass is a mobility tool. It consists of five documents which help to show skills and competences in a clear and unambiguous way. The basis of Europass is the Curriculum Vitae which can be supplemented with documents relating to language skills, international work placements an qualifications.

Support to Vocational Education World Wide

Several Centres of Expertise participate in projects which aim at strengthening the VET systems and the relation to the labour market in countries outside the European Union.