Tallinn School of Service hosted guests from ECVET
On May 22, members of the ECVET network visited Tallinn School of Service.
What is ECVET? It is a coherent technical framework that facilitates the transfer, recognition and accumulation of learning outcomes acquired and appreciated by learners and applicants in a different learning environment. In Estonia, the method is known as VÕTA. There were 30 representatives from various European institutions (schools, employers, ministries) who are involved in developing the ECVET system. The experience was mainly shared in field-based learning and how to take previous learning and work experience into account (including ERASMUS+ projects).
In a two-day event, Mr Koen Bois d’Enghien (DG EMPL) spoke on behalf of the European Commission, Graziella Grech (National Commission for Further and Higher Education) from Malta introduced the experience of taking VET studies into account by using the point system. Rita Siilivask and Teet Tiko from the Ministry of Education and Research and Aulika Riisenberg from Innove gave an overview of the Estonian VÕTA system. Ants Sild, who represented the Estonian Association of Information Technology and Telecommunications, spoke about co-operation between employers and educators in developing vocational education in Estonia. The keywords are a competency-based approach, getting from a framework based approach through qualification standard to the curriculum. The second half of the day was chaired by Teko, the implementation of ECVET/VÕTA principles in planning curricula and mobility of Tallinn School of Service. The stretch break and the house tour were followed by a panel discussion reflecting the Estonian experience and followed by best practice sharing workshops and discussions led by Irish (Laura Austen-Gray, Léargas) and Romanian (Gabriela Petre, National Qualification Authority) experiences.
The activities of Teko were introduced by Kristi Tarik, Meeli Kaldma, Astrid Maidla and Anne Mäe. The outputs of practical training were demonstrated in Teko restaurant by KK18-KV, supervisor Ljudmilla Koltšenko and TO18-PE, supervisor Kaimar Palm. The guests were pleased with the event. Kristi Tarik received the title ECVET Ambassador.
