EUROPEAN DIGITAL LEARNING CREDENTIALS AT THE UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF SPLIT

Abstract

The new Europass platform (https://europa.eu/europass/en) is available as a free online tool from July 2020 for documenting
learning outcomes, planning and career preparation in Europe, and serves to support the citizens of the European Union in managing their professional development. Through the Europass platform, users can create their own profile, easily search for different learning or employment opportunities across Europe, receive proposals for educational programmes or jobs that match their profile and interests, create, edit, and store CVs, cover letters and job applications, store digital credentials, share their profile with employers, educational institutions, or career counsellors, and use many other services.
Among the mentioned possibilities of using the Europass platform, European digital learning credentials stand out (Europass Digital Credentials for learning, EDC), i.e., digital files assigned to individuals by appropriate educational institutions, such as universities, to validate and provide evidence of learning outcomes. Europass digital learning credentials can be used for achievements in all forms of learning, formal, non-formal and informal. Digital credentials have the same legal value as certificates, diplomas
and other credentials in paper form, and allow higher education institutions to issue them free and securely. The Europass platform enables secure storage and sharing of digital credentials.
The free and secure Europass Digital Learning Credentials system is managed by the European Commission. The idea of
involving the University of Split in the processes of development and implementation of the platform for Europass digital learning
credentials arose at a time of a strong interest of the Rector, prof. Dragan Ljutić, PhD, and his associates in strengthening
the internationalization, relevance and quality of study programmes and scientific research. In collaboration with the partner universities of the European University of the Sea (European University of the Seas, SEA-EU) the project activities for testing and implementation for non-formal and informal learning have been developed, as well as for the award of diplomas obtained in
university undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate study programmes. Through the activities of the European University of the Sea, European digital learning credentials are linked to other European initiatives in higher education, such as quality assurance and automatic recognition of higher education qualifications and periods of study.
The benefits of European digital learning credentials stem from the rapid and reliable issuing diplomas and other credentials, their review, storage and sharing with employers and other individuals and institutions. The main advantage for all universities, including the University of Split, is related to the potential association with measurable indicators of quality assurance implementation in the European Higher Education Area, i.e., connection with the External Quality Assurance Results Database (DEQAR).
For higher education institutions, especially the European Maritime Universities, the Europass Digital Credentials for Learning bring many benefits that can be used to facilitate student mobility, build more flexible student-centred learning, foster lifelong learning, build stronger links with entrepreneurs, and build better links between education, research, and innovation.
During 2021 the University of Split successfully issued several hundred Europass Digital Credentials to participants in several
informal and informal activities, making it the first higher education institution to successfully use the Europass platform to issue Europass Digital Credentials for Learning.