Microcredentials and EDC – Europass Stakeholder Event in Vienna

Karin Luomi-Messerer took part in the Europass event, which explored the opportunities and challenges associated with microcredentials and their digital credentials.

Microcredentials are incre­a­sing­ly regarded in Europe and Austria as an effective tool for addres­sing key chal­lenges in voca­tio­nal education and training, such as tech­no­lo­gi­cal change and the looming skills shortage, by repre­sen­ting com­pe­ten­ces in a flexible way and in line with labour market needs. Their reco­gni­ti­on, visi­bi­li­ty and com­pa­ra­bi­li­ty across national borders are therefore of central importance. Digital cre­den­ti­als such as European Digital Credentials for Learning (EDC) help address these needs.

These topics were the focus of the Europass stake­hol­der event entitled “Microcredentials and European Digital Credentials for Learning as an Opportunity to Mitigate the Skills Shortage”, which took place in Vienna on 20 October 2026.

Experts from Austria, Estonia and Croatia presented and discussed current deve­lo­p­ments and practical examples of the imple­men­ta­ti­on of micro­creden­ti­als in voca­tio­nal education and training. They also explored the potential of European Digital Credentials for Learning (EDC) and the Europass Smart CV.

In her pre­sen­ta­ti­on, “Microcredentials: Insights into Implementation in Europe – With a Focus on Vocational Education and Training”, Karin Luomi-Messerer from 3s provided an overview of the European policy context and the imple­men­ta­ti­on of the Council Recommendation on an European approach to micro­creden­ti­als for lifelong learning and employa­bi­li­ty. She also con­tri­bu­ted to the closing panel dis­cus­sion on the role of micro­creden­ti­als in addres­sing skills shortages and closing skills gaps.

Further infor­ma­ti­on about the event is available here.

Looking ahead: OeAD event on microcredentials

On 18 November 2026, an online event entitled “Microcredentials in Vocational Education and Training – Erasmus+ as a Testing Ground for Practical Implementation” will take place. The event will present and discuss practical approa­ches and expe­ri­en­ces from the field of voca­tio­nal education and training.

Further infor­ma­ti­on is available here.