2.2.2. EUROPASS
The EDCI aims at two main sections of stakeholders:
● the learners who, after achievement, receive a MicroCredential and
● the issuers of MicroCredentials.
A third important target group are the recognising institutions or employers, who are not in the focus of this training material.
Particularly for the learners, the EUROPASS is designed as a multilingual tool for learning and working in Europe. After registration, it offers the learner to create, maintain and extend his or her personal profile. The system includes a CV-creator as well as a cover letter functionality. Furthermore, a directory for personal skills and interests as well as a test of digital skills is available.
Video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-192547?&lg=EN
The EUROPASS is linked with National Qualifications Frameworks (NQF) and
provides for opportunity guidance as well as for course- and
job-recommendations.
Fig. 2.3. Europass tools
For learners, the most important
feature of EUROPASS relating to MicroCredentials is included in the section of
opportunity guidance with focus on ‘Learn in Europe’.
Fig. 2.4. Europass opportunity guidance
The Document Library 
contains
all documents and files for learning and working in one safe and free online
space. Europass CVs, Cover Letters, Digital credentials, awards, certificates,
diplomas and any other relevant documents can be uploaded here.
This is where digital MicroCredentials as a certificate can be stored for further use, in a portable and stackable format. A built-in digital wallet enables learners to add and administer their certificates, as well as to hand out the address to an issuing institution for direct deposit of digital documents. Learners can also upload certificates themselves.
For issuers, the EUROPASS provides for a tool not only for supporting the students in keeping track of all their learning achievements, but also for issuing documents:
Fig. 2.5. Europass documents
An HE institution who owns a qualified electronic seal and aims for issuing
MicroCredentials can use the EUROPASS Online Credential
Builder. It
sets up a digital template for data and credential quality descriptors. The
first step is to build reusable institution-adapted templates for
MicroCredentials. For issuing purpose, these can be completed with the student
data and grades if applicable. Obviously, the issuer can also upload prepared
MicroCredential-files and directly move on to digitally sealing them.
This Credential Builder operates with a model of Digital Credentials developed by the EU Project ECCOE, which will be introduced in Unit 2.2.3.
ECCOE
How does an EDCI MicroCredential look like.pdf
One of the ECCOE ‘How to …’ guidelines describes the process of issuing a MC and is available in multiple languages:
ECCOE_How_to_issue_digitally_signed_credentials.pdf
For various information about the EUROPASS system, the Audiovisual
Service of the EUROPASS website can be consulted.
It is very likely that HE institutions use their own software
capabilities to establish a process for issuing MicroCredentials, which then
could be transferred to the EDCI ecosystem. Provision is made by the EU for
developing own applications. In order to facilitate automatic transfer of data
for Micro-Credentialing, the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) of the HE
institution needs to provide for certain pre-conditions, apart from Moodle or
another Learning Management System (LMS), to make this process work.