The main objective of MIC4VET was to strengthen European cooperation for the recognition and validation of transversal competences through the use of micro-credentials. We aimed to develop a shared strategy that would make these competences visible, certifiable, and transferable across different learning contexts and countries. Specifically, the project sought to: define a common recognition model for soft skills; create a new professional profile in VET institutions dedicated to guidance and competence validation; and enhance the quality and flexibility of training pathways for learners with fewer opportunities. By involving VET providers, a university, an NGO, and a European network, MIC4VET intended to promote inclusive, personalised learning experiences, increase employability, and support the standardisation of micro-credentialing practices across Europe. The project also aimed to foster collaboration between education providers and labour market stakeholders to ensure the relevance and applicability of the proposed tools.
We applied for the MIC4VET project to respond to the growing need for recognition and validation of transversal competences in vocational education and training (VET). Across Europe, learners—particularly NEETs, migrants, unemployed adults, and youths from rural areas—face challenges in demonstrating soft skills acquired through informal and non-formal learning experiences. At the same time, VET providers lack shared methodologies to assess and certify these competences. The project addresses the mismatch between training and labour market demands, the absence of a standardised European approach to micro-credentials, and the need for new professional roles in VET capable of guiding learners through personalised, flexible learning paths. MIC4VET was developed to create a common strategy for recognising transversal skills via micro-credentials, involving collaboration among VET institutions, higher education, and the labour market to promote employability, social inclusion, and European mobility.