Study on obstacles to recognition of skills and qualifications : executive summary

This study has reviewed a wide range of empirical evidence from across the European Union in order to clarify the practical obstacles to the recognition of skills and qualifications and their underlying causes, and explore existing and potential solutions at both EU and national level to ensure a fair, efficient and effective recognition of skills and qualifications. The study methodology was designed specifically to capture the perspectives of a wide range of stakeholders - including employers in non-regulated professions, education and training providers outside formal higher education, intermediary organisations and individuals - through a combination of desk research, interviews, surveys, focus groups and input from high-level mobility experts at both EU level and in the 13 countries selected for in-depth review: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and the UK.