The European Union is making a multi-language Skills Profile Tool available online for citizens of developing countries "to present their skills, qualifications and experiences in a way that is understandable across the whole European Union" in order to help connect them to next steps, such as services and job support.
The European Commission said the tool "helps organisations that offer services to citizens of third countries to identify specific needs, such as language learning, job consulting or continuing education". The project's goal is to streamline the connection between labour supply and demand. The profile can be completed online or offline from a computer, smartphone, or tablet. The EU tool is currently in a development phase (http://skpt-test.eu-west-1.elasticbeanstalk.com/#/) and is directed at national authorities and other services in contact with third-country nationals such as asylum seekers, refugees, applicants for international protection and other categories of migrants.
Consultants from the organisations will be the ones to fill out the form in the tool, based on information provided by the individuals. "Giving visibility to the valuable abilities and experiences of third-country nationals is essential for integration and giving them the best chance to fully participate in society and the work world," the European Commission said.
"Often, however, those who flee their home countries don't bring their diplomas with them and it's therefore important to be able to present the abilities of citizens of third countries in a way that helps them to have their previous experience recognised," it said. Connecting migrants to job agencies and services The EU Skills Profile Tool includes questions that aim to systematically document the abilities an individual has acquired through formal education, informal training, work experience, and otherwise. The tool allows an individual to insert his or her own personal data, expectations for future paths, abilities, and evaluations by consultants.
The tool will be available in all the official EU languages as well as Arabic, Farsi, Pashtu, Sorani, Somalian, and Tigrinya. The third-country national will receive a paper copy as well as a digital copy summarising his or her profile. If he or she chooses, the document can be transmitted to agencies such as public services and job placement and training offices, which can provide further support in the next steps determined by the assessment. (Picture shows a screenshot of the website of the Skills Profile Tool)