ECVET-Fitness Project

Aims and Objectives

The ECVET- Fitness project was build on the results of Eurofit-QST project. This new project had one main goal: the goal was to develop and implement a European credit system for qualifications within the European Qualification Framework (EQF) in the fitness sector, which map to the emerging ECVET structure proposed by the European Commission.

The specific aims of the project were:

• To ensure that the credit system developed for health and fitness is fit for purpose fitting within the agreed framework and having synergy with the rest of SPORT. (WP3)
• To develop a vocational credit system compatible with ECVET and the EQF for training programmes within the fitness sector at the European level. (WP4)
• To implement the EHFA verification system, developed in the Eurofit-QST project, within partner countries compatible with the emerging Common Quality Assurance Framework including extending EREPS in new partner countries. (WP5)

Background

Following the completion of the Leonardo da Vinci project Eurofit-QST, the European Health & Fitness Association (EHFA) was restructured to enable the association to become a standards setting body for the health and fitness industry in Europe.

This initiative plus the continued interest of the VET Unit and Sports Unit of the European Commission has encouraged EHFA to take the lead, supported by SkillsActive, in ECVET- Fitness which is built on the outcomes of Eurofit-QST, which produced a functional map, competence framework, occupational standards, learning outcomes and a verification system for the technical competence of Fitness Instructors, as well as the EHFA European Register of Exercise Professionals (EREPS).

Future Potential

The short-term impact will be:

• The creation of a new ECVET framework, building on previous Qualifications and Standards developed in a previous Leonardo da Vinci Project, which can be embraced throughout Europe. It is expected that this will be used by Awarding Bodies and Training Providers across Europe to demonstrate the transparency of their training programmes
• The integration of this framework within the EREPS structure and website enabling those requiring training and employers seeking to employ those with the required skills to see quickly and easily the programmes endorsed at the European level through a transparent and independent process.

The impact in the longer term will be:

• Increased mobility of health and fitness professionals across Europe
• Promotion of "best practices" in health and fitness instruction and training across Europe
• The promotion of a healthy lifestyle to all European citizens
• Improved customer confidence in fitness instruction
• Guaranteed quality of fitness instruction and quality endorsed training centres
• Pan-European qualification systems, which can be validated and assessed in a number of individual EU member states.

^{Updated April 2008}