A common European learning and working area is one of the critical tasks posted in the EU’s Lisbon Strategy. It aims to elevate Europe to the most competitive and dynamic knowledge based economic area and to make lifelong learning and mobility reality. The core of this concept coincides also with the National policy, performed in Turkey, as a candidate state. It includes an Accession Partnership, combined with a National Programme for the Adoption of Acquis. The project “Implementation of ECVET for Qualification Design in Drinking Water Treatment Plants and Sanitation for Pure Drinkable Water - PureH2O” includes environmental planning and education in the field of drinking water sustainable development. In the 9th development plan (2013-2020) of Turkey, one of the development axes in its main objectives is protecting the environment and improving the urban infrastructure. Complying with this, the rationale of the project is enhancing the quality and performance of VET system improving education in drinking water supply and development. It could be achieved through promoting creativity, innovation and transfer of EQF/NQF principles in education of the main target group in the sector.
One of the main focuses is to share EU experience in the field of education and training with lack of mutual recognition of qualifications often impaired by national restrictions. The project promotes application of instruments such as EUROPASS, EQF and ECVET. They all need to be tested on a broad basis at various countries and sectors in order to check their feasibility and practical application. This innovative practice is of mutual importance for Turkey and EC countries and is a complex one in respect to the type of the target professionals, working in this area.