European policies on lifelong learning and the use of EQF, Europass and Counseling in Higher Education Institutions in Greece

European Union, recognizing the value of lifelong learning and its importance for the development of ?the economy of knowledge?, adopted a series of texts through which six tools and principals were proposed to promote transparency of qualifications and mobility of European citizens for education, training and work. Three of these are being investigated in this paper, in relation to Higher Education: the European Qualifications Framework, Europass with five individual documents and lifelong Counseling and Career Guidance. The paper also examines EU's policy for the creation of the European Higher Education Area, aiming at the development of partnerships, the quality of education, and the encouragement of European citizens? mobility and transparency of qualifications. The results of our survey showed that the National Qualifications Framework has not been fully legislated yet and it is at the final stages of preparation for implementation in Greece. As far as Europass is concerned, its use is proposed by some Career Offices. Although its main use for work or studies and training is widely accepted abroad, in Greece Europass is not so much recognizable. In Counseling, the most popular services of Career Offices are the provision of advice to undergraduate and graduate students and to masters? graduates. A problem that has been recorded is that Carrier Offices have resource problems, mainly lack in finance and personnel. Although Career Offices offer quite significant services for students? and graduates? smooth transition from Higher Education to the labor market, their work is not adequately recorded.