FAQ’s: Legal Aspects

The e-CF was created by a technical expert group from European HR and ICT Businesses in the context of the CEN Workshop ICT Skills of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). The initiative emerged through a close and dynamic collaboration between different IT players from different European countries motivated by a requirement for such a framework. Very importantly and from the beginning, the e-CF initiative gained the political support from the European Commission.

Following a consultation of CEN member states, the e-CF 3.0 was transformed into a European standard and re-published as the European Norm (EN) 16234 in 2016.

In accordance with CEN rules, a new work environment has been created for the e-CF standard development and maintenance process, the CEN Technical Committee “Digital competences and ICT Professionalism” (CEN/TC 428).

Following a voting process among CEN member countries in 2013, it was proposed that the e-CF should progress to become a European standard (EN). In accordance with CEN rules, the CEN Technical Committee (TC) 428 “e-Competences and ICT Professionalism” was created to pursue this aim. The committee is composed of national delegates nominated by the national CEN member organisations (e.g. AENOR in Spain, AFNOR in France, DIN in Germany) under the secretariat of the Italian standardisation body UNI.

In this work environment the e-CF 3.0 was transformed into a European standard and re-published as the European Norm (EN) 16234 in 2016. Identical in its structure and content to the e-CF 3.0 CWA, the new EN format provides great opportunities for further dissemination and continued adoption of the framework EU-wide.

Yes, you can. Nine years after its first launch, the European Commission continues to provide a clear commitment to support e-CF relevance at the long-term political level and CEN has been identified as the suitable body for ensuring the maintenance work. The CEN Technical Committee, TC 428, is in charge of ensuring continued framework maintenance and carrying out future updates.
Within the community of ITPE the e-CF is actively being promoted, supporting exchange of organisations interested in using and sharing best practice.

Yes, you are always welcome and invited to use the e-CF content for reference when offering services built around competence development for your clients. As more companies, curricula and qualification developers, research and services providers use the e-CF, it becomes easier to connect and understand different concepts, products and services offerings by use of a common language. However, users should acknowledge that the intellectual property rights belong to CEN. For more information in this regard, you may contact the TC 428 administrative section.

If you are interested in communicating your specific e-CF application experiences, you are invited to contribute to the e-CF use in practice- section.

Different language versions are available of the e-CF 3.0 CWA 16234:2014 publication, namely English, German, French and Italian. The CWA superseding e-CF 3.0 standard EN 16234:2014 is, in accordance to CEN rules, available in English, German and French languages. If you would like to get the e-CF in your national language, please contact your national standardisation body.