validation of non-formal and informal learning

This project aims at developing an awareness raising campaign for the validation of learning outcomes of non-formal and informal learning as a tool to further improve adults’ career perspectives and stimulate their further education and training.

This will be done by:

  • Exchanging existing validation practices and developed methods for identification, documentation, assessment and certification of the learning outcomes of non-formal and informal learning, and the EU-wide promotion of validation amongst adult education and training providers, employers, trade unions, civil society organizations, and learners themselves;
  • Developing a European strategic guide for fostering the participation and raising awareness on validation of learning outcomes of NFIL to improve career perspectives and stimulate further learning of adults
  • Initiating cooperation between relevant stakeholders, both at national and European level

Moreover this project seeks to contribute to diminishing inequalities within the society and to unlocking its full potential through the aim of promoting the concept of “learning societies” – where each personal contribution is being utilized, and skills and competences are recognized and further developed.

To achieve this, this project will contribute to stimulate adults  to seek further learning opportunities outside of the formal system, and will encourage them to actively participate in non-formal and informal learning, especially in times of the fiscal consolidation, raising unemployment, and economic stagnation.

This project seeks to support adults who may not have the formal education and professional qualifications, hence highly developed their skills, competences and knowledge in non-formal and informal learning environment and/or raise awareness of those individuals about their actual set of skills and competences, to have them valorised and comparably recognised, increase their further learning opportunities, provide better access to labour market, and to take an active role in the society.

Addressing the “Europe 2020” priorities, especially the social targets of reducing a number of people who are unemployed, at risk of poverty and social exclusion and school drop outs by offering them possibility to enter into and progress at labour market, facilitate transition between the phase of learning and working, and to validate their skills, competences and knowledge that are a result of prior learning.

As an accompanying measure, the project foresees the development of tools that can be used by the consortium partners long after the project is terminated.

To that end, in the course of the project it has been envisioned to launch national campaigns involving a range of stakeholders – such as employers, trade unions, education and training providers, civil society organizations, chambers of industry, and national validation entities – to promote the validation of NFIL at European and national levels. Furthermore the project aims to support the setting up national arrangements as specified in the Council Recommendation. Additionally, the project will develop a European strategic guide for fostering the participation in NFIL and raising awareness on validation of NFIL learning outcomes (including mobility experiences). Whilst, national experts will develop recommendations and identify knowledge gaps during the national activities that will be a corner stone for developing EU recommendations and national campaigns.

 

Source: buildinglearningsocieties/