Thu 11 December, 14:00-16:00 // University Foundation, Rue d’Egmont 11 (Metro Trone), Brussels
The seminar is organised by the Bertelsmann Stiftung in partnership with EUCIS-LLL in order to present the results of the foundation’s study on transferable elements from variousvalidation systems in Europe. The visualization and acknowledgement of informally and non-formally acquired competencies is very important on an individual level to empower and engage citizens for a path to Lifelong Learning. Especially since the general trend towards higher qualifications is reducing the opportunities for professional and social advancement for those with low formal qualifications. But validation is also crucial in economic terms in view of the foreseeable lack of skilled workers in some European countries due to demographic change. Therefore we need regulations and procedures for capturing and recognizing the results of informal and non-formal learning processes. National recognition systems for informal and non-formal learning cannot be transferred in full to other countries due to the country-specific conditions of the education and training systems. Thus we will look at individual core elements of a validation system. These are: legal framework, procedures and instruments, financial structures, institutionalisation and support structures. Experts from European countries will report on the main concepts, legal regulations, how recognition works in practice and in how far these processes benefit people with low formal qualifications.