Validation of learning
If the correlation between education and employment and especially to quality employment as well as to poverty is well known, one’s qualification does not always correspond to one’s knowledge and skills. Mechanisms to validate non-formal and informal learning contribute to tackle unemployment and achieve a better match between jobs and skills by acknowledging those acquired outside the formal education system.
Validation of non-formal and informal learning also gives opportunities for second chances, improves access to education and enhances motivation to learn. It contributes to social inclusion, personal development, empowerment and employability. This is why the Lifelong Learning Platform calls on decision-makers to adopt a comprehensive approach when developing their validation mechanisms.
The 2012 Council Recommendation on the validation of non-formal and informal learning (VNIL) is a first step towards more satisfactory validation policy frameworks in the EU. It gave a political impulse for Member States to speed up the building of well-functioning validation systems in partnership with stakeholders. However, according to the CEDEFOP 2014 European Inventory on Validation, “most countries need to further develop their practical validation arrangements”.
The LLLP is a member of the EQF Advisory Group that monitors the implementation of the Validation Recommendation. It also runs a Validation Task Force with its members.