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| Carlos Ribeiro | 24.10.2013 | European Affairs - Articles |
The European Inventory on the validation of non-formal and informal learning is a strategic instrument to achieve the objectives of Lifelong Learning on a European scale. Ana Luísa Oliveira Pires, the researcher in charge of Portugal for the study in progress, reports on the progress in her work.
What is involved in the update of the European Inventory of non-formal and informal learning in the context of the CEDEFOP?
Besides providing us with a general overview of the development of the activities in various European countries, it also publicises cases of good practices. This study is mainly intended to meet the needs of two different groups: the political decision-makers and the professionals working in this particular field.
The 2010 version was updated by GHK Consulting, on behalf of the European Commission in close collaboration with the CEDEFOP. The study provides for a description of the state of the art of the non-formal and informal learning in 32 countries and presents a set of 10 case studies that point out particular solutions identified on a national, regional or sectorial level.
What is the “state of the art”, on a European level, of these methods of learning?
In the summary made in 2010, the following trends were pointed out in the validation of non-formal and informal learning:
- the validation of non-formal and informal learning is becoming increasingly important in social and economic development;
- its role is being generally recognised in a European context, although it is being put into practice locally on a reduced scale only, except for certain countries especially committed to its implementation;
- only four Member States have a high level of development: Finland, France, Holland and Portugal. These countries have an approach to validation of non-formal and informal learning structured as a Lifelong Learning system (namely, through the existence of a legal framework), a support infrastructure for validation, a high degree of involvement of the stakeholders (particularly of the social partners) and effective accessibility to the validation system (financial aspects)(1).
The 2014 update that is currently in progress (to be made available next May) will show the latest developments in the validation of non-formal and informal learning in a European context, helping us to understand the national and European dynamic trends in this field.
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