Theme: Learning to learn. How to validate my life-long learning results?
Developed by: Merseyside Expanding Horizons, United Kingdom.
Aim: To deepen knowledge and understanding of the methods and tools which are used in the process of validation of your skills and competences.
Description: Validation is a process of confirmation by a competent/authorised body that learning outcomes (knowledge, skills and/or competences) acquired by an individual in a formal, non-formal or informal setting have been assessed against predefined criteria and are compliant with the requirements of a validation standard. Validation typically leads to certification. The validation process consists of four distinct phases:
- Identification through dialogue of particular experiences of an individuals;
- Documentation to make visible the individual’s experiences;
- Formal assessment of these experiences;
- Certification of the results of the assessment which may lead to a partial or full qualification.
Validation typically leads to certification.
Many people are not aware of the possibility of validating their competences obtained within non-formal and informal learning. Possible causes for low levels of awareness: the development of validation is still very novel; lack of nationwide promotion to enhance the awareness of validation practices amongst the general public; validation processes are only open to a specific target group; there is a lack of lifelong learning culture and the concept of validation is not understood by the general public.
This exercise will help you develop a greater awareness how the validation process is organised and that methods and tools are usually used.
Learning outcomes: Completing this exercise will enable you to:
- Enhance your understanding of the validation process.
Expected duration: 15 minutes.