I’m learning anyway, -where & -how!

1. European Union European Union I’m learning anyway, -where & -how! Valuation of Prior Learning in Europe Ruud Duvekot Professor ‘valuing learning & valuation of prior learning’ Limerick, National Irish Seminar, February 16, 2007

2. European Union content • Setting the scene • Learning cultures & the learning triangle • Effects of VPL • How’s Europe doing? • conclusions European Union

3. European Union Statements on VPL 1.The Glass is Half Full!2. One always learns3. There’s always good practice out there!4. Two perspectives: summative & formative5. It’s about me, us and them What’s new? It’s my career and my output! European Union

4. European Union Goals of VPL Societal purpose of VPL1. Economical: transition to the learning society, employability2. Social: social cohesion and empowerment 3. Educational: enjoyabilityand learning made-to-measure European Union

5. European Union Terminology RPL, APL, APEL, PLAR, …. it’s all VPL : Validation & Valuation of Prior Learning Learning outcomes : • Personal output • Professional output • Educational output A competency is to know how to act in a certain way. Whether someone is competent comes clear from the act. European Union

6. European Union The playing field Reality is that … • The labour market has qualitative and quantitative problems, • traditional solutions don’t work. What to do? • New division of responsibilities • Create knowledge circulation • And what about myself? European Union

7. European Union The players The learning triangle • me: the learning individual (21+) • us: the learning organisation • them: the learning knowledge infrastructure 4. ours: facilitators (authorities, social partners) European Union

8. European Union Valuation Valuation of Prior Learning is … • The process of assessing and matching personal competencies within the social-economic context • Validating me in the learning system • offering personal development-strategies • creating the learning triangleindividual/organisation/learning system • VPL is win-win-win European Union

9. European Union VPL mindset Use of VPL in the learning system: • intake (access) • throughtake (partial certification) • outtake (diploma) • life take (update/upgrade) And (in real life) arranging my opportunities results of VPL: • advice (30%) • certification (40%) • careersteps (30%) European Union

10. European Union Total-VPL Total-VPLis the integral process of ….1. Awareness2. Recognition of competences 3. Valuation/validation of competences4. Development of competences5. Embedding VPL (HRM, VET/HE) European Union

11. European Union targets Targets of VPLIndividual: stimulating self-investment in learning organisation: (a) facilitating self-investment and (b) articulation of compentencies system: learning (matching) made to measure midterm-effect: turning learning into employabilityend-effect: turning employability into enjoyability

12. European Union Effects (1) Positive effects of VPL: • on recruitment of staff • Keeping/making me motivated & dynamic • on updating & upgrading personnel • on outplacement & creating rolemodels • development of human capital accounting • financial benefits • empowerment of targetgroups • creating a ‘listening’ learningsystem European Union

13. European Union Effects (2) negative effects of VPL: • Lack of possibilities for learning made-to-measure • Rigid legislation • Fear of poaching and salary-demands • intransparancy of quality of VPL-suppliers • Making it look too easy European Union

14. Present situation The Learning Triangle The Knowledge Society (at present) individual organisation knowledgeinfrastructure authorities & social partners

15. European Union Future situation The Learning Triangle The Learning Society (future) European Union individual organisation Knowledge infrastructure authorities & social partners

16. European Union Meanwhile in Europe Policy in Europe “The common principles for accreditation of non-formal and informal learning” (2004): 1.Purpose is validation of any learning outcome 2. Validation is individual and voluntary3. Institutions and stakeholders facilitate individuals4. Transparancy of services and quality-control5. Independent assessment6. Validation is an integral process European Union

17. European Union Europe’s committment

18. European Union Europe’s usage

19. European Union An example Example: HvA bachelor ‘social-legal advisor’ Some competencies: • Implementing laws and regulations • Informing citizens on rights, appeal, etc. • Assisting clients and representing them • Supporting professionals and volunteers Examples of learning outcomes as proof: • Case-reports, ….. • PR-plans, ….. • Appeals , ….. • Coaching programmes , ….. European Union

20. European Union so … The biggest challenge is to turn learning into a lifelong service system for the ‘lifelong learner’ Lifelong Learning = VPL + learning-made- to-measure No competition on VPL but only on learning-made-to-measure European Union

21. European Union Even more so … Life Long Learning should be: Long Live Learning ‘Long Live Learning’ is about showing and developing learning outcomes (regional, national, international) in a societal context. But without me it won’t work European Union