nuortenakatemia.fi

1. Youth Academy Recreational Activity Study Book Recognition of learning in youth voluntary free-time activities Example from experience www.nuortenakatemia.fi

2. Youth Academy NGO, politically and religiously independent, established in 1994 for… • promoting the appreciation of learning in youth voluntary activities • supporting youth voluntary free-time activities … by 12 major Finnish youth & sports organisations • Red Cross • Scouts • Evangelical Lutheran Church • 4H • ... www.nuortenakatemia.fi

3. Learning in youth voluntary free-time activities • non-formal (organised & voluntary) and • informal (non-organised, not always intentional) • learning through participation • ”life skills”, such as: • co-operation & team work • communication • commitment • problem solving • in this context, the task of the youth worker/leader is to make young people aware of the learning that has taken place! www.nuortenakatemia.fi

4. Significance to employers or formal education? • Key competencies that are rarely learnt in formal education • Comparable to work experience (but not paid, no certificates) • It is important to raise awareness • Documentation and recognition should be voluntary! (both for young people & employers etc.) www.nuortenakatemia.fi

5. Recreational Activity Study Book • Makes the learning visible for young people • Documentation, not assessment • Main point is awareness • Young people should have the right to benefit from their experiences when applying for education or a job • the Study Book can be a supplement to CV www.nuortenakatemia.fi

6. Recreational Activity Study Book • for all young people over 13 years • entries from all experiences outside formal education • tool for making the learning visible both for young people and adults (employers, teachers etc.) • over 70 000 study book owners in Finland • 250 formal educational institutions value the entries in the book • price: 6 e • official & financial support from: • Finnish Ministry of Education & Culture • Private companies www.nuortenakatemia.fi

7. Recreational Activity Study Book 250 educational institutions in co-operation: • All fields of education • vocational education institutions • polytechnics • universities The entries in the study book can be recognised: • when applying to education • as a part of the education No direct credits. The recognition by an educational institution is always personal and case-sensitive! www.nuortenakatemia.fi

8. Recreational Activity Study Book Employers’ perceptions • Over 25 % of Study Book users think that the entries in the book have helped them in finding a summer job • Employers’ organisations have encouraged their members to take into account learning experiences outside formal education or work • In the case of young people, Recreational Activity Study Book can help in showing what they have done Again: No direct credits. The recognition by an employer is always personal and case-sensitive! www.nuortenakatemia.fi

9. Recreational Activity Study Book The message to young people: • good tool for making all the learning experiences visible => non-formal learning CV • it can also be useful when applying for further education or a job The message to employers: • good tool for assessing the job-seeker’s activity and commitment • young people learn valuable key skills/competencies in voluntary activities The message to formal educational institutions: • good tool for assessing the applicant’s experience relevant to the particular field of education • youth & sport NGOs offer a good learning environment that can be used as complementary or supportive to formal education www.nuortenakatemia.fi

10. THANKS FOR LISTENING Youth Academy Recreational Activity Study Book lauri.savisaari@nuortenakatemia.fi toimisto@nuortenakatemia.fi www.nuortenakatemia.fi