Euro-Validation - english

Background

In the knowledge economy, developing and using human resources to the full is a decisive factor in maintaining competitiveness. In this context, certificates and qualifications are an important reference point for employers and individuals alike on the labour market. Innovative forms of certification for informal and non-formal learning are important for widening the recognition spectrum regardless of the type of learning methods used. This European Commission co-funded project (Leonardo da Vinci Programme) runs for three years, bringing together a wide network of training providers, including universities, social partners, consultants and VET of rural development from 12 European countries.

Aims

The key aim of the transnational Network project is to promote best practice for the validation, certification and accreditation of informal and non-formal learning, with special emphasis on the skills and competences necessary to enhance sustainable rural development.

Who benefits?
The beneficiaries of the project include training providers, individual learners, certification agencies, social partners, policy makers and researchers, especially those connected to rural economies.

Activities and Legacy

• Review policies and methods of valuing, validating, certifying and accrediting informal and non-formal learning across Europe, leading to a typology of the different methods used for recognising informal and non-formal learning in rural areas of the enlarged European Union.
• Make recommendations for the establishment of a flexible system of skills and competences’ validation and accreditation, following non-formal or informal learning.
• Develop and pilot test a learning schedule based on flexible individual “learning pathways” comprising blended learning methods, across the different sectors of economic activity in rural areas, with a view of developing a cross-national qualification awarded by universities and other training providers within the Network.
• Establish a project website for Network enlargement and dissemination purposes.
• Hold two European conferences in Hungary and Greece, and nine national workshops in other participating countries to debate the issue of validation and certification of non-formal and informal learning in a rural context.

The achievements of the project will be recorded in two publications:

• A Guide to Certification Options across Europe. The Guide will discuss and compare legislation and policies regarding the process of validation, certification and accreditation of non-formal and informal learning, with special reference to rural areas.
• A Manual for building individual ‘learning pathways’ leading to certification. The Manual will present the methodology developed by the Network and discuss the lessons learnt from its pilot testing within a rural context in seven countries.

Partners

Project Promoter:
Centre for Regional Studies of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, West Hungarian Research Institute – HU

Project coordinator:
PRISMA-Centre for Development Studies – GR

Universities, educational institutes and training providers:

• Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences – SE
• University of Helsinki - Seinajoki Institute of Rural Research and Training – FI
• Nicolaus Copernicus University – PL
• West Hungary University, Faculty of Forest Engineering, Environment and Innovation Centre – HU
• University of Newcastle, Institute of Policy and Practice – UK
• Mediterranean Institute for Sustainable Development IMEDES – ES
• Environmental Training Centre of the Chamber of Trade of East Thuringen – DE
• Rogaland Training Centre – NO
• Kenniscentrum EVC, NGO specialising in prior learning accreditation – NL
• University of Ioannina – GR

European-wide networks of rural development and social partners:

• Euracademy Association – GR 
• Terre des Riviere Union – FR
• Association of Rural Area Managers – HU
• Development Agency CDIMM Maramures Foundation – RO