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UK Qualifications Frameworks Event - 17 May 2012 [return]
Validating and certificating learning gained outside schools, colleges and universities.
A one day event to learn about international practice - 17th May 2012, Jury’s Inn Hotel, Jamaica street, Glasgow. Organised by the European Qualification Framework National Coordination points for the UK.

The meeting aims to create an environment where participants can learn about best practice in some leading European countries and exchange ideas, issues and questions with others interested in this field. The event will be organised around case studies from Denmark, France and Portugal and use workshops to facilitate deeper discussion.

The validation of non-formal (for example, learning in work) and informal learning (for example, learning through family life), is expanding across Europe and has been doing so for at least 10 years. However some countries, notably France, Denmark, the Netherlands and Portugal have led the way and produced a national system for validation and certification. In many other countries progress is slower and non-systematic; for example it is only evident in certain sectors of education or is developed through a project with funding that is only available for 3 or 4 years. To support the national development of validation systems the European Commission hopes to establish agreement across Member States to give priority to the development of validation as part of lifelong learning policies and practices.

Through the national case studies it will be possible to examine questions such as:

How and why was a system of validation developed? How is it managed? Who pays for it? How many people use it? What kinds of people find it most attractive? How is the assessment conducted? Who issues the certificate? Is it part of a national policy framework? Where are the best sources of information on the national system of validation?

More general issues can also be addressed such as:

What are the main operational issues? Do all education sectors embrace validation positively? How do employers use validation? Does the voluntary sector validate learning? Do certificates gained through validation carry the same currency as formal certificates? Does the NQF support validation? What about the future for national validation?

Who might attend this event?
The event is open with no admission fee. Tea, coffee and lunch will be provided. Maximum of 60 attendees.

Groups that might be interested:
• Those who support development of validation in schools, colleges, universities, the workplace and in voluntary and community settings.
• Awarding organisations and professional bodies.
• Employers and their sectoral organisations.
• Counselling and guidance organisations.

How do I apply
To register for a place at this event please contact Lisa Thomson at Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership.

The draft programme
10.30 Registration and coffee
11.00 Introduction to validation in Europe: Mike Coles, external expert to the European Commission on the EQF and Validation
11.15 Denmark presentation plus questions of clarification: speaker tbc
11.45 Portugal presentation plus questions of clarification: Elsa Caramujo, National Qualifications Agency, tbc
12.30 Lunch
13.30 France presentation plus questions of clarification: Yolande Fermon, Ministry of Education, tbc
14.15 Discussion in plenary session
15.30 Close

Posted on 30 March, 2012