European guidelines for validating non-formal and informal learning
The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) released the European guidelines for validating non-formal and informal learning. The guidelines enable institutions and individuals to understand the reasons for implementation and discuss the choices that stakeholders must make during the process. They were reviewed and updated in 2015, emerging after a two-year process that incorporated a variety of stakeholders who are involved in validation at national, sector or European level.
The guidelines are appropriate for anyone responsible for the development, initiation, implementation and operation of validation processes. They do not address ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answers, as these will depend on the specific settings in question and the context of validation. The inventory delivers an overview of validation arrangements in European countries. The main aim of the guidelines is to expose non-formal and informal learning and to give them recognisable value.