From 15–19 August EPALE will have a special focus on non-formal and informal learning.

Although they are different, non-formal and informal learning are often used interchangeably to refer to the process of gaining skills, knowledge and competencies outside traditional learning environments.

Non-formal and informal learning are often under-researched and undervalued, but they can help meet the needs of learners who aren’t reached through traditional formal learning routes.

We at EPALE want to raise awareness about the importance of non-formal and informal learning and provide our community of adult learning professionals with practical resources, interesting articles and useful tips on the topic.

Don’t forget to check out some of our highlighted content below, collated by EPALE’s national teams from across Europe. To view a full list of all our content related to non-formal and informal learning, visit our subtheme Valuing non-formal and informal learning.

Blog posts

“Skills” – a key concept for the education sector? (DE)

Case study on Feeling Younger by Getting Older (EN)

Football educates (DE)

Informal learning – German perspective on EPALE (DE)

Learning and civic engagement (DE, EN, FR)

Migration, entrepreneurship and informal learning (DE, EN, FR)

Study Circle. Swedish method of adult education (EN, PL)

Teachers in non-formal system (IT)

The educational stave. Five elements that make the alchemy of educating (IT)

Validation based on qualification framework: Project Match2NQF (DE, EN)

Validation non-formal and informal learning – a holistic approach by Scotland (EN)

Validation of competences in the field of volunteering based on the European Qualification Framework (DE, EN, ES, IT, PT)

Women learn programming at Rails Girls Szczecin workshops (EN, PL)

Resources

Brochure “Recognition in Germany” (DE)

ECVET in non-formal education - potential demand, implementation (DE)

European guidelines for validating non-formal and informal learning (EN, RO)

European inventory on validation of non-formal and informal learning 2014. Thematic report: validation methods (EN)

Lifelong Learning Platform position paper: Taking validation of non-formal and informal learning one step further (EN)

Methods of informal education - European experience of instructors/trainers in basic and primary education. A handbook (DE)

Monitoring the use of validation of non-formal and informal learning (EN)

Recognition of Non-formal and Informal Learning: Country Practices (EN)

Recognising Non-Formal and Informal Learning: Outcomes, Policies and Practices (EN)

Recognition of Non-formal and Informal Learning: Pointers for policy development (EN)

Recognition of non-formal certificated learning within and outside Qualifications Frameworks in the UK, the Netherlands and Finland (EN)

Recognition and application of informal and non-formal learning (DE)

Recognition, Validation and Accreditation of non-formal and informal learning in UNESCO countries (EN)

Recognizing informally acquired skills in Germany (DE)

TEACH: about us (Newsletter) (EN)

TEACH: Understanding the barriers to learning (Newsletter) (EN)

The validation challenge: how close is Europe to recognising all learning? (DE, EL, EN, ES, FR, IT, PL, PT)

Video: recognition of skills in Europe (DE)