International ECVET Experts Conference: ‘Validation of non-formal & informal learning – Exchange of countries’ experiences’ – documentation available online

The second international ECVET experts conference took place on 9 November 2016 in Vienna and was organised in cooperation between the National Agency Erasmus+ Education (OeAD) and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education.

Aim of the conference was to explore the synergies between ECVET and validation or more specifically, how ECVET principles (such as structuring qualifications in smaller components or units of learning outcomes that can be assessed individually) can support validation of non-formal and informal learning in VET.

The event attracted participants from 24 countries. Søren Kristensen in his capacity as an external expert to the ECVET Secretariat highlighted current European tendencies. The Austrian Federal Ministry of Education introduced the Austrian validation strategy for the very first time in public. A representative from Switzerland demonstrated that, even though the country does not belong to the European Union, national practices as to validation are closely related to ECVET principles. Speakers from Finland, The Netherlands and France gave insight into their countries’ experiences as to validation of non-formal and informal learning.

Karin Luomi-Messerer (3s), as a member of the Austrian team of ECVET experts, moderated the conference.

The documentation of the conference (presentations, further documents and photos) is now available online.

Picture © OeAD/Franz