Workshop and platform on taking-up non-formal education experiences and their evaluation into formal education evaluation

 

If you're interested in collaborating in creating a platform and workshops on  taking-up non-formal education experiences and their evaluation into formal education evaluation, please let me know.

Many countries within the developed world are suffering from declining birth rates, ageing workforces and skill shortages. To address these issues within their labour markets, both the OCED and EU have been acknowledging and focusing on the processes of formal recognition for both non-formal and informal learning. This recognition states that all learning is of value and that non-formal and informal learning are equivalent to formal learning.

This validation or measuring the value of lifelong learning requires a process whereby individuals have their overall skills they have acquired formally acknowledged. This would require systematic documentation for non-formal learning within the workplace or youth organisations, coupled with recognition within the relevant industry for this form of non-formal learning. Moreover, within higher education or universities that non-formal learning is accepted as a formal knowledge within the relevant specialist field. Both the UK and Australia higher education institutions and universities now accept and grant non-formal learning as credit towards a qualification.

Cedefop - "Centre Européen pour le Développement de la Formation Professionnelle" -has created European guidelines to provide validation to a broad range of learning experiences, thereby aiding transparency and comparability across its national borders. The broad framework for achieving this certification across both non-formal and informal learning is outlined in the Cedefop European guidelines for validating non-formal and informal learning; Routes from learning to certification. ^[15]

Cedefop also provides a forum for debate and exchanges of ideas on these and related topics.

Different Countries Approaches [edit]

There are different approaches to validation between OCED and EU countries, with countries adopting different measures. The EU, as noted above, through the Cepofd released European guidelines for validating non-formal and informal learning in 2009 to standardise validation throughout the EU. Within the OCED countries, the picture is more mixed.

Countries with the existence of recognition for non-formal and informal learning (Feutrie, 2007)^[16]

	Full Program	Partial Program	Limited Program	No program
Austria			x
Australia	x
Belgium		x
Canada	x
Chile				x
Czech Republic			x
Denmark	x
Germany		x
Greece				x
Hungary			x
Iceland			x
Ireland		x
Italy			x
Korea			x
Malta			x
Mexico		x
Netherlands		x
Norway	x
South Africa		x
Spain			x
Slovenia			x
Swizterland			x
United Kingdom		x

The Future [edit]

With increasing demand for a highly skilled workforce and the movement towards an knowledge economy, recognition of non-formal and informal learning shall become important tools as governments adapt to these demands. This is linked to the ‘lifelong learning for all’ agenda of the OECD, that is reshaping how we learn to better match the needs of the 21st century knowledge economies and open societies.

Suggested Links [edit]

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonformal_learning#Different_Countries_Approaches

OECD Recognition for Non-Formal and Informal Learning home:http://www.oecd.org/document/25/0,3343,en_2649_39263238_37136921_1_1_1_37455,00&&en-USS_01DBC.html

Directorate General for Education and Culture on Valuing learning outside formal education and training:http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-policy/doc52_en.htm

Cedefop European guidelines for validating non-formal and informal learning:http://www.cedefop.europa.eu/EN/publications/5059.aspx

Conclusions of The Council of the European Union May 2004:http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/2010/doc/validation2004_en.pdf

Department of Education, Education and Workplace Relations, Australia Government. Country Report:http://www.dest.gov.au/sectors/training_skills/publications_resources/profiles/the_recognition_of_non_formal_informal_learning_aus.htm

I'm working on following topics: leadership development around...

1. - Agenda 21, the Plan of Action to help Humanity make it beyond the year 2100, supported by the UN. Updated every decennium since
2. - The 2015 Millennium Development Goals
3. - Low Carbon Economy / Low Greenhouse Gas Economy / Sustainable Economy
4. - 3rd week of november: beatbullying.org week
5. - the 2010-11 UN International Year of Youth (from August till end August)
6. - the 2002-2010 period to halt the loss of Biodiveristy and 2010 Year of Biodiversity / Biodiversity - Habitat Certificate Trading System
7. - the 2011 UN International Year of The Forest
8. - the 2011 UN International Year for People of African Descent
9. - the 2011 Antwerp European Capital of Youth

10. - the 2011 EUROPEAN YEAR of Volunteering / To reward and recognise volunteering activities

11. - 2012 Supported by the UN: Rio+20 = update of the 1992 Agenda 21 Plan of Action to help Humanity make it beyond the year 2100, the decennial earth summit: www.earthsummit2012.org
12. - the 2012 United Nations International Year of Co-operatives
13. - the 2012 year to celebrate the first 5 yrs of Emission Trading System
14. - Youth policy in adult organisations
15. - Knowledge management in Youth Organisations and NGO's
16. - Working via Virtual Offices and the internet

Looking forward hearing from you if you're also working on one of these topics.

Skype: SvenAERTS

Rfc: A Commemorative Coin for the United Nations 2010-11 International Year of Youth

This is a Request for Comments and Capacity building on the topic of asking (y)our national Bank/Mint to mint/coin a Commemorative Coin for the United Nations 2010-11 International Year of Youth and Participation.

In Europe, e.g. the 2€ coins are also used as "Commemorative coins" as you can see in the examples on the left. They are really in circulation, meaning you really buy "your fruit, vegetables and drinks" with them.  Just have another look at the 2 €'s in your pocket as you might be carrying one of the "Commemorative 2€ Coins".  

These 2€ Commemorative Coins are always limited editions of only a couple of millions.

How about proposing your National Bank to mint a coin in your currency with a symbol of the International Year of Youth 2010-2011?

If they are not yet participating in the UN 2010-11 International Year of Youth and Participation, they might be very interesting in participating somehow.  You'll find that your national bank or whatever entity that mints the coins in your country also mints medallions and so.  So even if the procedure for minting a coin is too complex, they might be interesting in collaborating by minting a series of medallions, that you can then e.g. use to raise funds for a youth project.

On the left you see a medal that I own and that's what comes closest to what I could find which could suggest "International Year of Youth" and the USA $ has a "Youth Commemorative $".   Apparently to commemorate scouting.  We really need something freshly though up and designed: the logo of the 2010-11 UN International Youth Year is excellent.  It has come out of an international contest by kids and youngsters.  Youth and kids are the largest sociological group on the planet.  They deserve to have a Commemorative Coin.  It would also be a good thermometer/proof of how serious the adult society is about youth.

The use of a 2€ Commemorative Coin celebrating the International Year of Youth

In the organisations I'm involved with I use such medals and 2€ Commemorative Coins to "stamp" a wax seal on "Diploma's", "Honorary Founding Shares" for fundraising events, together with  wooden "tally sticks" from CO2e-capturing forestry projects.

Suggested Links:

1. as usual : http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=€2_commemorative_coins
2. 2010-11 UN International Year of Youth and Participation: http://social.un.org/youthyear/
3. List of the International Decades, Years, Months, Weeks and Days - United Nations
4. African Diaspora developing capacity in minting a coin to celebrate the 2010-11 UN International Year of Youth and Participation

On the open and free space of www.MyAgenda21.org, we can collaborate in building capacity for inspirational 2€ Commemorative Coins, with e.g. a 2€ Commemorative Coin to celebrate Biodiversity, a 2€ Commemorative Coin to celebrate the CO2e-Emission Trading System. 

Thx for reading: skype SvenAERTS