Recognition of informal learning

International experience is increasingly important on the labour-market today. However, it is not clear which skills an international or intercultural experience might lead to. Validation (recognition of informal learning) is a possibility to document, articulate and certificate different qualities of the learning outcomes that an international or intercultural experience produce.

ELD - the method

ELD is a method that was developed by CIU during the year 2006. The Youth Committee funded it in order to help young people to enter the labour market.ELD is a shortening for Experience – Learning – Description. The words describe the different steps in the method. The participants first describe different challenging situations. Then they analyse it together with a coordinator. The work results in a certificate. The purpose is to connect real competence with concrete occurrences.

Objectives

CIU wants to increase the value of informal skills and support youths to communicate their competence. The aim is to create a method in which the individual explores and formulates the competences she/he has developed through participation in an international youth exchange. The project can be divided in following objectives:

• create a cross-sectoral social network with the interest of increasing the value of informal competence

• create a method that will make visible and express social competence related to international experiences

• introduce the method of validation to organisers of international youth exchanges

 

The value of validation

The employers are offered a standardised method of illustrating a social intercultural competence. The person in search of work presents a more specified competence and is supported in her/his communication of experiences. Organisers of international youth exchange might use validation for evaluation of quality and in the development of activities. Validated informal competence will be complementary to formal competence.

 

Structure of project

Phase one (September 2005 – December 2005): mapping out previous and progressing works of validation and evaluation within voluntary youth work. The results will be presented at www.ciu.se/validering. Phase two (November 2005 – June 2006): together with a consultative group will CIU create a method for validation/recognition of intercultural competence. Phase three (September 2006): presentation of project. The presentation takes place at a seminar in which a manual of validation of international experiences is launched. If demanded the manual can be complemented by introduction lectures.

The consultative group consist of twenty representatives from the public and private sectors. The consultative group meets four times during the project, first meeting takes place in Stockholm the 6th of December. A broad network will be continuously informed through newsletters, theme-breakfasts and seminars.

For more information please contact:

 

Terese Raymond
T: +46 8 4408784
M: +46 735 925495
E-mail: terese.raymond@ciu.se