‘You have skills’ – Evidences from AustriaAssessment and validation of non-formal and informal learning

Mariya Dzhengozova3s Unternehmensberatung GmbHwww.3s.co.at

CREATE ConferenceSofia, 20th September 2013

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3s – learn & work

Research & consulting, Austria & Europe___Labour market and occupational research ___Feasibility studies___International and comparative educational research___Classification of competences and occupations___Non-formal and informal learning___Analysis of training needs___Quality in education___Transparency tools: EQF, NQF, ECVET___Web tools for education and the labour market___Education and career guides

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3s current projects: examples

Validation of Non-formal and Informal Learning – e.g. OBSERVAL, OBSERVAL-Net: www.observal-net.eu

European Inventory on Validation of Non-formal and Informal Learning __2014 update on Bulgaria and Austria, __subcontracted by ICF, GHK

Developing VET-Quality by using ECVET-Units, __ shows how (units of) learning outcomes can be used in order to achieve a higher quality in the process and effects of VET, http://www.quality-by-units.de

Valbuk: Valuing prior Learning, Building Qualifications __identifies, tests and transfers practical solutions facilitating the development of innovative practices in VET, using ECVET, validation of non-formal and informal learning, etc; http://valbuk.ch

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National perspective on validation

No uniform legal framework regulating VNIL

VNIL - a central element of the Austrian LLL:2020__Establishment of a national overall strategy by 2015__Recognition of competences independent from the learning context

National practices__qualification levels - mostly assed via legally regulated certificates__completed CET programmes, on-the-job learning, etc. – considered less relevant__measures and initiatives for VNIL developed by ministries in cooperation with social partners

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‘You have skills’ – ‘Du kannst was’

Scope: Austrian province of Burgenland__Implemented since 2012 by Adult Educational Centres of Burgenland __Biggest adult education provider in the region

Transfer: Pilot project ‘You have skills’, Upper Austria (2007)

Partnership: __State institutions, main CVET providers in the region; __Regulatory partners within the national VET system i.e. Chamber of Labour, Austrian Trade Union Association, Economic Chambers

Funding: ESF, Federal State and the Province of Burgenland

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Rationale behind ‘You have skills’

EU Context__Introduction of the concept of LLL __Increasing importance of competences acquired in nfl/ifl

Matching skills supply and demand in Burgenland__21% of 25-64 aged residents have only compulsory education__implemented in the areas of second-chance education

Target group__Persons over 22 years; __5-year experience in one of 6 occupations (metalworker, bricklayer..)__Occupations with above average number of semi-skilled workers

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Aims of the initiative

To support persons with extensive work experience to progress from the status of semi-skilled into the status of skilled worker through the acquisition of apprenticeship certificate

Legal basis__Vocational Training Act (Berufsausbildungsgesetzt)__Exceptional admission to the apprenticeship leave examination__applies to people over 18 without formal training who can provide evidences of acquired vocational skills and knowledge for a certain occupation

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Process of validation (1)

Step 1: Information/outreach-strategy __Recruitment of participants through target group specific communication channels i.e. workers’ unions, chambers, etc.

Step 2: Initial consultation__ Potential participants are informed about the procedures and requirements for validation

Step 3: Personal competence portfolios __CH-Q: Swiss Qualification Programme for Career Development__Workshops with CH-Q trainers at the VHS Burgenland__WS 1: Biography work (identification) & evidence collection __WS 2: Analysis (becoming aware of one’s own competences)__WS 3: Personal profile (filtering key competences)

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Process of validation (2)

Step 4: First performance check __ Apprenticeship Office at Economic Chambers compares the competences of the personal portfolio with those relevant for the corresponding job profile and with the examination regulations.

Step 5: Counselling on further educationStep 6: Further education Step 7: Second performance check__proof of competences acquired in additional courses__limited final apprenticeship examination

Step 8: Validation as skilled worker, apprenticeship certificate (NQF level 4, Isced 3b)

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Quality assurance

Examination Committees __set up by the Apprenticeship Office__composed of professional experts

Examination Methods__written tests__oral exams __practical and theoretical part

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Current results

__40 participants attended the initial consultation

__24 of them participated in the workshops

__22 had first performance check __2 participants will have it in autumn 2013 because of health reasons __11 participants received their certificate of final apprenticeship examination

__11 participants will undergo their second performance check in autumn 2013.

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Conclusions

Added value__Use of competence portfolio method as a basis for VNIL __Individual biography as a LLL process__Development of the ability for self-reflection: identify, formulate, assess and provide evidence on one’s competences acquired within different learning contexts__Long-term measure: new round for validation foreseen to start in autumn 2013

‘You have skills’ - a step forward towards an overall national strategy for VNIL

Measure combating current / future skills shortages

Thank you for your attention!