The Leonardo da Vinci project EIPIL (European Initiative for the Promotion of Informal Learning) aims at the strategic use of informal learning in the framework of organisation and staff development. The project is promoted by MSR Consultancy Ltd., Yorkshire; including 8 partner organisations from 4 countries. Of particular interest might be the fact that informal learning is conceived a core element of quality assurance in the framework of organisational development.

CEDEFOP and European Commission this November released a revised version of the "European Guidelines for the Validation of Non-formal and Informal Learning". The new draft offers a more distinct definition of core terms, operational aims and strategic role of validation systems in relation to education and training. Furthermore the policy paper cites concrete criteria for the development of national validation systems in the light of EQF, ECTS, ECVET and CQAF.

Download Revised European Guidelines for the Validation of Non-formal and Informal Learning

File Title: Revised European Guidelines for the Validation of Non-formal and Informal Learning (Details) File Author: CEDEFOP Your Vote: ?12345

As of October 2008 the first phase of the ICONET project is completed. Interim results + products are available from the library section, that is: country- and target group specific tools for the validation of informal competencies, localized training concept for facilitators, country-specific activity reports, transfer profiles, transfer strategy, quality indicators, presentations and interviews in the course of dissemination, documents and materials from the workshops.

We'd like to thank the national project teams for excellent contributions as well as Ulrike Richter, DJI for final editing of documents + materials.

Not to forget all the colleagues who supported us in the development of this website, especially Graham Attwell, Birgit Mahrle-Haas, Magda Balica, Guida Lourenço, Ulrike Richter, Panos Katsambanis and Cristina Mendes-Da-Costa.

ISE has created a virtual community of practice that is hosting all the feedback and information about ICONET localization strategy in Romania. The virtual community can be accessed the address: http://training.ise.ro/course/view.php?id=31

In 2008 the new Leonardo da Vinci network OBSERVAL started its work. The aim of the project is to

• create a European Observatory on validation of non formal and informal practices and results in European countries
• Collect and update data on regulations, arrangements, standards and references, methods and tools, results and statistics. These data will be
  presented on a common format
• Review national debates and discussions, articulations with European initiatives (NQF-EQF, learning outcomes, adult education plan,…)
• Identify good practices (case study)
• Provide annotated bibliography and literature review (researches, surveys, reports,…)

Further information can be obtained from the OBSERVAL website.

The European Commission, Cedefop and the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency organised a conference in Brussels on 3-4 June 2008, which discussed how the EQF can best be implemented. The following note has been written to facilitate the discussion in the workshop 2 of the conference ‘Implementing the EQF’, 3-4 June 2008 in Brussels. The note raises the question whether and how the rapidly emerging National Qualifications Frameworks – responding to the EQF – can support and facilitate the implementation of permanent solutions in the validation of non-formal and informal learning.

Download How can the EQF and NQFs facilitate the validation of non-formal and informal learning?

File Title: How can the EQF and NQFs facilitate the validation of non-formal and informal learning? (Details) File Author: European Commission DG Education and Culture, EACEA, CEDEFOP Your Vote: ?12345

The European Commission as of Sept. 22 launched an online public consultation on how the EU's youth policy should develop in the future. This year, the EU's Youth policy is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and this consultation will help the Commission to evaluate the achievements of European cooperation on youth policy since 2000. In the months to come, it will also lead to definition of fresh objectives for the next decade.

The consultation seeks to answer questions about the main challenges or opportunities which will have the most direct impact on young people. The questionnaire will cover issues regarding education and informal learning, employment, discrimination, social integration and voluntary activities of young people. The results of the consultation will be taken on board by the European policymakers in order to prepare concrete measures to help young people integrate into society, find work, improve their general well-being and get involved in society as citizens.

Link: EU online consultation

After "Informal learning" became part of pedagogy mainstream, Matthias Rohs from the E-Learning Center, University of Zurich in a recently published (and freely available) paper discusses the issue of "informal e-learning" based on the results of an expert survey.

Download Matthias Rohs: “Informal e-learning” – What does it mean?

File Title: Matthias Rohs: “Informal e-learning” – What does it mean? (Details) File Author: Matthias Rohs Your Vote: ?12345