Tijs Pijls, VNFIL in Ankara 2-4 March 2016 Validation of Informal and Non-Formal Learning in the Netherlands

1.What is the Kenniscentrum EVC? (Role and responsibility) 2.Why is APL important from the Dutch perspective? 3.How does APL work in the Netherlands? 4.Who are the main stakeholders and how do they collaborate? 5.What have been the challenges so far and what are the possible future challenges? 6.What have been the success factors so far and again for the future? 7.Connection APL – NQF - ECVET Content of my presentation

Knowledge management and dissemination on Recognition of Prior Learning in the Netherlands. Further development of APL in the Netherlands and in all the matters concerning the quality standards for APL in the Netherlands. Funded by the Ministry of Education (till 2015). 2016: private funded National Knowledge Center for APL

Life Long Learning last years less prominent on the agenda. Recently new dynamic; Employers and especially employees are responsible for Life Long Learning. Faciltate them with p.e. APL Workers spend 35% of their time to activities which they learn. Informal learning at work is for most workers by far the most important source of new knowledge and skills. APL is primarily intended to asses existing knowledge and skills and to consider how this can be supplemented with (formal) education, for example, come on a VET level. APL as a prelude to flexible, customized training for adults Why is APL important from the Dutch perspective?

‘ The belief and trust that people can also gain knowledge, skills and competences by other means than through school and that this is as worthy as learning through formal education’ The essence of APL

Video: APL…how does it work?

1.Information and advice 2.Intake/identification: Career counselling, personal aim, choice of standard 3.Recognise/documentation: Collect work experience and other informal learning in a portfolio, prove it! 4.Validate/assessement: Portfolio, assessment, compare the outcomes to standard 5.Accreditation/certification: Result of the RPL procedure is written in a rapport called ‘certificate of experience’ APL – How does it work

Qualification standards Education standards (defined by education and industry): qualification standards derived from occupational profiles Based on initial skills acquired when a student leaves college Industry/sector standards (defined by the industry)Based on professional skills (acquired through (non)formal education and learning on the job

Certificate of experience: and then what? Certificate of experience (‘Ervaringscertificaat’) Education: -Diploma -Exemptions -Tailormade program Labour market: -Meeting demands of a job -Show experience to potential employer -Starting point for development

Minister of education: till 2015 responsible for quality assurance. 2016: private organization responsible! Social partners: responible for quantity and stimulation of APL Convenantpartners meeting (ministry Education, Social Affairs, Economic Affairs, Social Partners): 4x per year National Knowlegde Centra APL: responsible for pr/communication and quality assurance Stakeholders

Quality Assurance System RPL providers Goverment, ministry of education DUO (Executive organization of the ministry) RPL providers Evaluating organizations RPL QUALITY CODE External quality control Advice on accepting in national register National Register of accredited RPL procedures/ providers

RPL = labour market instrument 2014 aprox. 70 registered providers : realised RPL procedures per year RPL is included in over 90 collective labour agreements (CAO’s) Sector funds for professional education often provide compensation for a procedure with a registered provider. Problems with transition from ‘ervaringscertficaat’ to system for education and training (acceptation, exemption and tailor made programmes) Current situation and challenges

Transition of RPL - Validation

New system 2016 ValidationEducation Labour market (APL)

RPL started in the 90ties without national regulations: bottom up approach 2000: Dutch Knowledge Centre on APL (Lisbon agreements on knowledge & innovation) 2002: Social Partners asked for structure and quality 2004: A first model for quality assurance was presented 2005: Dutch Cabinet & Social Partners decided on a covenant for quality assurance 2006: All national stakeholders signed the covenant ‘A quality code for RPL’ Succesfactors APL (1)

RPL started in the 90ties without national regulations: bottom up approach 2007: Government subsidises RPL initiatives, tax advantages 2010: Government 3 years responsible for quality APL 2010/2011: Qualityplan RPL + National Register 2012: New covenant Dutch Cabinet & Social partners: APL + LLL 2013: Reflection current situation, transition to new system 2015: Implementation new system: private syste, 2015: Connection APL, NLQF, ECVET Succesfactors APL (2)

Succesfactor: Connecting: NLQF – ECVET - Validation NLQF Qualification ECVET Validation Examination Tailor made prog ECVET

National Knowledge Centre APL NCP NLQF: national coordination point Dutch Qualification Framework (NLQF): responsible for classification of (non formal) qualifications into the NLQF ECVET pilots and project Current situation Validation NL

New match between labour market and VET; International demands need to be answered on international/national/local level; More flexibility in education is needed; Balance between standardized and tailor made approach; Balance between globalisation and local development; No so much international qualifications as transparency and comparability. Challenges 2016

EQF/NQF’s; ECVET; Validation of non formal and informal learning; No separate development; Connecting EQF/NQF’s – ECVET and Validation; Instrument for communication between labour market and education; Transparency and comparability