Validation of non formal and informal learning : the French Model Michel Feutrie Université de Lille 1

Three historical steps 1985 : validation for access to universities 1992 : validation for credits or units 2002 : validation for a qualification

1985 : Validation for access A decree authorising access to all levels of higher education on the basis of prior learning and/or personal and professional experience In 2005, universities examined application forms and gave a positive answer to These arrangements are still alive and can be part of the VAE process

1992 : Validation for credits A law in 1992 and decrees signed by four ministries : Education (1993), Higher Education (1993) Agriculture (1993) and Youth and Sports (1999) Allowing vocational training institutions or universities to award credits on the basis of professional experience At least a five years work experience was required It was not possible for the jury to award a full diploma, candidates had to participate in at least one module or unit This law is replaced by the 2002 law

2002 : Validation for a qualification A law and two decrees : - A general one for all learning ans training organisations - A specific one for HE institutions

The 4 pillars of the 2002 French framework

1 A new right for individuals - They can claim for validation of their experience, if they have been in paid, unpaid or voluntary employment or activity for at least 3 years - Learning and training organisations have to give them an answer

2 A new road towards qualifications Learning and training organisations are allowed to award a full qualification (degree, diploma, certificate) on the basis of individual experience, By this way VAE is opening up a new road towards qualifications by comparison with schooling, apprenticeship, or further education, which no longer calls for learning or training

Learning and training are no longer the only road leading to a qualification What is essential now is what you assess? Which competences does the validation process guarantee?

3 A global approach of experience The whole experience of an individual, and not only professional/work experience, should be taken into account.

4 All qualifications are concerned : - state diplomas - qualifications awarded by accredited organisations - professional certificates/diplomas awarded by professional organisations These qualifications must be registered in a national list (Répertoire National des certifications professionnelles) established by a new State Commission (Commission Nationale de la Certification Professionnelle)

Process and arrangements

A 4 or 5 steps process Reception, general information on VAE and orientation towards the learning and training organisation offering the most appropriate qualification regarding the candidate’s project Verification of coherence with formal requirements and of the opportunity of the demand Preparation of the « dossier » or production of the evidences required by the institution in charge of validation Interview by a jury and decision If the jury awards part of a qualification, propositions concerning complements must be provided by the jury to the candidate

A « system » emerging Arrangements concerning information and orientation have been set up in order to cover the whole territory (creation of « Points relais conseil » in each big town Concerted approach between ministries Financing: by Regions, ministries or companies Commissions dealing with this issue at State or regional level or national (social partners) or sectorial level (companies) Evaluation process, reports,…

Main results

2005 Results for ministries dossiers received dossiers accepted dossiers examined by jurys qualifications fully awarded

An opportunity for individuals A recognition, a valorisation for themselves, their family, their company,… Acquisition of an official recognition, of something which is socially and professionally identified A help to become more conscious of what they have learnt, to become aware of their potential A help to direct their personal and professional route Results in terms of remuneration, promotion, advancement, re-employment,…

An opportunity for companies 3 logics involved in VAE process VAE : a tool for the management of competences VAE : a tool for an external staff evaluation in order to organise professional routes (internal or external) VAE : a tool for thinking learning and training policies on another way

Management of competences Organise internal and external mobility : from designing professional routes to organisation of « social plans » Bring up teams or groups to professional standards Make more coherent levels of qualification in teams Increase the recognition of experienced employees or those without qualification, or considered as low qualified Focus on key occupations ….

New way of evaluation Validation can be considered as an external way of staff evaluation, which can be considered as complementary and independent comparatively with usual means of evaluation in the company Links with the professional interview or competences appraisal Legibility and transportability Identification of potentials among staff

New approach for training Individualisation of routes Reduction of the duration of learning and training courses New formative approaches, far away from traditional courses Necessity of a shared approach between the individual, his/her company or organisation and the learning or training institution

Five effects

Inversion of the logic of evaluation An individual centred approach A developmental logic Re-write our descriptive documents A global approach and a process thought as continuous

Which perspectives ?

The current results demonstrates a real improvement from ministries, social partners, a large part of learning and training institutions, a real interest from population, but What about the future of this framework ? What about the acceptation by companies, by recruiters of the results of validation? What about resistant learning and training institutions ? Which support coming from other European countries ?

My view is that : - We will move progressively from an individual to a collective demand, depending of the inclusion of this procedure in human resources policies in companies - We will move from a « one shot » approach, to a recurrent approach as the first step of each training or learning period on a lifelong return between work and training

To conclude VAE gave us the opportunity to develop a « full size » experience on validation of non formal and informal learning This obliged institutions, organisations, companies and also individuals to think differently It is time now to work on information gathered through analysis, surveys, reports,… Confrontation with European colleagues is necessary, their questions, doubts, critics are very useful if we want to think about new developments