1. European Qualifications Framework and VPL: VPL and LifeLongLearning
- a strong combination?
VPL and LifeLongLearning
Utrecht
September 2005
Mette Beyer Paulsen, Project Manager
Cedefop/Thessaloniki
23 June 05

2. Transparency tools: pieces to a puzzle
EQF: 3 elements:
- common reference points:
8 outcome-based levels
- tools and instruments for citizens
- common principles and procedures

3. Transparency tools: pieces to a puzzle
Tools and instruments for citizens:
Europass
Credit transfer
Ploteus

4. Transparency tools: pieces to a puzzle
Common principles and procedures:
Validation of non-formal learning
Quality
Guidance
Key competences

6. A common European Qualification Framework (EQF)
Proposal: 8 common reference levels:
2 dimensions (meta-levels)
horizontal levels - “quantitative”
vertical levels - “qualitative” with
‘steps’ at each level
modules, credits, units….
a qualification ‘Ecu’

7. 8 “traditional levels”- input related
General compulsory education, primary
Compulsory education, lower secondary
3 Vocational qualification at upper secondary level (‘skilled worker’)
Upper secondary education

8. Common reference levels
‘technician’, post secondary short cycle higher education,
6 ’Bachelor’, high level theoretical and practical knowledge, HE institutions
7 ‘Master’, specialist theoretical and practical knowledge, HE institutions
‘PhD’, highly specialised, dealing with complex situations

9. - 8 common reference levels the knowledge, skills, competence, “outcome” way
General basic knowledge and skills
Limited range of knowledge, skills and wider competences, concrete and general
3 Broad general, and field-specific practical and basic theoretical knowledge, direction
Significant field-specific practical and theoretical knowledge & skills. Can work independently

10. 8 Common reference levels (ctnd.)
Broad theoretical and practical knowledge & skills, incl. particular field of learn. or occup.
Detailed theoretical and practical knowledge, skills and competence, in forefront field (HE, B)
Self-directed, theoretical and practical learning (forefront, originality,HE, ‘M’)
Highly specialised, dealing with complex situations, (critical,‘PhD’)

11. Credit transfer ECTS (workload, duration, higher education)
ECVET (competence and learning outcome for each level)
knowledge
skills
personal and professional outcomes
European Learning Credits (ELC) ???

12. Common principles for validation of non-formal and informal learning
Individual entitlements
Obligations of stakeholders
Confidence and trust
Credibility and legitimacy
Council conclusions, Dublin, May 2004

13. Main methods for validation of non-formal and informal competences
Examination
(Self-)declaration
Observation
Simulation
Documentation (portfolios, specimens)
- and combinations of these
Danielle Colardyn, (ADMEE, 2004)

14. Main purposes of VPL Descriptive, ‘guide’ Measure, ‘gauge’
‘mapping of competences ‘, formative
Measure, ‘gauge’
substitute, give rights (access, credit, certificate), summative

15. VPL & mobility (across sectors, systems, countries)
VPL should take place in a given, defined context
Once competences have been identified, described and validated up against a given system, credit can be given

16. Holistic vs. “compartmentalized” (modules, units etc.)
Do we have valid methods to describe
Context dependant ‘soft skills’
The “ethos” of a trade
Tacit skills

17. VPL & mobility (across sectors, systems, countries)
What are the gains?
Lower training costs
Better utilisation of human resources
???
What are the risks?
More exclusion in a highly competitive labour market

18. VPL & mobility (across sectors, systems, countries)
What do we need?
Better understanding of the nature of competences
A non-exclusive language to describe them
Knowledge and tolerance
Same value does not mean “identical”
“Use showels, not tweezers”
???

19. CEDEFOP CONTRIBUTION
Virtual communities to support the Copenhagen Declaration set up by Cedefop in partnership with the European Commission.

20. For further information:
P.O. Box 22427
GR Thessaloniki
Greece
Tel.: ( )
Fax: ( )
Web sites:
Brussels Office:
20, Avenue d’Auderghem
B-1040 Brussels
Tel.: (32-2)
Fax: (32-2)