European Inventory on validation of non-formal and informal learning

European Inventory 2005

Project scope and aims

The Inventory 2005 contains a series of 30 national chapters (EU-25, EEA, Romania and Bulgaria) which follow a common structure and report on validation practices in the public, private and voluntary sectors in Europe, 10 case-studies illustrating good practice and a number of synthesis chapters.

The European Inventory aimed to meet an existing need for a wider and deeper overview of validation initiatives in Europe and a clearer understanding of existing data gaps than existed before. The Inventory presented in this report, notwithstanding its limitations, largely meets this need. Never before had systematic information on high-quality validation initiatives been collected for 30 European countries, and across different sectors, thus enabling a richer exchange of experiences than in the past.

The European Inventory, however, is not only an aim in itself; its value will primarily be being a tool for decision-makers and other stakeholders in the area of non-formal and informal learning, in different sectors—public, private and voluntary. Its aim is not to provide only a description of existing initiatives that preempts the debate on validation by providing an authoritative source on validation methodologies and practices. It is proposed, rather, as a source of information that stimulates debate. To fulfil this aim, the Inventory will be updated on a regular basis and made available to the public.

last updated: 30 Sept 2005