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Validation: The Dutch ExperienceConference “Adapting to Changes in Society”

Tallinn, 27 May 2014

Drs. Amnon OwedPolicy advisor

Ministry of Education, Culture and Science

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Adult Learning in the Netherlands (NL)

1,5 million people every year participate in post-initial learning (15,5% of population)

84% of adult learning takes place in the private sector

Turnover € 3,5 billion per year

10% of the Dutch population is functionally illiterate

NL has a developed system of recognition of non formal and informal learning (RPL)

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The essence of RPL

“The belief and trust that people can also gain knowledge, skills en competences by other means than through school and that this is as worthy as learning through formal education.”

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The value of RPL

• Employee (or unemployed):Increases motivationPersonal developmentProfessional identity and self-esteemIncreases value on the labor market (facilitates mobility to other jobs)Can shorten duration of education programs nationally recognized qualifications

• Employer:Upgrading of employeesFlexibility of the workforceProfessionalization of HR cycleIncreased loyalty towards the organizationRenewed learning readinessIncreased motivation and productivity

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RPL Step-by-step

0. Information and advice

1.Intake: Career counselling, personal aim, quick scan, choice of standard

2.Recognise: Collect work experience and other informal learning in a portfolio, prove it!

3.Validate: Portfolio, assessment, compare the outcomes to standard

4.Accreditation: Result of the RPL procedure is written in a rapport called ‘certificate of experience’

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Characteristics of RPL in NL

National standards

Open market with independent RPL providers

RPL-result: ‘Certificate of Experience’

For labor market directly or towards education

Available for everyone

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Implementation of RPL in NL (1)

1990sRPL started without national regulations

2000-2005Dutch Knowledge Centre on RPLGrowing practice in RPL, but also great diversity in

procedures, instruments and qualitySocial partners asked for structure and quality

2006•All national stakeholders (social partners, government and education) signed the covenant ‘A quality code for RPL’

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Implementation of RPL in NL (2)

2007-2009Government subsidizes RPL initiatives20 million euro available for unemployed in response to

economic crisis

2010-2014Government takes responsibility for quality of RPLQuality plan RPL + National RegisterNew covenant Dutch government & social partnersReflection on current situation and transition to new system

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Role of the government

Dutch Knowledge Centre on RPL

Communication => link to television ad

Financial facilities and stimulus activities

National RPL-Register

Quality framework (with Quality Code at the core)

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RPL Quality Code

Quality criteria regarding:1. Aims2. Rights & information3. Assessment instruments & criteria4. Quality of counsellors & assessors5. Internal quality assurance by RPL providers

Toolbox of supporting documents for involved partners, for example a format and writing guidelines for a “Certificate of Experience”

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RPL Quality Assurance System

MINISTRY

PROVIDERS EVALUATORS

QUALITY CODE

ACCREDITOR

REGISTERREPORTS

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Success factors and challenges

Successes National agreement on Quality Code for RPL in 2006 Involvement of all stakeholders Infrastructure for Lifelong Learning Market-oriented product Inclusion in collective labor contracts

Challenges Transfer and acceptance of Certificates in education system Quality and uniformity of external quality control Flexibility of education & training

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Recommendation on validation

The EU Council gave member states a recommendation on the validation of non-formal and informal learning (20 December 2012), some of the key points are:

Have a system in place for the validation of non-formal and informal learning no later than 2018.Include transparent quality assurance measures.Ensure synergies with other (European) systems such as ECTS, ECVET and NQF/EQF.Promote the involvement of relevant labor-market stakeholders.

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Current developments in NL (1)

Paradigm shift from “transparency in learning outcomes” to “tools for employability and lifelong learning”

“Dutch Knowledge Centre on RPL” becomes “Partnership Lifelong Learning” which responsibilities related to the implementation/support on RPL, ECVET and NQF/EQF

Working together with social partners and several ministries towards a new dual system for validation. Planning:

2014: implementation plan2014/2015: transition phase2016: intended realization

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Current developments in NL (2)

One system, two routes:

1. Validation for the labor market»Promote the use of a variety of instruments and

standards»Promote integration in HRM policies & practices

2. Validation within the education system»Promote the use of validation instruments in order to

get exemptions in the formal education system»Promote efficient, demand-driven, tailor-made learning

pathways!

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Thank you!Questions?