Commission urges Member States to recognise skills acquired outside formal education

Last week the European Commission launched a new initiative for recognition of skills and competences acquired outside formal education. The initiative encourages Member States to establish national systems for validation of non-formal and informal learning by 2015. At the moment only Finland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands have such systems up and running. These systems would allow citizens to obtain a full or partial qualification on the basis of skills and competences acquired outside formal education.

 This initiative is a part of the strategy for creating jobs and growth and it aims to to increase job opportunities in particular for the young unemployed and those with few formal qualifications such as older and low-skilled workers.

“Our aim is for all citizens to make full use of the learning opportunities which are available to enhance their skills and employability, whether at the work place, through civil society groups or via the internet,“ said Androulla Vassiliou, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth. “In a time of high unemployment and low economic growth, it is essential that Europe develops the right mix of skills and competences to boost competitiveness, prosperity and social inclusion.”

Proposal for a Council Recommendation on the validation of non-formal and informal learning