Joint Actions in Validation of Learning (JAVaL)

JAVaL is a Nordplus Neighbour project

The project aims at the creation of a partnership network for the development of national systems of assessment and validation in the Nordic-Baltic area as a necessary tool in lifelong learning, ensuring quality of acquired key competences and facilitating the measurability of social and personal capacity for furthering career opportunities.

This project intends to look at experiences of implementing valuing learning systems and methods within non formal adult learning in the participating countries, compare experiences and develop two sets of criteria lists. The first list is a national set of criteria that helps to keep core values and pedagogical approaches, primarily in non formal learning, when implementing valuing learning systems. These criteria are meant to secure an organised implementation in each participating country. The second list is of criteria commonly agreed in all participating countries.

The rationale is that this joint list will help strenghten the visibility of common core values in non formal adult learning, and serve as a resource for further work. The project includes 2 transnational seminars and several national seminars/meetings on the topic, with case studies and discussions.

The following results are expected:
• A developed national set of criteria for validation of non-formal adult learning and an agreed minimum criteria set in the Nordic- Baltic area
• Descriptions of diverse good practice examples of validation searchable in a cross-referenced online data-base (e.g. Language and study circles, Immigrants and basic skills education)
• Identified actors of validation in non-formal education, and the organisations working with the implementation of validation
• Reference network following the implementation of the validation process in all the Nordic and –Baltic countries and exchanging information about the process.

Information and end results will be disseminated in three ways. There is a big launching seminar at the beginning of the project, in cooperation with NVL and EAEA (the European Association for the Education opf Adults). The project also ends with a seminar presenting the results. To this latter seminar representatives of national ministries of Education, VET:s and HE are invited. The intention is that the project results will be used in the ongoing implementation of valuing learning systems. Secondly each partner is invited to use project results in national policy development. Thirdly the national reference groups are considered to function also as multipliers.

Tidsperiod: 2005-2007

Kontaktuppgifter: Coordinator of the project is
Finnish Adult Education Association
Eeva-Inkeri Sirelius, Secretary General
eeva-inkeri.sirelius(ät)vsy.fi

www.vsy.fi