Validation of formal, non formal and informal learning: The case study of Administration Personnel Erasmus Project

Project Title

Validation of formal, non formal and informal learning: The case study of Administration Personnel

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Recognition (non-formal and informal learning/credits); Recognition, transparency, certification; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

Research demonstrates that the sector of office administration is very important and popular and is continue to be one of the first professions in demand until 2020. EUPA_NEXT deals with this sector. EUPA_NEXT is the continuation of a very successful project EUPA (Leonardo DOI) that has developed a qualification framework for administration personnel in 4 EQF levels (levels 2,3,4 and 5) as well as the assessment tool and training materials for level 2. EupaNext aimed to develop a certification for administration personnel in 4 different levels. However, it is noted that the sector of Administrative Personnel has been used as a case study as the project aims to validate the knowledge, skills and competences of non regulated sectors.

More specifically, EUPA_NEXT objectives were to:
1.Facilitate the understanding of EQF & ECVET policies & explore different methodologies for the assignment of credits
2.Develop a comparative report on the situation of the countries on EQF and ECVET
3.Review, curricula, materials and assessment developed under the previous project and develop curricula, materials and assessment for levels 3,4,5. Then certify curricula and materials with ISO and the assessment with ISO17024 (all levels). EupaNext provides a complete solution for the validation of knowledge, skills and competences of administration personnel.
4.Provide flexible pathways to learning and validation (classroom trainings, ebooks, only assessment).
5.Develop a “how to” practical guide for the validation of formal, non formal & informal learning for any non regulated profession.

The qualification framework developed by the Eupa project had adapted a rather holistic approach. EupaNext has reviewed the qualification framework, taking into consideration the current trends and has analysed each of the learning outcomes into knowledge, skills and competences. Although that was an additional task not recorded in the original application, the consortium considered that to be an important task, as the QF would guide the consortium for the development of curricula/ training materials/ assessments, making more specific the required knowledge, skills and competences to be developed.

Although EUPA project had developed materials, curricula and assessment tool for level 2, even those were reviewed during the current EupaNext. Therefore, EupaNext assigned credits to the qualification framework (levels 2-5) using ECVET. EupaNext has developed curricula and training materials for the trainer. Training materials included PowerPoint presentations and methodological tools to be used by the trainer. Ebooks for learners were also developed. EupaNext has certified all curricula and training materials with ISO. Additionally EUPA_NEXT has developed assessment tools for levels 2,3,4 and 5 and has certified those as well with a relatively new standard ISO17024 that certifies personal competences. Curricula, training materials and assessment (in all levels) were pilot tested.
Last but not least the project has developed a best practices guide for the validation of any non regulated profession,

The main target groups are:
– VET institutes and VET trainers delivering training courses in office administration
– Students in VET studying office administration
-Vet policy makers
– Office administrators that are interested in validating their knowledge, skills and competences in different EUPA_NEXT levels
– Unemployed people that through EUPANEXT may enter the labor market

EUPA_NEXT activities include:
1.Development of a comparative report on the situation of the countries of the consortium in EQF and ECVET
2.Identification of several methodologies for ECVET application, selection and implementation of one
3.Development, pilot testing, ISO certification and evaluation of training curricula, training materials and assessment tools as well as trainer’s guides
4.Development of ebooks and promotion of flexible pathways to learning
5.Composition of a Best practices guide – a step by step approach for the validation of formal, non formal and informal learning
6.Several dissemination events targeting VET Institutes and trainers, Vet students in the area of office administration, policy makers, employers etc

At the sector level the impact envisaged is high through the development of a European certification for administration personnel in several levels by applying the principles of EQF and ECVET and using an internationally recognized standard: the ISO standard for certification of competences. At the policy level EUPA_Next is an ECVET project that has explored different ECVET methodologies and selected one to apply. Partners and participating countries benefited from the exercise of ECVET. In the long run, project partners will continue to provide the training and certification to the administrative personnel.They will maintain the materials, curricula and assessment current and fresh and they will try to convert EUPANEXT to a EU stardard.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 321801 Eur

Project Coordinator

M.M.C MANAGEMENT CENTER LIMITED & Country: CY

Project Partners

• DIMITRA EKPAIDITIKI SIMVILITIKI AE
• Orbis Institute
• KYPRIAKI ETERIA PISTOPOIISIS
• Centro Integrado Público de Formación Profesional Misericordia
• INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT ASSISTANTS
• VOLKSHOCHSCHULE IM LANDKREIS CHAM EV
• NARODNY USTAV CELOZIVOTNEHO VZDELAVANIA