Recognition of Nonformal and Informal Learning

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Recognition of Non-formal and Informal Learning

• Dr. Patrick Werquin, OECD, CERI
• Expert Workshop for the Preparation of the DECOWE
  Conference
• Ljubljana, 17 April 2009

( the opinions expressed in this power point
presentation are those of the author alone)
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Agenda

• Background
• Main Issues
• Focus on Employers
• Costs and Benefits
• Food for Thoughts

Dr. Patrick Werquin, Recognition of Non-formal
and Informal Learning, Ljubljana, 17 April 2009
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Published in 2007
With Mike Coles (QCA)
For a summary see www.oecd.org/dataoecd/10/2/38
500491.pdf
Dr. Patrick Werquin, Recognition of Non-formal
and Informal Learning, Ljubljana, 17 April 2009
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Participating Countries
23 countries on 5 continents (16 review
visits) Australia, Austria, Belgium-Flanders,
Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany,
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Korea,
Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia,
South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and the United
Kingdom www.oecd.org/edu/recognition
Dr. Patrick Werquin, Recognition of Non-formal
and Informal Learning, Ljubljana, 17 April 2009
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What is it?

• Recognising all learning, whatever the context
• (whether formal, non-formal or informal)
• RPL (Australia, South-Africa, Ireland), PLAR
  (Canada), APL or APEL (UK)
• EVC (Netherlands), VAE (France)
• Many definitions of NFIL ?
• Recognition too has many meanings (objectives in
  fact) ?
• Here social recognition ???

Dr. Patrick Werquin, Recognition of Non-formal
and Informal Learning, Ljubljana, 17 April 2009
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Why Employers Have a Major Role?

• Employers do it all the time (practical or
  informal recognition)
• A lot of the NFIL is happening on the job
  (previous)
• Employers sponsor a lot of training (it has a
  cost) (BTW the 10 quoted in the previous
  session)
• Skills shortages (availability or visibility)
• Visibility of skills, knowledge and competences
• Recruitment (Cost, employability)
• Job matching (productivity)

Dr. Patrick Werquin, Recognition of Non-formal
and Informal Learning, Ljubljana, 17 April 2009
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Why Employers Have a Major Role?

• Motivation is always a key issue when employers
  want to send employees on training (not starting
  from scratch)
• Regulated occupations (demand certifications)
• ISO process or bid for certain contracts (may
  require a fraction of the labour force that is
  certified)
• When there are massive layoffs, assessment may be
  a good start before reskilling
• Certificates awarded by vendorsgtCertification MOE

Dr. Patrick Werquin, Recognition of Non-formal
and Informal Learning, Ljubljana, 17 April 2009
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Employers in Short

• Employers should be interested in what workers
  know and/or can do rather than in the way they
  learnt it
• Employers are massive users of skills, knowledge
  and competences and they need visibility and
  trust
• Hence the need for recognised knowledge, skills
  and competences

Dr. Patrick Werquin, Recognition of Non-formal
and Informal Learning, Ljubljana, 17 April 2009
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Cost/Benefit Issues about Formalisation
Real question Additional cost of
formalisation(certification typically)(assessmen
t, quality assurance, issuing certificates)
vs. Additional benefits of formalisation(signall
ing, visibility, regulated occupations) (work
with John West)
Dr. Patrick Werquin, Recognition of Non-formal
and Informal Learning, Ljubljana, 17 April 2009
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Cost-Benefit Model
Dr. Patrick Werquin, Recognition of Non-formal
and Informal Learning, Ljubljana, 17 April 2009
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Recognition vs. Training
Dr. Patrick Werquin, Recognition of Non-formal
and Informal Learning, Ljubljana, 17 April 2009
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Recognition vs. Training
Dr. Patrick Werquin, Recognition of Non-formal
and Informal Learning, Ljubljana, 17 April 2009
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Barriers

• It seems very promising, but the take up is
  small Why is RNFIL not happening?
• Cost (even if tendency to underestimate them)
• Stiffness. Belief that only formal learning can
  lead to knowledge, skills and competences
• Need for a culture shift, among employers, but
  also throughout the society (mindset)
• Involving employers would help reaching
  legitimacy and credibility (school as a filter)

Dr. Patrick Werquin, Recognition of Non-formal
and Informal Learning, Ljubljana, 17 April 2009
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Food for Thoughts

• RNFIL is not free, not even always cheap
• Nevertheless, for some people, under some
  circumstances excellent opportunity
• Therefore
• All learning should be recognised
• In some instances, the recognition process should
  be formalised (certification)

Dr. Patrick Werquin, Recognition of Non-formal
and Informal Learning, Ljubljana, 17 April 2009
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Food for Thoughts

• Finally, it seems obvious to me that NFIL (which
  is part of Lifelong Learning) is the link between
  the 2 worlds the world of education and training
  and the world of employers, business and the
  labour market as long as it is recognised,
  socially recognised

Dr. Patrick Werquin, Recognition of Non-formal
and Informal Learning, Ljubljana, 17 April 2009
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M e r c i
Comments and questions please to Patrick
Werquin, CERI, OECDpatrick.werquin_at_oecd.org Plea
se visit www.oecd.org/edu/recognition