Competence assessment as a mean to facilitate employability, career progress and accreditation towards a qualification

摘要

The validation of learning outcomes acquired in non-formal and informal settings is set as a priority within several European documents framing the lifelong learning policies, being acknowledged as “a cornerstone in the lifelong learning strategy” (EC, 2006). The necessity to improve the understanding and appreciation of learning participation and outcomes, particularly those from non-formal and informal area, and to promote the innovation in forms of certification for these types of learning is being dealt with in more and more countries and for various target groups. Avoiding double learning, raising awareness on one's own competences, offering the starting point for further professional and personal development and recognising the actual knowledge, skills and attitudes of an individual are only some of the benefits of real competence assessment. The present paper is aimed to provide three case studies of competence assessment that provide clear evidence of a wide range of benefits for the different target groups they focus on: immigrants, trainers and participants in European cooperation projects. The competence assessment approaches used in these three different situations are shaped according to the characteristics and needs of the target groups, being a source of inspiration due to their innovative dimension.