Author: Erik van Beek

  • PEPPY is Finished – The Results are There…

    PEPPY is Finished – The Results are There…

    The PEPPY methodology, its innovative nature, and how it can be employed as a non-formal learning method for obtaining skills and competencies have proven its value. Responses in this pilot project were positive, and points for improvement were spotted. These points were mainly suggestions for alterations, improvements, and adaptations.

    With the implementation of the PEPPY methodology, learners are placed in the spotlight and their unique skills and competencies are valorised. By implementing the self-reflection process, young people become able to see what they are good at and gain the necessary self-confidence that will enable them to move forward and master other necessary skills they are lacking. PEPPY faces young learners as entities full of potential who need the necessary tools and attention in order to move forward.

    Another important potential that was ascertained through the experimentation phase of the PEPPY methodology, was that of informal, non-formal learning settings the methodology has proven to be a valuable tool for gaining significant entrepreneurial and digital skills.

    The informal and non-formal learning settings enabled the attainment of skills that are difficult to attain in normal classroom settings, such as working in a group, sharing thoughts, ideas, and opinions with others, brainstorming, ideation, etc. What is more, informal-non-formal learning methods, give the ability to learners who do not respond well to typical learning settings to thrive and put themselves forward. Timid, shy people or migrants and NEETs can fully utilize the potential of the PEPPY methodology since for them it becomes easier to work within groups rather than within larger settings.

    It was interesting to see how the participants placed themselves more in the center and partly took over the power of control of the project and of their learning. Becoming more entrepreneurial was more important than becoming an entrepreneur. Some cases were more ´simple´ than others. One group (young immigrants) developed a logo. Here the group work, the cooperation, interviewing other people, and the overall process were important, whereas in another project the product (e.g. new perfumes) was important for the organisation. It led to closer cooperation between the companies and the partners of the project and in obe case even to an agreement for continuation.

  • ValChild Newsletter 1

    ValChild Newsletter 1

    The ValChild-project develops a Validation mechanism for practitioners in early childminding, complemented by a Recommendation and Certification Scheme to facilitate assessment and recognition of prior learning which will essentially enhance their access to further training, up-skill them, and further strengthen their key competences and employment opportunities, and quality of life.

    In this newsletter:

    • Background
    • Short introduction project (Goal and Outputs)
    • Kick-off meeting in Dublin, IE
    • Transnational meeting in Utrecht, NL
    • Interesting items
  • VINCE 5th Newsletter

    VINCE 5th Newsletter

    VINCE is an ERASMUS+ project that is developing training materials for university staff working in processes of Validation of Prior Learning (VPL) and Validation of Non-formal and Informal Learning (VNIL) with migrant and/or refugee students. The objective is to provide university staff with tools to be better equipped when working with newcomers who want to access Higher Education (HE) and want to be more aware and integrated in European society.

    See: https://vince.eucen.eu/news/

    In this 5thnewsletter:

    • Launch of VINCE Policy Recommendations.
    • VINCE prototype course for validation professionals.
    • VINCE Validation Prize 2019 – FINALISTS ANNOUNCED!
    • Final Symposium of VINCE – 14 November 2019.
    • VINCE Partnership
  • 3rd Newsletter LeverUP

    3rd Newsletter LeverUP

    LeverUp is a multi-sectoral tool for the validation of transversal competencies acquired in non-formal/ informal learning. The piloting phase allows for participation in a variety of roles from different sectors and fields.

    In this 3rd LeverUP newsletter, the state of the art is presented as of June 2019.

  • VPL in Singapore

    VPL in Singapore

    The Lifelong Learning Conference of Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) provided a platform for the examination of an education that empowers learners to go beyond the classroom and chart their own life journey within society. The conference was designed for participants from education, workforce development, and corporate training sectors to exchange conceptual ideas, case studies, grassroots initiatives, etc., which aims at strengthening lifelong learning in Singapore and in the region.

    For this inaugural event, the theme identifying the role of higher education prompted everyone to focus on the institutions of higher education as one major leverage to augment lifelong learning. We can expect insights on how such institutions are able to encourage a culture of learning for all, ways of operationalizing Validation of Prior Learning (VPL), understanding pathways of higher education to labour markets, building learning cities, and last but not least, advancing pedagogy in adult learning.

  • Partnermeeting München October 9/10, 2017

    Partnermeeting München October 9/10, 2017

    The 2nd partnermeeting of VINCE was dedicated to the workpackage that EC-VPL manages: the collection and analysis of (1)national policy concerning the implementation of VPL in the learning and working processes of higher education, labour market and third sector, specific target groups (jobseekers) and migrants & refugees procedures and (2) the collection of national practices of implementing VPL for migrants/refugees.

    The state of the art is that the national policy-cases are described for more than 25 EU-countries and 1 practical case-study (women refugees in the Netherlands).

  • Training Course The Hague

    Training Course The Hague

    Within the project ALLMEET in accordance with the stated aims and objectives, the European Centre of Commons prior learning assessment “(abbreviated” VPL “), for the second time, organized a training course for representatives of partner universities of the Russian-European consortium of international grant TEMPUS” Organization of learning throughout life, multicultural-oriented education and educating tolerance in Russia»(«ALLMEET 11-15 January 2016, the Hague, Netherlands.

    European Centre “VPL” collects and distributes information regarding all aspects ofcontinuing vocational training systems, procedures and instruments for its evaluation, financing and legislation in this area. Lately, due to the processes of globalization and integration in terms of scientific and practical interests of the Centre’s staff also includesissues related to the formation of tolerance, as well as conflict-free interaction and a meaningful multicultural communication research and practice Faculty of European universities; achievements in addressing these issues, they generously shared with Russianpartners in the project.
    The training was attended by members of the international consortium-representatives ofSiberian Federal University, Institute of pedagogy and psychology of professionaleducation (Kazan), Moscow city Pedagogical University, public organization “VOLUNTEER”.

    Also within the framework of the training held exchanges of views and knowledge on the challenges and barriers to the establishment and functioning of the multicultural platformsin the regions; for the preparation of project monitoring January 22, 2016.