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A look to the future: some key messages:
European Validation Festival
If lifelong and lifewide learning is to become a reality, validation is essential. Validation must be an
integral building block of education and training, employment and social policies. But connecting these
14-15 June 2018, The Egg, Brussels
diverse worlds is still a challenge. How to design and deliver effective lifelong learning? The following
suggestions were discussed: increasing sustainability and scalability of projects; more financial support
to move from project level to mainstreamed reality; more integrated projects with multiple stakeholders
involved; building a community of practices across Europe; digital technologies complement personal
contacts and break down isolation.
A closer involvement of employment and good bridges between education and work are urgently
required. How can this be done? Put the learner's needs and experiences at the centre; facilitate joint
work on validation methods and standards; develop professional standards bridging the EQF and
validation; commitment of all stakeholders from the beginning of the validation process.
Without guidance no validation: but how to organise and finance? Validation is linked to individual
learning pathways independent of where, when and how learning takes place. Therefore validation
should be embedded in the whole learning experience and linked, for example, to assessment and
guidance. Guidance professionals should be more familiar with validation, as they are also the first line
of support for disadvantaged learners. Support their professional development.
Trust in validation is created through: commitment and active participation from the start by all
stakeholders; integrated systems across countries; networking and cooperation; shared quality
assurance; further research on reliability and validity of instruments.
Put validation of transversal skills on top of the future agenda.
Message on the future to policy makers and practitioners: "Think big, not small” "
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