European Inventory on validation of non-formal and informal learning 2014. Final synthesis report.

This report is part of the 2018 update of the European Inventory on validation of nonformal and informal learning. Its aim is to present a synthesis of the current state of play on the validation of non-formal and informal learning across Europe and to report overall progress towards the 2012 Council Recommendation on Validation (hereinafter, Council Recommendation on validation)1. The year 2018 acquires a special significance in this update, because the Council Recommendation on validation called on Member States to establish, by 2018, validation arrangements allowing individuals to identify, document, assess and certify their competences. Validation is a process that aims to make non-formal and informal learning visible socially, in the labour market and in the education and training system, based on the identification, documentation, assessment and certification of such learning. Validation has the potential to contribute to achieving the goals set by the Europe 2020 strategy, as it can contribute to the matching between skills supply and demand, supporting mobility across sectors and countries and fighting social exclusion.