Austausch und Vernetzung zur Validierungspraxis in Deutschland und Österreich

<< Background >>The validation of informally and non-formally acquired competences, often embedded in higher qualification measures, is seen internationally as an important way for low-skilled employees to access a higher level of qualification. A higher level of qualification improves their position on the labour market and in the company and has a positive impact on the length of time they remain in the company and their social and economic situation. Even during participation in a validation process, positive changes were observed in constructs such as self-concept of abilities, proactivity, internal control beliefs, self-efficacy and others.In view of this significant added value of validating non-formal and informal competences and the simultaneous need to integrate validation procedures into the national education systems in Germany and Austria, five educational and research institutions carried out the Erasmus+ project DEValAT in the years 2022-2024.<< Objectives >>Focused on the priorities of innovation in vocational education and training, adaptation to the needs of the labour market and quality assurance, the DEValAT project essentially pursued two objectives. One objective was to discuss validation approaches, procedures and instruments in the light of practical experience and thus to continuously improve quality and professionalism. The other objective was to keep validation on the educational and vocational training agenda and move it forward. << Implementation >>Eleven activities were organised as part of DEValAT, including a kick-off event, eight methodology workshops and two symposia. The methods workshops enabled an in-depth discussion of the phases, processes and instruments of validation as well as individual aspects such as target group orientation or the digitalisation of individual procedural steps, thereby taking a significant step towards good practice in validation and the systematic professionalisation of experts working in validation. The two symposia provided a high-calibre opportunity for specialist and academic discussion with the participation of practitioners, social partner organisations, chambers, science and research as well as ministries of labour and education.<< Results >>The results of the DEValAT project include a stronger positioning of validation on the educational and vocational pedagogical agenda as well as improved quality and professionalism in the implementation of validation procedures. The methodology workshops and symposia enabled participants to evaluate and further develop their practices, leading to qualitative progress in validation. The formation of a network in German-speaking countries, including the German-speaking community in Belgium and the province of Bolzano, with educational and research institutions, social partner organisations, universities and education/labour administrations, is also of lasting importance for a shared understanding of validation and further quality development and assurance.