Validation of competences in French-speaking Belgium

1. Validation of competencesin French-speaking Belgium Bruxelles-Formation Enseignement de Promotion Sociale Forem Formation Institut Wallon de Formation en Alternance des Indépendants et Petites et Moyennes Entreprises Service Formation des Petites et Moyennes Entreprises

2. European works : EQF : european qualifications framework ECVET : european credits for vocational education and training Europass : certificate supplement Proven hability Awarding body Learning outcome Member countries’ procedures: UK Scandinavian countries France Spain Belgium: Flanders … European framework

3. Belgium’s experience : 2005 Survey on Labor Force • Working age people having higher level diplomas (transfer credits) : • 34 % lower or equal to junior secondary level • 36 % senior secondary level • Recognized lifelong vocational training, successfully achieved: • Total: 15 % < or = junior sec lev: 12% • Training course attendance in the previous month: • 6 % • Attendance during payed working hours: • 54 %

4. Teachers Certification Competences acquired through teaching schemes French-speaking community Competences acquired through training schemes Trainers Validation French-speaking community + Cocof (French-speaking community commission) + Walloon Region Competences acquired through experience

5. What are the benefits of recognition? • Users’ benefits, • Having one’s skills recognized means • Being able to build a career • Having access to training • Taking advantage of job orientation • Having access to jobs

6. Decrees • The Belgian decrees approving the Cooperation Agreement of 24th july 2003 on validation of competences for lifelong vocational training are the following: • The French-speaking community decree of 22nd october 2003 (MB 31.12.2003) • The Cocof decree of 7th november 2003 (MB 03.05.2004) • The Walloon Region decree of 13th november 2003 (MB 23.01.2004)

8. Social recognition: Direct social recognition in terms of: Access to training Access to job orientation Indirect social recognition in terms of: Improved access to recruitement... Official recognition Ensuring visibility to all competences of both citizen workers and job seekers older than 18 through certification; Key objectives

9. Added values Global impact: Saving time and resources APPLICANTS VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS COMPANIES • To simplify procedures • To improve the meeting of supply • and demand • Ex.:SPE (employment public services), • AEP (vocational research body.. • Making recruitment easier • Optimized and more effective job seeking procedures • Wider search field EMPLOYMENT SECTOR • Recruitment transparency • To adjust job orientation to job market • Ex.:SPE, PMS (medical and social services) • OISP( board for vocational and social inclusion). • To build relevant careers • To have shared regulations • Enhancing competences • including those related to experience; • Building a career project • Taking advantage of favoured links • among workers ORIENTATION SECTOR • An improved applicant selection at the recruitement stage • Potential management • To measure impacts • To adapt contents by creating modules • Es.: EPS (social promotion teaching programme), sectorial centers • To achieve favoured links among workers • Careful choice beforehand • Best individual skills/mastery • Shorter procedures • A comprehensive overview of competences, • Training plan TRAINING SECTOR

11. Mason roofer Preparing building sites Tiling Slating Draining rainwater away Competence unit Competence unit Competence unit Competence unit Competence certificate Competence certificate

12. Beneficiaries People older than 18 having attained compulsory schooling: employed and indipendent workers public and private sector Advantages Personal career schemes Confidentiality of personal data Free services freedom of choice of validation centers Right of appeal Beneficiaries

13. Which validation center?

16. Approved centers • Procedures • Internal audit • Blank test • External audit • Consortium • Social partners • Governments Situation as of 1st september 2006 17 Approved centers 19 authorizations 7 crafts

17. Which reference levels for validation ?

18. Three main pillars • Reference levels by craft • CCPQ (advisory committe for workers under contract)Profile + sector profile + ROME • 2. Reference levels for competences by craft • Associated units of competences • 3. Validation reference levels / Credits • What can it be assessed by? • How can it be assessed?

19. Validation reference levels in 2005 • Procedures • Crafts are selected as per both social partners and employment public services. Government approval • Commissions setting reference levels: • Reference levels for competences • Validation reference levels • Consortium • Government approval Production Approved: 10 crafts/32 Certificates Submitted: 4 crafts/13 Certificates In progress: 9 crafts/23 Certificates Scheduled in 2006: 8 crafts

23. Political framework Social framework Deontological framework Quality framework Applicants will be provided with: A report on acquired competences. An officially recognized Competence Certificate. Synopsis

24. Validation of competences:where are we in the process ? Bruxelles-Formation Enseignement de Promotion Sociale Forem Formation Institut Wallon de Formation en Alternance des Indépendants et Petites et Moyennes Entreprises Service Formation des Petites et Moyennes Entreprises