7. Weak recognition of prior learning (green, digital, basic skills)

Skills already acquired through work or life experience are not sufficiently recognised, leading to unnecessary retraining, higher costs, and lower motivation among learners.

STRATEGIC DIAGNOSTIC QUESTION

Is validation of prior learning (VPL) universally accessible and trusted?

It means checking whether all adults can easily access a system that recognises their existing skills (from work or life experience) and whether this recognition is reliable, consistent, and accepted by employers and education providers. Is the recognition system reliable, accessible and widely used?

YES

NO

RECOMMENDATION

Improve quality assurance

Recognition systems are in place, but quality and consistency should be further improved.

RECOMMENDATION

Make VPL accessible and standardized across institutions

Establish validation of prior learning as a system-wide function ensuring structured and consistent assessment and recognition of existing skills.

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Key National Policy Actions

Create a clear legal framework, ensuring quality and capacity, raising awareness, integrating validation into qualifications, and engaging employers.

Ensure validation of prior learning is implemented across Public Employment Services (PES), adult education providers, vocational education and training (VET) institutions, qualification and certification bodies, and sectoral organisations, supported by clear rules, quality standards, skilled staff, employer involvement, and sustainable funding to ensure it is reliable, accessible, and widely used.

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Key National Policy Tools

NQF; accreditation agencies

National Qualification Frameworks (NQF), accreditation bodies, and sectoral standards to ensure recognition is reliable, comparable, and trusted across the system.