Validation of Non-formal and Informal Learning

On the basis of a service agreement, made in 2002 with the Icelandic education authorities, the Education and Training Service Centre (ETSC) is Iceland's leading actor in validating non-formal education in Iceland. Its responsibilities include writing curricula and programme descriptions as well as ensuring the development and dissemination of methods to analyse and validate non-formal and informal learning. This can include validating work experience, work-related learning, non-formal learning and formal learning. The centre has developed methods for validation in cooperation with the education authorities by means of an approved methodology, implemented in the sectors where the validation is being applied. On continuing projects, ETSC provides counselling, but when initiating validation in new sectors, it is actively involved. Representatives from ETSC are members of project steering groups, provide counselling to partners, coordinate training for validation staff and publish guidelines and checklists.