06.11.2019

Council Recommendation on Validation of non-formal and informal learning (VNFIL) – EAEA’s response

EAEA sees validation as a key tool in order to promote lifelong learning, to ensure more flexible learning pathways, to encourage learners and build their self-confidence as well as to create a more comprehensive understanding of competences.

European Commission has opened a public consultation on the Council Recommendation on Validation of Non-Formal and Informal Learning (2012). In its response, EAEA recognizes the importance of the Council Recommendation in creating a momentum for validation and believes that the Recommendation has contributed in generating national action towards more and better validation opportunities.

However, a lot still needs to be done in order to enable individuals to progress in their educational or professional development.

EAEA’s response outlines how the validation processes should be improved. The response is backed by the work carried out by Action plan for validation and non-formal adult education -project (AVA). AVA project consortium has published an evidence-based set of recommendations for all the stakeholders involved in validation and an action plan from the point of view of non-formal adult education providers: the AVA action plan.

Read EAEA’s response on VNFIL recommendation (pdf)

More information:
Gina Ebner
EAEA Secretary-General
tel: +32 2 893 25 24
gina.ebner(at)eaea.org

10.02.2026 EAEA Annual Conference

Introducing EAEA’s 2026 Annual Theme: Resilience and Community-Building

EAEA'S 2026 annual theme is closely linked to current EU priorities, especially the Democracy Package - including the Civil Society Strategy and the Democracy Shield initiative. At a time of rising Euroscepticism and threats to democratic values, adult education has the power to strengthen democracy by promoting civic engagement, critical thinking and participation.

09.02.2026 climate

How learning and action shape a more sustainable society: golden nuggets from neuroscience to foster a constructive climate change debate

On February 4-5, EAEA participated in a learning symposium and keynote speech around climate education research and action, in Geneva, Switzerland. The events were organised in the context of the Horizon Europe LEVERs project, in which EAEA is a partner.

04.02.2026 digitalisation

Remote work: Challenges and opportunities for ALE in the digital world

EAEA’s Communication, Capacity-building and Membership Officer, Marina Sakač Hadžić, attended a conference on the topic of Remote Work & Social Change, taking place at the University of Antwerp on the 20th and 21st of January. She combines her work at EAEA with a PhD in law, bringing together insights from non-formal adult learning with ethnographic research.