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

08.07.2026 activism

Resilience means giving genuine decision-making power to local actors - EAEA's annual event's panel discussion

On June 10th, EAEA’s members reunited for the Annual Event, this time in Poland, hosted by the NGO organization sTOP. The Panel discussion titled ‘‘Resilient Communities in Times of Crises’’ saw the participation of Benedetta Perego (lawyer admitted before the Italian Supreme Court and founder of Strali), Musa Kirkar (President of CEIPES and EAEA’s Board Member), Oleg Smirnov (Director of DVV International Ukraine and EAEA’s Vice President), and Irena Lipowicz (lawyer, professor, and ex diplomat for the United Nations).

06.07.2026 advocacy

Democracy and coalition-building

At the Feminist Futures Festival in Brussels, participants explored how feminist perspectives, coalition-building and transnational solidarity can strengthen democracy and social inclusion.

30.06.2026 EAEA Annual Conference

EAEA Annual Conference 2026: Supportive communities grow the roots of resilience

The EAEA Annual Conference 2026 explored resilience as a collective process, highlighting the role of adult learning in strengthening communities in times of uncertainty.