State of play (excerpt from the last annual National Report on validtion of Non-formal and informal learning)
In November 2004 the Danish Parliament approved a policy paper on Recognition of Prior Learning within the education system presented by 4 Ministries: The Ministry of Education, The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, The Ministry of Culture and The Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs.
The rationale of the policy paper is that Denmark has many undreamt-of competences when it comes to taking up the challenges that come with the development on the labour market and the present-day world. Denmark must become better at rendering this potential visible, utilising and building on it by focusing on what the individual is really cable of. This Government initiative is a contribution to an offensive competence strategy intended to prepare Denmark for global competition and the knowledge society. The main message of this policy paper is that in the light of Denmark's need to strengthen the knowledge and competence level, there is a need to improve the possibilities for recognising prior learning within the education system. Where such provisions do not already exist it has to be developed, where the provisions exist the procedures and methods have to be improved. The changes are to be implemented gradually, starting in the adult education and vocational training area.
The policy paper from 2004 is translated into English:
http://pub.uvm.dk/2005/priorlearning
In Denmark’s strategy for lifelong learning “Education and lifelong skills upgrading for all”, report to the European Commission, April 2007, the importance of RPL is expressed this way: “All forms of education and learning should be based on and build on the knowledge, skills and competences of individuals. In adult education and continuing training new and improved opportunities shall be created promoting visibility and recognition of an individuals prior learning”(P.9)
The full report on the strategy can be read in English:
http://pub.uvm.dk/2007/lifelonglearning/lifelong_learning.pdf
RPL is a thus key tool in the national strategy for lifelong learning or lifelong competence development.
The policy has been implemented by new legislation, Act no. 556, entitled ”Development of the recognition of prior learning in adult education and continuing training” (Udbygning af anerkendelse af realkompetence på voksen- og efteruddannelsesområdet mv), which was passed on June 6, 2007. Parts of the new act come into effect on August 1, 2007, while other parts first come into effect on August 1, 2008.
The RPL in Denmark will from now on follow a set of general principles:
- Prior learning assessment is a right of the individual
- Prior learning assessment is free of charge for those with little or no education.
- The assessment is always carried out in relation to the educational objectives, admissions requirements and/or level of the individual education/training program.
- The assessment is carried out on the background of a process of clarification and documentation. • The individual must contribute actively in the documentation phase.
- The RPL process results in an education or competence certificate (uddannelses- eller kompetencebevis), which is generally recognized in the educational system
- An appeals board is established: the qualifications committee (Kvalifikationsnævnet: http://www.ciriusonline.dk/Default.aspx?id=3524) and a procedure of complaints is defined for some of the fields of education/ educational programs.
