The project "ReOPEN - Recognition of Valid and Open Learning" re-opens discussion on recognition of prior and non-formal learning results in formal education and by employer organizations. The discussion is re-opened in the new context - digital and online open learning (OOL) - changing the landscape of education since the past years. Digital transformation of education and training systems, digital skills and online learning faces many challenges. Education institutions and employers are often reluctant to recognise OOL and question its validation, credentialization and proctoring.ReOPEN project directly addresses the recommendations published in the study of the European Commission "Validation of Non-formal MOOC-based Learning" (2016) implemented in 2014-2015 (http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/JRC96968/lfna27660enn.pdf), specifically by the project aim - to create instruments to develop validated OOL for recognition of prior and non-formal learning. ReOPEN project raises the following objectives that directly meet EC recommendations:1. To design a platform for non-formal open learning curriculum development with learning validation and recognition instruments in place (learner credentials, digital badges, learning path recognition and assessment tools).2. To train teachers and trainers (T&T) at C-VET organizations, companies, higher education (HE) institutions and adult learning organizations to design validated non-formal open learning curriculum, to apply of digital badges as a new form of digital credentialisation and tracking one’s learning path in non-formal open learning and to recognize non-formal open learning results in formal curricular. 3. To exploit the new platform and to design 5 non-formal open learning courses for continuous professional staff developing (CPD) applying learning recognition instruments for validated non-formal open learning.4. To establish partnership for future collaboration for non-formal open learning recognition. The project targets at collaboration of C-VET, lifelong learning, HE institutions and companies trough collaboration to enhance access to OOL and qualifications for all through C-VET. T&T at C-VET, lifelong learning, adult learning, HE and companies are the key target group of the project.3870 persons will be reached through multiplier events, dissemination channels and events by the project. 54 participants with fewer opportunities facing economic, social and disability obstacles will benefit from CPD opportunities created in validated open non-formal learning in ReOPEN platform. 6 intellectual outputs (IO) will be developed during the project:IO1. ICT platform for non-formal open learning curriculum designingIO2. Training material on non-formal open learning curriculum designingIO3. Training material on application of digital badgesIO4. Training material on recognition of non-formal open learning results in formal curricular.Then short – term joint staff training event (C1) will be organized to enable staff at consortium institutions to use ICT platform for non-formal open learning curriculum designing, to apply digital badges and to establish credentialization in non-formal open learning curriculum in order to establish recognition conditions in formal curricular. The participants of C1 will mainstream training and awareness raising on ReOPEN results and innovations in their home countries .After the training session, the staff from consortium institutions will develop:IO5. 5 non-formal open learning CPD coursesIO6. Case - scenario collection on recognition of validated non-formal open learning course.ReOPEN project results will increase the sense of initiative, entrepreneurship, and professional collaboration among partner organizations and their collaboration channels with networks of education providers and employers; will increase the level of digital and other competences of T&T and better understanding of practices, policies and systems in education and training; will contribute to better understanding and recognition of skills and qualifications in European and beyond, as well as interconnections between formal, formal education, vocational training and other forms of learning and labour market respectively.ReOPEN will improve the use of EU reference tools for recognition, validation and transparency of competences and qualifications through description of parts of competences, qualifications and curricular, supporting teaching and learning progress and assessment in the new form of digital and open learning.
ReOPEN project addressed the problem of recognition of non-formal learning results in formal education and by employer organizations in the new context - online open learning (OOL). Education institutions and employers are often reluctant to recognise OOL and question its validation, credentialization and proctoring. ReOPEN project directly addressed the recommendations published in the study of the European Commission "Validation of Non-formal MOOC-based Learning" (2016) (http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/JRC96968/lfna27660enn.pdf), by the project aim - to create instruments to develop validated OOL for recognition of prior and non-formal learning. ReOPEN project achieved the following objectives: 1. Designed the platform for non-formal OOL curriculum development with learning validation and recognition instruments in place. 2. Trained teachers and trainers (T&T) at C-VET organizations, companies, higher education (HE) institutions and adult learning organizations to design validated non-formal OOL curriculum, to apply digital badges as a new form of digital credentialisation and tracking one’s learning path in non-formal OOL and to recognize non-formal OOL results in formal curricular. 3. Designed 5 non-formal OOL courses for continuous professional staff developing (CPD) applying learning recognition instruments for validated non-formal OOL. 4. Established partnership for future collaboration for non-formal OOL recognition. The project target groups involved C-VET, LLL, HE institutions and companies, establishing their collaboration to enhance access to OOL and qualifications for all through C-VET. The project results reached 123574 people (instead of 3820 planned) through multiplier events (ME), dissemination and thematic events, including 213 participants (instead of 59 planned) (see Annex 4) with fewer opportunities facing economic, social and disability obstacles. They benefited from awareness of what non-formal OOL is, on new learning and teaching possibilities and innovative solutions for teaching and learning. 6 Intellectual outputs (IO) were developed for them: IO1. ICT platform. IO2. Training material (TM) on non-formal OOL curriculum designing. IO3. TM on application of digital badges. IO4. TM on recognition of non-formal OOL results in formal curricular. IO5. 5 non-formal OOL CPD courses. IO6. Case - scenario collection on recognition of validated non-formal OOL course. Continuous feedback was requested from HE, VET, adult learning and school representatives, which proved high interest from project target groups for ReOPEN platform solutions at user institutions, and rated IO with strong positive statements. More than 120 organizations were involved in ME and dissemination events. 6 agreements have been signed with the third - party organizations for product exploitation (see Annex 6). ReOPEN results will have long-term impact to these organizations, as responses from events’ participants proved that organizations need to prepare and create non-formal OOL possibilities and that TM, ICT platform and methodological and technological help is most useful to them. Project partnership consisted of 3 HE institutions (VMU, ESCP Europe and SRCE), 2 companies (ONECO and Q21) providing training services for adults, VET and company employees, as well as 1 European association (EDEN). Consortium directly benefited from the results in adapting ICT portal for their use, using TM for their training programs for all project target groups in their countries, creating open non-formal OOL courses, application of digital badges in their institutional online platforms, tracking learning paths of their learners. ReOPEN project results already increased the sense of initiative, entrepreneurship, and professional collaboration among partner organizations and their collaboration channels with networks of education providers and employers by involvement of all stakeholders (teachers, administration, employer organizations and HE institutions) to work on CPD courses (IO5). The project increased the level of digital and other competences of T&T and better understanding of practices, policies and systems in education and training. ReOPEN contributed to better understanding and recognition of skills and qualifications in European and beyond, as well as interconnections between formal, formal education, vocational training and other forms of learning and labor market respectively by establishing three – party engagement case scenarios (IO6) on recognition of learning results and credits in formal curriculum (IO5), linking non-formal and formal curricular and employer needs. ReOPEN improves the use of EU reference tools for recognition, validation and transparency of competences and qualifications through description of parts of competences, qualifications and curricular, supporting teaching and learning progress and assessment in the new form of digital OOL.