The primary objective of the eQval project was to develop, test, and disseminate a comprehensive set of European Quality Standards for the validation of learning acquired through volunteering, encapsulated in the eQval Guide. We aimed to create a practical and widely applicable tool that would enhance the quality, consistency, and credibility of validation processes across Europe. Specifically, the project sought to empower volunteers by enabling formal recognition of their skills, thereby improving their employability and personal development. Furthermore, we aimed to equip volunteer-involving organisations, educational institutions (including VET and higher education), and adult education providers with a clear methodology and effective tools to implement robust validation. A key goal was also to influence policy and practice by promoting the adoption of these standards, fostering greater integration between non-formal, informal, and formal learning pathways, and ultimately increasing the overall value attributed to learning gained in volunteering contexts throughout the European Union.
The eQval project was conceived to address a clearly identified European need for common, high-quality standards in the validation of learning outcomes acquired through volunteering. Prior to this initiative, the valuable skills and competences developed during voluntary activities often went unrecognised or were inconsistently assessed across different countries and sectors. This lack of a harmonised approach hindered the mobility and employability of volunteers and diminished the perceived value of non-formal and informal learning. The project aimed to rectify this by establishing a robust framework, the eQval Guide, to ensure that learning gained through volunteering could be effectively validated and acknowledged, thereby empowering individuals, strengthening civil society organisations, and contributing to a more inclusive and skilled European society. The project partners identified the necessity for such standards to enhance the transparency and transferability of these learning outcomes, aligning with broader European policies on lifelong learning and skills recognition.