EUROPEAN CENTRE FOR VALUATION PRIOR LEARNING

Lifelong learning, made visible

Validation of Prior Learning across 21 European projects, since 2002.

Projects
21
Funded projects across TEMPUS, ERASMUS+, UNESCO/UIL and LLP.
Biennale
7vols
Volumes in the VPL Biennale book series, since 2007.
Research
200+
Case studies analysed across 11 European countries.
Insight
Of adult learning takes place informally — 90% for older adults.

What we do

Featured projects

A selection of recent work funded through European and global programmes. Validation methods built with practitioners, partners and learners.

CAMPLUS

Empowerment for migrants, from camps to integration

CAMPLUS

Developed training courses inside two locations in Erbil/Kurdistan and one in Larissa, Greece, to enhance and promote the inclusion and wellbeing of young migrants — both during their stay in the camp and after leaving it.

2021–2024ERASMUS+Larissa
ALL-MEET

Adult lifelong learning across the Russian Federation

ALL-MEET

Built capacity for adult lifelong learning at partner universities in Moscow, Kazan and Krasnoyarsk, embedding VPL methodologies into national continuing-education frameworks.

2016–2019TEMPUSMoscow · Kazan · Krasnoyarsk
STEM

Skills, training and employability in STEM-education — Suriname

STEM

Adapted VPL methodologies for the Surinamese labour market, supporting recognition of competences acquired through work, volunteering and informal training.

2015–2018GlobalParamaribo
PEPPY

Promote Education Participation, Projects for Youth

PEPPY

Supports young people in their personal projects through a non-formal learning method for obtaining skills and competencies.

2020–2023ERASMUS+Houten
PROVE

Professional competences for VPL staff

PROVE

Contributes to the development of professional competences of VPL staff by (a) defining competence standards, (b) developing an online self-evaluation tool, and (c) compiling a learning toolkit.

2019–2022ERASMUS+Berlin
BRIDGE+

Regional skills development — a digital multi-actor approach

Bridge+

Established concepts of regional skills development and guidance supported by digital infrastructures, giving career-guidance networks better access to competence-balancing software.

2018–2020ERASMUS+Rotterdam

Mission

The sustainable development of “the self” — the citizen who, based on self-reflection and self-management of competences, can be the true owner of their personal and continuous development process within today's learning society.

EC-VPL · Founded 2002 · Houten, the Netherlands

VPL Biennale

The most recent volume.

Every two years, the VPL Biennale gathers policy makers, researchers and practitioners. Outputs are compiled into a published volume.

Validation of Prior Learning for Education and the Labour Market

Making policy work

Seventh volume in the VPL Biennale series. Reports on relevant experiences, good practices, and good policies presented at the 3rd VPL Biennale.

VPL Biennale 72020Book
In partnership with European institutions and global networks
UNESCO/UIL
Bertelsmann Stiftung
CEDEFOP
ERASMUS+
Inholland
Universiteit Leiden