19 December 2023

Validation of non-formal and informal learning in higher education

On 12 December, the 2nd symposium on "Orientation in a complex field" took place at the University for Continuing Education Krems. Karin Luomi-Messerer gave a lecture.

Around three years after the amendment to the Austrian Higher Education Act was passed, which enabled higher education insti­tu­ti­ons to recognise non-formally and infor­mal­ly acquired com­pe­ten­ces in the cur­ri­cu­lum for the first time, national and inter­na­tio­nal experts from various fields came together at this hybrid event to highlight and discuss expe­ri­en­ces with the imple­men­ta­ti­on of the law on validation.

In addition to overview pre­sen­ta­ti­ons, there were in-depth sessions on national and inter­na­tio­nal approa­ches to vali­da­ti­on in higher education as well as inter­na­tio­nal practical examples with a pre­sen­ta­ti­on by Karin Luomi-Messerer entitled “Fifty Shades of … Insights into Validation Approaches in the European Context”. Other key topics included the per­spec­ti­ve of VET research and adult education on the topic, the expe­ri­en­ces of the higher education insti­tu­ti­ons them­sel­ves and the dis­cus­sion of problems with validation.

All pre­sen­ta­ti­ons and videos of the lectures are available in the online docu­men­ta­ti­on (all in German).


Contact: Karin Luomi-Messerer

1 Jun

Review of the Vienna Labour Film Festival 2026

The Vienna Labour Film Festival has once again demonstrated how topical, diverse and socially relevant the subject of work can be when explored through cinema.

4 May

Motivation for Adult Learning – New Publication

The latest issue of the Austrian journal erwachsenenbildung.at features an article by Günter Hefler and Eva Steinheimer on the development of adults’ motivation to continue their education.

27 Apr

Individual Learning Accounts – A Guide to Implementation

New publication summarises key insights and good practices from the ILA workshops of EU Member States within the framework of the “ILA Mutual Learning Programme” (2023–2025).

15 Apr

Pact for Skills – key results and future opportunities

Based on a Europe-wide survey of members, the 2025 Pact for Skills Annual Report highlights progress and challenges in skills development across Europe.

1 Jun

Review of the Vienna Labour Film Festival 2026

The Vienna Labour Film Festival has once again demonstrated how topical, diverse and socially relevant the subject of work can be when explored through cinema.

4 May

Motivation for Adult Learning – New Publication

The latest issue of the Austrian journal erwachsenenbildung.at features an article by Günter Hefler and Eva Steinheimer on the development of adults’ motivation to continue their education.

27 Apr

Individual Learning Accounts – A Guide to Implementation

New publication summarises key insights and good practices from the ILA workshops of EU Member States within the framework of the “ILA Mutual Learning Programme” (2023–2025).

1 Jun

Review of the Vienna Labour Film Festival 2026

The Vienna Labour Film Festival has once again demonstrated how topical, diverse and socially relevant the subject of work can be when explored through cinema.

4 May

Motivation for Adult Learning – New Publication

The latest issue of the Austrian journal erwachsenenbildung.at features an article by Günter Hefler and Eva Steinheimer on the development of adults’ motivation to continue their education.

1 Jun

Review of the Vienna Labour Film Festival 2026

The Vienna Labour Film Festival has once again demonstrated how topical, diverse and socially relevant the subject of work can be when explored through cinema.

4 May

Motivation for Adult Learning – New Publication

The latest issue of the Austrian journal erwachsenenbildung.at features an article by Günter Hefler and Eva Steinheimer on the development of adults’ motivation to continue their education.

>all news