International Perspectives on the Definition of Informal Learning

Werquin, Patrick

doi:10.1007/978-3-658-06174-6_4-1

Patrick Werquin²

Part of the book series: Springer NachschlageWissen ((SRS))

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Zusammenfassung

This contribution aims at providing an overview of some of the existing definitions for “informal learning” in the international sphere. They are often provided in contrast with “formal learning”, which will therefore also be addressed to some extent. The international organisations (EC, OECD, UNESCO) have often been at the forefront, with unequal success in providing scientifically sound or easy to implement concepts. And the harmonisation is far from achieved, even within the same organisation. This contribution will also be an opportunity to review the definition(s) used in a selection of countries around the world.

Patrick Werquin has a PhD in Economics and is Professor at CNAM (Conservatoire national des arts et métiers; A French Higher Education and Research Institution), and international independent consultant; patrick.werquin@gmail.com

The author would like to thank all the many colleagues that help with the understanding of the concepts and their language skills all around the world.

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Notes

1.
Through validation of its outcomes and recognition of the corresponding awards: i.e. full or partial qualification, credit(s), exemption(s) among others Werquin (2008 or 2010a).
2.
See also the work of the European Training Foundation (ETF) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
3.
See Coles and Werquin (2007) or Werquin (2007b) for a survey of mechanisms potentially promoting lifelong learning.
4.
It is cheaper than full-blown training, but it is not free (Werquin 2007b).
5.
Meaning respectively: informal learning, competences acquired in informal learning settings, qualification awarded after validation of non-formal and informal learning outcomes.
6.
See for instance de recent OECD study (Miyamoto 2014).
7.
See for instance Davodoun (2011), Overwien (2000), GIZ (2014), Werquin (2014), or the work of the GSDI in Ghana (www.ghanaskills.org)
8.
This point will not be addressed here but the actual transfer of competences may be problematic, for instance because the employer (the Boss) may not have these competences, or because he may not have the pedagogical skills to transfer them, or because he may not be willing to train a future competitor.
9.
Republic.
10.
Different form informal learning. They also deny the difference between education and learning.
11.
The first version was approved by the International Conference on Education in Geneva, in 1975; and then adopted by UNESCO General Conference in Paris, in 1978.
12.
French acronym: Centre européen pour le développement de la formation professionnelle.
13.
European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System.
14.
With 23 participating countries (www.oecd.org/edu/skills-beyond-school/recognitionofnon-formalandinformallearning-home.htm)
15.
Recognition, Validation and Accreditation.
16.
www.giz.de/expertise/html/11725.html
17.
www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/events-and-projects/projects/validation-non-formal-and-informal-learning/european-inventory
18.
With the notable exceptions of Mauritius and New Zealand in UIL (2013).
19.
www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/events-and-projects/projects/validation-non-formal-and-informal-learning/european-inventory/european-inventory-glossary#
20.
For the sake of brevity, they will not be transcribed here when the national definition is an exact copy of the international one.
21.
Law no 3879/21-09-2010 (Official Government Gazette 163).
22.
Free translation from Greek.
23.
www.erisee.org/downloads/2013/2/b/LLLStrategy2008-2013%20ENG.pdf (in English)
24.
www.boe.es/boe/dias/2009/08/25/pdfs/BOE-A-2009-13781.pdf
25.
Free translation from Spanish.
26.
www.todofp.es/todofp/glosario.html
27.
www.onderwijsraad.nl/english/item34
28.
Free translation from Dutch.
29.
www.onderwijsraad.nl/publicaties/2009/middelbaar-en-hoger-onderwijs-voor-volwassenen/item376, based on Werk maken van een leven lang leren. Den Haag: Onderwijsraad
30.
www.swansea.ac.uk/undergraduate/academihywelteifi/welsh-for-adults/informallearning/
31.
See second paragraph at http://pub.uvm.dk/2005/priorlearning/kap08.html
32.
http://pub.uvm.dk/2005/priorlearning/kap02.html
33.
Free translation from German.
34.
See www.informelles-lernen.de.
35.
Free translation from German.
36.
See www.informelles-lernen.de.
37.
www.oecd.org/edu/skills-beyond-school/recognitionofnon-formalandinformallearning-home.htm
38.
International Centre for Pedagogical Studies (Centre international d’études pédagogiques).
39.
www.hj.sanno.ac.jp/cp/page/10411; Free translation from Japanese.
40.
Non-formal and Informal Education Promotion Act (2008).
41.
The approach is called PLAR as in Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition.
42.
www.oecd.org/edu/skills-beyond-school/recognitionofnon-formalandinformallearning-participatingcountrieswithrelateddocumentsandpublications.htm
43.
http://terminologies.cicic.ca/app/?id=101
44.
www.gov.mb.ca/cyo/youth/print,glossary.html
45.
www.cael.org/what-we-do/research-and-publications/colleges---universities
46.
www.cael.org/what-we-do/prior-learning-assessment
47.
See for example www.cael.org/whom-we-serve/employers/workforce-chicago/9-practices
48.
www.cael.org/about-us/faqs
49.
www.oei.org.ar/vani/
50.
Free translation from Spanish.
51.
www.sinectica.iteso.mx/?seccion=articulos&lang=es&revista=26
52.
www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/1370.0~2010~Chapter~Education%20and%20training%20glossary%20(4.2.8)
53.
www.nzqa.govt.nz/about-us/glossary-home/
54.
See the OECD activity on Education for Social Progress (Miyamoto 2014) for a survey on the role of social and emotional skills.
55.
See Borghans et al. (2014).

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CNAM (Conservatoire national des arts et métiers; A French Higher Education and Research Institution), Paris; and international independent consultant, Saint-Sulpice-sur-Lèze, France
Patrick Werquin

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Fachgebiet Pädagogik, TU Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
Matthias Rohs

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Werquin, P. (2015). International Perspectives on the Definition of Informal Learning. In: Rohs, M. (eds) Handbuch Informelles Lernen. Springer NachschlageWissen. Springer VS, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-06174-6_4-1

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-06174-6_4-1
Received: 03 March 2015
Accepted: 03 March 2015
Published: 30 July 2015
Publisher Name: Springer VS, Wiesbaden
Online ISBN: 978-3-658-06174-6
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