Flexi-Path
Mapping the competencies of European Adult Education professionals
The EU sponsored Flexi-Path project involves experts from Estonia, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Romania and the UK. It is funded by Leonardo, part of the European Commission's Lifelong Learning Programme which aims to build a skilled workforce across Europe. The project, which runs until autumn, 2010, aims to come up with a common framework for vocational qualifications (EQF). This framework could be adapted by all training agencies across the continent, enabling staff trained in one place to easily find employment at a similar level elsewhere in Europe - therefore meeting the ideal of increased labour mobility across the European Community.
The project was launched in January 2009 at a meeting of the partners in Bonn, Germany. The meeting was hosted by the German Institute for Education, who are acting as the project co-ordinator. Over the two days, the framework was set for a research programme which seeks harmonise training and qualifications for adult education professionals in all member states.
During the first phase of the project each partner country has reviewed a sample of qualification-models and compiled a national report. This has enabled the common elements to be identified and a better understanding of the job roles that adult education professionals fulfil. Emphasis has been placed on the key knowledge, skills and competencies that are represented.
A final synthesis report has been written and is providing the basis of the next work package, the design of the common competency profile, which will lead to a consistent European requirement. The process of developing the profile was started at a partner meeting which took place in Norwich, UK on the 29th - 30th October 2009.
The project has it's own dedicated website which can be found at http://www.flexi-path.eu. For updated project news please check both here and the Flexi-Path website.
For previous project news please see below
05/10/09 ECA welcomes European adult education experts to Norwich
16/04/09 Launch of Flexi-Path project website
29/01/09 Flexi-Path - Mapping the competencies of European adult education professionals
The consultative approach in the Flexi-Path project closely resembles the way in which Lifelong Learning UK(LLUK) has arrived at statements of competence for staff across the wide range of post-school learning organisations and establishments.
The ECA will especially benefit from current developments by bodies such as LLUK and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority(QCA) in preparing for the convergence of European qualifications to meet a deadline, which the UK government has agreed to, which expects to more broadly define equivalencies within a similar timeframe. For more information on the European Qualifications Framework click here.
If you would like to find out more about Flexi-Path and discuss the project, please contact us on 08442 495594 or email info@e-c-a.ac.uk.
Project Partners
The ECA are working alongside the following organisations on the project.
CREA - Centre of research in Theories and Practices that overcome inequalities, Barcelona, Spain
www.pcb.ub.es/crea/en/index_en.htm
DIE - German Institute for Adult Education, Bonn, Germany
Eesti Vabaharidusliit - Estonian Non-Formal Adult Education Association, Tallinn, Estonia
IREA - Romanian Institute for Adult Education, Timisoara, Roamania.
SVEB - Swiss Federation for Adult Learning, Zurich, Switzerland.
Universitá degli Studi di Firenze - University of Florence, Florence, Italy