1. Quality Code on VPL in The Netherlands
VPL Biennale, Rotterdam
9-11 April 2014
Patrick Leushuis
Ministry of Education,
Culture and Science

2. VPL in The Netherlands (1)
1994, Committee Wijnen: validation of non-formal learning
Follow up: small scale pilots and experiments
1998, Thesis Dr. Klarus: validation of competences
2000, Department of Economic Affairs: working group => publication ‘The bottle is half full’
2001, National Expertise Center VPL =>
learn from VPL practice & promote use of VPL
Perspective slowly changed:
from transparancy in learning outcomes of non-formal learning and connecting learning outcomes of non-formal and formal learning
to emloyability, career development and lifelong learning

3. VPL in The Netherlands (2):
Growing VPL practice
Huge diversity in procedures, instruments & quality =>
demand for clarity & quality
demand for promotion of VPL and lifelong learning
2006:
National Quality Code on VPL
Agreement between social partners, government & education

4. National Quality Code on VPL (1)
Quality criteria regarding:
aims
rights & information
assessment instruments & criteria
quality of counsellors and assessors
QA by VPL providers
VPL = instrument for individual career development
directly at the labour market
through education and training: exemptions etc.
VPL assessment standards
formal educational standards VET and HE
non-formal standards branches of industry

5. National Quality Code on VPL (2)
VPL = market activity
Independent VPL providers
Accessibility
Reliability
Accreditation of VPL standards, procedures & providers
External audit organizations
National VPL register
Tax deductibility of costs for VPL

6. National Expertise Center VPL
Information on VPL and quality code
Good practices
VPL academy:
training VPL-professionals
training exam committees
VPL toolbox:
Handbooks & guidelines
competence profiles counsellors and assessors
=> Focus on summative assessment and quality assurance

7. Building the VPL-infrastructure
Subsidies for regional partnerships learning & working ( ):
businesses, education & training institutes, local and regional government organizations
VPL and work based learning (WBL)
Subsidies for higher education institutes ( )
Regional learning & working offices (since 2010)
physical & virtual ‘front offices’
active approach of employers

8. Promotion of VPL Booklets, flyers, posters etc. Portal and websites
Animation clip:
Videos – VPL testimonials etc.: video.ervaringscertificaat.nl
National campaigns: TV, radio, internet
TV add:
Social partners (employers organizations and unions):
case studies on good VPL practices
=> VPL in collective labour agreements and sector plans

9. Results Numbers of VPL-participants: - 9.900 - 12.500 - 15.700
About 120 VPL providers by 2010
Mainly formal standards at EQF- levels 2, 3 and 4
Increasing share of VPL-participants in
procedures using non-formal standards

10. Evaluation: experiences and challenges (1)
VPL is mostly used as an instrument to obtain exemptions:
Educational enrollment & diploma orientation +
Direct use on labour market & career development –
Effects of VPL for individuals:
Changes in tasks, internal & external mobility
Income development
But only for those who obtained a formal qualification/diploma after their VPL procedure …
Challenges:
Reinforce the use of VPL on the labour market
Reinforce the use of ‘alternative’ instruments (formative)

11. Evaluation: experiences and challenges (2)
Inspection for VET / Higher Education:
Concerns about decision making exam committees
VPL reports often are not according to standards
Problems in transfer and acceptance of VPL reports
Market ‘shake out’ VPL providers:
High costs of accreditation
Numbers of VPL participants per standard are too low
Alternatives: intake assessments and exemption procedures

12. Towards a dual approach in VPL (1)
2013, social partners and government => analysis + proposal:
Dual system:
VPL in labour market
VPL in formal education
VPL in labour market:
promote the use of a variety in instruments & standards
promote integration in HRM policies & practice
Quality assurance:
no longer a ‘one size fits all’ quality code on VPL
VPL in labour market: QA ‘fit for purpose’
VPL in formal education: QA VPL in regular QA education
Connection non-formal and formal standards: learning outcomes

13. Towards a dual approach in VPL (2)
Planning:
2014: implementation plan
2014/2015: transitional phase
2016: implementation
Issues:
National validation authority?
VPL in labour market:
Quality Code / QA-system: only related to summative use
Development and use of national / sectoral qualifications
Promotion of use of variety of instruments & integration
Responsibility:
Social partners at national level?
Sectoral employers organisations?
Government role (Min. Social Affairs / Economic Affairs)?