VPL in the Netherlands, with a
focus on voluntary work
Lately there has been
increased attention for the accreditation or valuation of prior, i.e.
non-formal and informal, learning in The Netherlands. During the 1990’s the
first national policy outlines were presented, following from the attention
that was already given to the concept of lifelong learning. Nowadays,
several branches and companies have started initiatives in the field of
validation of non-formal and informal learning.
The third sector, or voluntary sector, with more than 3 million workers [!],
is rapidly becoming an important player in the field of VPL. Why and how is
explained in this report.
This report has been made for the Leonardo-project Civil Service
Apprenticeship (I/04/B/F/PP-154007). This project aims at making
competencies more recognizable and easier to monitor and validated. The
competencies involved are those learnt in a non-formal way through volunteer
civil service practices by young people. This aim stresses the need to make
better use of these skills in order to have a better change in getting a
job. Moreover this aim implies raising an awareness process amongst young
people, to understand better what exactly they have learned during their
civil service period.
Partners in this project are coming from Italy (projectleader), Spain,
Bulgaria and the Netherlands.
This dutch report concerns phase 1 of the project: first action (analysis of
main experiences of not formal learning in Europe) to elaborate a map of
competencies that can come from not formal learning during volunteer civil
service jobs.
In the Netherlands, EVC (Erkenning Verworven Competenties – Recognition of
Acquired Skills) is the term used for the validation of non-formal or
informal learning.
In part 1 a general overview is presented concerning the state of the art of
VPL in the Netherlands: vision on VPL, the procedure, stakeholders,
practices and history. The third or voluntary sector is also introduced.
In part 2 the dutch casestudies are listed. These casestudies will (hopefully)
provide the information for setting up a national system for civil service
apprenticeship. Together they cover a wide range of sectors and regions in
the Netherlands and Flanders (Belgium):
- NOC*NSF sport
- AbvaKabo trade union activists
- Red Cross Flanders health care
- Batavia yard shipbuilding
- Civiq/NIZW/IVIO voluntary-centres
- Scouting Gelderland scouting
- STHL welfare
- SoCius administration voluntary work
In general we can state that
volunteering is beneficial for society at all levels, in the private lives
of individual volunteers as well al in the broader spheres of the state and
commercial sectors. Factors that influence the nature of volunteering in a
country include its economic, social and political landscapes, as well al
its stage of development. Within the European Union, governments and
stakeholders at all levels are developing policies on volunteering and
participation. The goals of these policies are to influence en stimulate
volunteering and civic participation and to explore various opportunities
for support. Given the diversity that exists in the field of volunteering,
however: it is impossible to specify a single, universal model for policies
on volunteering.
The same goes for legislation concerning voluntary work. There are no
specific laws or regulation for volunteers. Voluntary work is seen as any
other kind of social-economic activity on the labour market. Volunteers
therefore work under the same jurisdiction as paid workers!
The usage of VPL in voluntary work in general aims at – on the individual
side – employability or resocialisation and – on the organisation level –
the intake of new volunteers and the usability of volunteers. Both
individuals and organisations use VPL for summative (certification) or
formative (career guidance) purposes.
Initiators of voluntary work and projects can be persons or groups from a:
- company
- local broker in socially responsible business practice
- volunteer centre
- Chamber of Commerce
- foundation (social welfare or other)
- trade association
- social welfare or voluntary organisations
- provincial support organisation
- charitable trust
- service club
- municipality or province
- enthusiastic individual/party.
The context of the case studies in this report is reflects the diversity of voluntary work in the Netherlands and Falnders (Belgium). The selection criteria were aiming at showing this variety:
- geographically
- economically
- specific usage of VPL
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