The Competence Assessment Project 2001-2002:
How to assess and validate the real competencies of adults
The Competence Assessment Project (CMP) is a research and development project established jointly between The Danish Teacher Training Institute (Danmarks Erhvervspaedagogiske Laereruddannelse (DEL)) and The Danish University of Education (Danmarks Paedagogiske Universitet (DPU)). The project is supported by The European Social Fund and is being carried out during 2001-2002.
The project seeks to answer the question:
How can the real competencies of adults be assessed and validated?
The question is extremely topical, forming part of the international debate concerning “assessment of prior learning” and “work-based assessment,” etc. The present focus in Denmark and the EU is upon:
- Merit accreditation in connection with national initiatives and merit transfer between countries;
- Return on investment in education, in both the public and private sectors.
On a global level, the general debate has a corresponding tendency to focus on 2 aspects, namely, “the system” – how to rank potential participants in relation to their real competencies - and “value for money” – how do we assess the real results of investment in education in terms of additional competence growth.
A primary issue is the assessment and validation of real competence development, whether created through formal or non-formal contexts, education activities or at work, etc. DEL and DPU are, in partnership, gaining knowledge of how this is done, via monitoring, research, surveys, comparative studies and pilot projects in public and private organisations. Research aspects are the main responsibility of DPU, while development aspects are mainly covered by DEL. The aim is to describe and analyse existing methods and present suggestions for new operational tools.
The project is divided into 4 main parts, each to be carried out and reported on during 2001-2002.
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1.
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A statement of current practice and thinking in Denmark. |
| 2. | Comparative studies of international findings in the EU, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and possibly other countries. |
| 3. | Surveys of the practice and thinking of firms of private consultants in Denmark, EU and internationally. |
| 4. | Pilot projects in both private and public organisations and project-based environments, in order to test newly developed tools and knowledge. |
To strengthen the comparative part of the work, the project will establish networks and carry out research and interviews with a series of international partners from the above mentioned countries. The project will benefit from both international experiences and research and, at the same time, will be able to deliver its own contribution to know-how and research in the field of competence assessment.
A national board of management for the Danish project will be established, with representatives from The European Social Fund, The Danish Ministry of Labour (Arbejdsministeriet), The Danish Ministry of Education (Undervisningsministeriet), public organisations, private companies, employee and employer organisations.
For more information please contact:
Niels Henrik Helms, DEL; Soren Ehlers, DPU; Jens-Jorgen Pedersen, DPU;
