The WINKIT-project

Introduction

The European member all subscribe to the “Common Principles for the validation of non formal and informal life long learning.” This means they undertake to take into consideration all kinds of learning and to treat all individuals fairly regardless of sex, age, gender or ethnic origin. This is not yet a reality for all in Europe.

In order to reduce this considerable inequality for which women bear the brunt, it is essential that skills, knowledge and competences acquired in non formal and informal contexts are given the same consideration and value as those acquired in formal learning environments.

Background and current situation

The report from the commission to the council, the European parliament, the European economic and social committee and the committee of the regions “On equality between women and men – 2007” highlights the high proportion of women out of the employment market between the ages of 20-49 compared to men.

The European strategy for improving our knowledge society has as one of its cornerstones valuing and validating all forms of learning: formal, non formal and informal. In its priorities for a European area of lifelong learning, the emphasis has been placed on developing strategies for lifelong learning with specific activities and the development of a European reference framework for key competences for lifelong learning.

The contexts in the partnership countries- France, Germany, Sweden and Slovenia all point to the need to provide tools to improve the identification and recognition of non formal and informal learning outcomes for women.

Our project will use the “European Key Competences for lifelong learning”, the “European common principles for the validation of non formal and informal learning” and the “Roadmap for equality between women and men 2006-2010” as the common basis on which to construct our philosophy, methodology and tools for the WINKIT. In this way, the project outcomes will contribute directly to their implementation and can be readily understood and easily adapted throughout the European Union.

Building the Winkit

The WINKIT, an innovative solution in the form of a “Women’s tool kit for the identification and recognition of informal learning” aims at changing this situation in our partner countries. Three stages have been identified:

Self-recognition
Facilitating self-expression of competencies acquired in non formal and informal contexts by the target groups themselves

Peer group and social recognition
Mapping these skills and competences to the “European key competences for lifelong learning” and making them visible.

Institutional recognition
Facilitating the transition towards institutional recognition (certification, validation) within specified European territorial contexts

The partnership

The partnership is composed of specialists from:

• • Guidance and counselling (Sweden and France)
• • Skills audit and career progression and development (France and Germany)
• • Management of women’s support, training and development (France, Sweden and Slovenia)
• • Gender and equality of opportunity issues (France)