– Support to citizens in the identification of their learning outcomes acquired through non-formal and informal learning;
– Assistance to citizens in documenting their learning outcomes acquired through non-formal and informal learning;
– Assessment of an individual's learning outcomes acquired through non-formal and informal learning;
– Certification of the results of the assessmentoflearning outcomes acquired through non-formal and informal learning in the form of a qualification, as credits leading to a qualification or as otherwise appropriate.
(3) Compliance the following principles:
– The validation system is a coherent and integral part ofthe national qualifications framework developed in line with the European Qualifications Framework;
– Information on validation opportunities is widely available to individuals and organisations;
– Disadvantaged groups, including those citizens most likely to be subject to unemployment or insecure forms of employment, are specifically targeted by the validation system as it can increase their participation in lifelong learning and their access to the labour market;
– Individuals, in situations of unemployment or insecure forms of employment, are provided with the opportunity to undergo an audit of their skills and competences within three months of an identified need;
– Access to validation is affordable for citizens who wish to undertake a validation procedure;
– Appropriate guidance and counselling is available and affordable for individuals who wish to undertake a validation procedure;
– Transparent quality assurance measures are in placethat support reliable, valid and credible assessment methodologies and tools;
– Development of the professional competence of staff involved in the validation process across all relevant sectors is ensured;
– The qualifications obtained by means of the validation of non-formal and informal learning experiences respect agreed standardsthat are the same or equivalent to the standards of qualifications obtained through formal education programmes;
– The use of the current and future tools of the Europassframework to facilitate the documentation of learning outcomes is promoted;
– Synergies [1] exists between validation arrangements and credit systems applicable in the formal education and training system, e.g. ECTS and ECVET;