"Observal 2015" will promote the professional qualification processes, and the recognition of both learning and competences acquired through experience. This promotion will be accomplished by analysing the context and current situation. Also, it will be accomplished by generating the commitment of the agents involved in this task to achieve a modern and competitive society, with social and sustainable responsibility, and consistent with the objectives of the «Europe 2020» strategy.

We understand this international conference as a short-to-medium-term strategy to achieve the Council Recommendation December 20th, 2012 on the validation of non-formal/informal learning. We believe that the principles that regulate this recommendation are the subject of collective reflection and open debate among professionals and stakeholders to improve European citizens employability, professional qualification, and quality of life.

• Participation: We are involved in building a plural and diverse society, and we are committed to the professionalism of its members.
• Reflection: The analysis about modern society conditions concerns us all.
• Rigour: Making decisions on reliable sources of information ensure us greater accuracy in the conclusions we want to provide.
• Commitment: The quality of life of the citizens is constructed with the commitment of those who bet on it and generate the confidence to define their lines of action.
• Responsibility: We are committed to the non-formal/informal learning recognition processes promotion. This commitment makes us responsible for our actions. Observal is an important source to support it.
• Inclusion: The plurality of contexts and diversity of professional practices lead us to promote opportunities for exchanging experience through debates, forums and points of view of those who want to be part of this initiative. There will be no exclusion for reasons unrelated to the equity principles.
• Accessibility: This conference is open to everyone and the accessibility is guaranteed to all who wish to participate in it. The places where the conference will take place as well as its conditions are guaranteed in this way.
• Sustainability: There is a commitment to use the energy and resources used in the development of the conference efficiently and with responsibility.

Aims of the conference

1. To promote the recognition and accreditation procedures following the guidelines of the Council Recommendation of Europe 2012.
2. To analyse the experience developed in the regional governments of Spain regarding the processes of recognition, validation and accreditation of skills acquired through work experience and non-formal/informal learning.
3. To submit the European guidelines for the recognition and accreditation of non-formal/informal learning procedures.
4. To reflect on the current situation of employability and the labour market under the demands of the 'Europe 2020' strategy.
5. To discuss the possibilities of new professional qualifications and to review the updating of the existing ones. Also, to discuss and to review their connection with the productive sectors of the economy.
6. To report on progress and achievements developed since the Professional Qualifications and Training Act published in 2002.
7. To promote career counselling and skills audit as strategies for building career paths according with labour market needs.
8. To share experiences on professional guidance and training, and on skills recognition carried out in the regional governments of Spain, as well as in the tertiary sector organisations and non-governmental entities.
9. To guide on the improvement of qualifications and recognition of competences acquired by non-formal/informal pathways, as well as on the models of professional career guidance and skills audit.
10. To reflect on the situation of the active employment policies, training, qualification and non-formal/informal learning recognition.
11. To participate in the debate and exchange of ideas between people involved in different contexts in relation to lifelong training.
12. To cooperate with the productive sectors in the implementation of information, guidance, training and accreditation systems.

The International Conference "Observal 2015" is organised taking into account four fields through which the established aims will be developed. These four fields will narrow their ideas into the following themes:

1. Professional qualifications.
2. Accreditation of competences
3. Lifelong learning
4. Career Guidance and Skills Audit

	UNESCO/CEDEFOP CONFERENCE: Recognition, validation and accreditation
	Papers	Simposium	Conference La acreditación de competencias	Simposium	Papers
	Work Groups	Workshops		Workshops	Work Groups
	Conference Las cualificaciones profesionales		Posters experiences	Conference Orientación profesional y balance de competencias
	Work Groups	Workshops	Conference La formación a lo largo de la vida	Workshops	Work Groups
	Papers	Simposium		Simposium	Papers
	MINISTRIES OF EDUCATION/EMPLOYMENT: Lifelong Learning

General planning of the conference

  Wednesday, April 8^th, 2015

  Thursday, April 9^th, 2015

  Friday, April 10^th, 2015