Recognition of the results of non-formal and informal learning, their identification and documentation, ensuring the transition from the qualification model (confirmation of professional skills by diplomas and certificates for the completion of training courses) to full-fledged competency models with the introduction of so-called «learning passports», accompanying people throughout their personal development and professional careers is an urgent task in the field of education of developed countries at national and international levels.
Considering the need for such recognition for our region and the country as a whole, the staff of the Computer Science Department of Dmytro Motornyi Tavria State Agrotechnological University the project is underway «Тheoretical substantiation and development of information system of semantic identification, documentation and processing of results of non-formal and informal learning», funded by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.
As part of this project, she is the Head of the Computer Science Department of TSATU Oksana Viktorivna Strokan took an active part in the international conference «СONNECTING YOUNG PEOPLE FOR LEARNING IN EUROPE», which took place on 12 December at the European Youth Education Center (Magdeburg city, Germany). The event was organized by the project team GOEUROPE! European Youth Competence Center Saxony-Anhalt.
Thematic discussions were held at the conference:
1. From European project days to the Center for International Youth and School Exchange – 10 years GOEUROPE.
2. Initiative “Cities and regions of study”.
3. Future models of European youth work on the example of a mobile account and a European ticket.
The most interesting and useful was the thematic discussion «Initiative «Cities and regions studied», the purpose of which coincides with the purpose of the project being carried out at the Department of Computer Science of TSATU: development of a tool for recognizing the results of non-formal and informal learning that will integrate the educational services market with the labor market. Representatives of similar projects from Germany, Spain, Latvia, the Netherlands, Ireland, Finland, France and other countries participated in this discussion. Each of the partner countries of the project «Сities of Learning of Bandgecraft» presented their platforms. A feature of the presented platforms is the use of so-called open digital icons (badges). The badge structure shows real achievements and skills that can help you in your future career and contribute to education.
Despite the considerable number of implemented projects of «educational platforms», the lack of tools that could provide semantic processing of information resources on non-formal and informal learning outcomes, their identification and documentation should be identified, effectively integrating the educational services market with the job market, employer and job seeker. Therefore, there is a need for semantic identification, documentation and processing of non-formal and informal learning outcomes through the development of an online platform.
This online platform aims to create valuable new avenues for learning and employment, combining and enhancing formal, non-formal and in-service learning opportunities that exist in different places. One of the key points in developing such a system is the use of ontologies by example ECSO – a multilingual classifier of European skills, competences, qualifications and professions, which allows to link the educational services market with the labor market. The work of the platform is based on the use of semantic technologies aimed at processing information at the level of knowledge (formalization, analysis and processing of meaning of information resources).
These and many other important issues were discussed during the meeting.
Further development of cooperation with «Сities of Learning of Bandgecraft» is an adaptation of the platform to the needs of Ukrainian education providers and employers.
We thank rector of Dmytro Motornyi Tavria State Agrotechnological University, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Corresponding Member NAAS of Ukraine Volodymyr Mykolaiovych Kiurchev for the opportunity to join the European community, to communicate with experts in the field of recognition of non-formal learning and the use of digital technologies in learning.
Oksana Strokan, head of Department of Computer Science
