The seminar was held as a hybrid meeting with participants on the spot in Reykjavik, Iceland and online on Teams.

The main purpose of the seminar was to disseminate findings so far and to create a venue for stakeholders to give feedback on the project outputs, the first results of the comparative analysis, and to discuss possible policy recommendations based on the findings so far. A few identified best practices examples were also presented.

Short summaries with presentations

Paper tigers or efficient tools for transparency and mobility?

Anni Karttunen presented the first findings of the comparative study on the Nordic approaches for including non-formal learning and non-formal qualifications in National Qualifications Framework. The five Nordic countries plus Austria and The Netherlands are included in the study. The next step will be conducting more in-depth interviews with representatives of the countries involved. The main conclusions drawn so far are that stakeholder involvement are the strongest features in all countries, whereas there are differences in how non-formal qualifications are included in the respective frameworks.

Keynote Presentation: Micro credentials − the new black or The Emperor´s new clothes?

Anastasia Pouliou, Expert in qualifications and credentials - future of VET at Cedefop, guided the seminar participants through the world of micro credentials and the current developments in this field at EU level with the specific focus of how micro-credentials could be linked to national qualifications frameworks. She explained that although micro-credentials might not be a new phenomenon they are here to stay and that they will have an increasingly important role to play for lifelong learning and as potential response to emerging labour market demands.

How to develop non-formal qualifications? Presenting good practices cases:

Developing occupational profiles − What skills do workers in waste management and recycling need to perform their jobs?

Project Manager Conny Larsson and expert Thomas Nylund at Sobona, the Employers Association for Local Service Enterprises in Sweden, gave a presentation explaining why and how they have worked with developing occupational profiles, qualifications and validation procedures within the waste management and recycling sector. An occupational profile is a quality-assured description of what an individual should be able to perform and take responsibility for within the framework of a specific occupational role or skills area.

The profiles are developed together with experienced workers who help describe the skills needed to perform tasks and jobs.
At this point, 4 of these occupational profiles are the basis for qualifications levelled (formally included) in the SeQF and Sobona is planning on applying for levelling for additional profiles.

Competency profiling in Iceland – untangling a complex process?

Lilja Rós Óskarsdóttir, specialist at the Education and Training Service Center in Iceland gave an overview of the method used in Iceland for efficiently identifying the competences required to perform a job – a process with a set formula using a suite of predefined competency cards. The method is borrowed from Canada and adapted to Icelandic circumstances – and is now a foundation for 43 curricula and VPL pathways