The Database contains examples of:

• conducting validation of learning outcomes – validation refers to the process of verifying whether candidate possesses knowledge, skills, and social competences, regardless of how they have been acquired, often based on national qualifications frameworks and qualification descriptions formulated in terms of learning outcomes;
• ensuring the quality of the qualification awarding process – quality assurance means implementing systemic solutions (e.g., periodic evaluation studies) aimed at the continuous improvement of the process of awarding diplomas or certificates.

The Good Practices Database was created for entities operating within the Integrated Qualifications System (IQS) or planning to do so, including:

• Awarding bodies – as inspiration for designing validation;
• Entities submitting qualifications to the IQS – as support when defining validation requirements;
• External quality assurance bodies – as a source of examples related to evaluation activities.

What does paper have to do with competences?

An animated educational film about the history of paper as a metaphor for the spread of ideas – it presents global examples of competence validation and promotes the Good Practices Database.

About the Project:

The Good Practices Database was developed as part of the non-competitive project "Supporting the implementation of the first stage of the Integrated Qualifications System at the level of central administration and institutions awarding and assuring the quality of qualifications," carried out by the Educational Research Institute on behalf of the Ministry of National Education. The database is being further developed within subsequent IQS (Integrated Qualifications System) projects.

You can read more about the IQS project here.

Validation and the Integrated Qualifications System (IQS)

The validation of learning outcomes is an extremely important mechanism within the IQS. It is a process that enables the verification of whether an individual has achieved the learning outcomes required for a given qualification – that is, the appropriate knowledge, skills, and social competences – regardless of how they were acquired. Only a positive validation result leads to the awarding of a certificate confirming the achievement of a qualification that functions within the system.

Validation may consist of three stages:
 ● identification,
 ● documentation,
 ● verification of learning outcomes.

It is a comprehensive solution the goal of which may be not only to obtain a qualification, but also to broadly identify the learning outcomes acquired by an individual. This process is carried out within the IQS by bodies that have obtained formal certification rights.

How have the Good Practices been collected?

The examples in the database come from expert reports prepared by national and international specialists in the field of validation and quality assurance in the validation process. These examples have been selected to illustrate the following aspects of validation:

• Division into three validation stages and certification;
• Support offered to individuals undergoing validation, including guidance;
• Diverse methods used in validation, including non-traditional ones such as the analysis of evidence and statements (sometimes referred to as the “portfolio method”);
• Various outcomes of validation, such as obtaining a qualification, gaining access to an educational program, or a broad skills audit.

How to use the Database of Good Practices?

Each good practice in validation includes an interactive validation flowchart that clearly shows how the validation process for a given qualification is designed. The flowchart also serves as a navigation tool (clicking on an element takes the user to the relevant part of the text).

Good practices related to quality assurance include infographics that concisely present the key components of a quality assurance system.

All content in the Good Practices Database is available for download in the PDF format.

Other tools from the Educational Research Institute – National Research Institute useful in conducting validation:

The Validation Methods Catalogue is a source of information about selected methods for validating learning outcomes used at all validation stages, as well as how to select these methods to ensure the effectiveness, reliability, and appropriateness of validation. This tool supports the design and improvement of validation processes for learning achieved outside of formal education.	My Portfolio is an online tool for collecting evidence of acquired knowledge, skills, and social competences. It also helps users create personal development plans. You can upload certificates, diplomas, photos, creations, and other documents – in short, any evidence of achieved learning outcomes.