The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities is an international policy-oriented network providing inspiration, know-how and best practice. Learning cities benefit from global collaboration in searching for effective solutions to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In 2012, Germany passed a federal law to streamline recognition of professional qualifications. Foreign nationals can gain recognition regardless of residence status or citizenship. They can make a legal claim for recognition and receive a decision within three months. Professional qualifications obtained abroad are checked for compatibility with German professional requirements.

Validation of experience (validation des acquis de l’expérience - VAE) allows individuals to obtain a partial or complete degree or certification by proving their work experience. According to the VAE website, validation of experience is possible for any individual with at least one year of experience directly related to the certification. Validation can take place by the awarding of a diploma, title or professional qualification certificate registered in the National Directory of Professional Certifications (Répertoire national des certifications professionnelles - RNCP) (Le Portail de la Validation des Acquis de L'expérience, n.d).

The validation of non-formal and informal learning is a part of the national education and training system of Reconhecimento, validação e certificação de competências (Portuguese for recognition, validation and certification of competences (RVCC)) in Portugal. The goal of validation is to increase the levels of school and professional certification among the employed and unemployed adult population in Portugal. The policy aims to prepare human resources for economic development and to support the labour market. Centros Qualifica (Portuguese for local adult education centres) offer validation of non-formal and informal learning in the whole country and Madeira Island and increase access to recognition, validation and competence certification processes for adult learners (Guimarães, 2019).

The maximum prison sentence in Norway is 21 years. In the final three years of a sentence, the inmate is eligible to be transferred to Bastøy prison, located on Bastøy Island in the Oslo Fiord of Horten municipality. Bastøy prison is a multi-building complex and a working farm and timber operation where inmates work and some have privileges to leave the prison to attend school or work on the mainland during the day. Organized as a small island community, the prison infrastructure includes about 80 buildings, roads, beach zones, a cultural landscape, a football field, agricultural land and forest. Most of the prisons in Norway have libraries for inmates. Bastøy prison, however, is noted for its library. The prison director, Tina Hansen, was awarded the 2016 Library Award by the Vestdfold County section of the Norwegian Library Association for her work on the Bastøy Prison Library.