Europe and North America

Cork Learning City defines a Learning Neighbourhood as an area that has an ongoing commitment to learning, providing inclusive and diverse learning opportunities for whole communities through partnership and collaboration (O’Sullivan and Kenny, 2017). The Learning Neighbourhoods Programme aims to support and recognize lifelong learning across Cork City’s neighbourhoods.

Volkshochschulen (VHS) are adult learning centres founded on principles of liberal education and offering a range of programmes, including languages, general education and cultural learning. In addition, they increasingly provide vocational courses (EAEA, 2011). Since VHS are local institutions overseen by municipalities, they serve as community meeting points for neighbours to interact and build relationships and trust. The approximately 900 adult education centres in Germany offer around 700,000 events a year – courses and lectures, study trips and excursions. With around nine million participants, adult education centres are the largest provider of general adult education in Germany (DVV, 2011).

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).