Georges Metz, Director of SNJ welcoming conference participants; Credit: SNJ

On Wednesday 8 and Thursday 9 December 2021, the National Youth Service (SNJ, Service National de la Jeunesse) organised a conference on "Recognition of skills acquired in the non-formal sector".

For people who are outside the initial or higher education system, i.e. third-level education, young people with fewer opportunities or young people dropping out of school, in particular, it is likely that non-formal skills and learning are more important and meaningful than the type of learning that takes place in the formal setting.

A total of 40 participants from thirteen different countries participated in the discussions on current trends and methods and tools facilitating skills recognition.

On the basis of these discussions, the SNJ intends to develop a recognition model in order to validate non-formal education programmes, such as voluntary service for young people.

The conference took place at the Abbaye de Neumünster (neimënster) and was co-funded by the European Commission under the Erasmus+ programme.