Certification and Validation process

Effie Karpodini-Dimitriadi, Evremathia A.E.

During the developement of Vania project an effort has been made to design a process for certification of courses addressed to cultural managers involved in transnational cultural cooperation projects, which is one of the aims of the project.

Certification is shown to be necessary for cultural managers in order to develop this activity as a profession. It is also needed for cultural organizations as well as private companies seeking a guarantee of skills levels and competences form the cultural managers who would run cooperation projects. Finally, it is necessary for the training organisations, which would benefit from the recognition that:

- the course is of a high quality
- has a European dimension outlook and
- corresponds to the needs of the European cultural sector.

The ultimate aim is to introduce a process for certification linked to competency-based training that will enhance national and European training policies for the recognition of occupational qualifications and the development of human capital involved in transational cultural cooperation projects.

In the Vania project, certification is considered as a means to assist training and educational institutions in identifying training needs and develop accordingly the content of the training offer. It is seen as a part of a process, where all stakeholders (training institutions, learners, labour market) recognise its value and guarantee its legitimacy.


The main bodies involved in course certification are:

1. the awarding body: an authority representing the professional field (e.g a Network or a composition of bodies with representatives of the different stakeholders) which installs
2. the advisory committee
3. the Certification Committee of Experts (with the widest possible representation).

As it happens with other professions, cultural managers involved in transnational cultural cooperation have to face the demand and challenges that have emerged in the multifaceted career environment, where new set or a combination of competences and skills is needed.
Professionals of the cultural field, have to cope with new circumstances and need to have the opportunities to update their skills and knowledge in order to maintain competitiveness and employability in the field. Therefore, there is a necessity to have a quality of training system that is validated and recognised. It is equally desirable to have courses addressed to professionals and in touch with current needs in the European arena



Report

Validation and certification of training courses in the field of European cultural cooperation project management - Standards and Requirements - Proposals