FamCompass: Assessing and validating family competencesBrussels, Friday 23 October 2009 The 'Family Competences Portfolio', in short 'FamCompass', assesses 'family competences', competences men and women have obtained in family life, in their roles as educators, home makers and care givers. Family competences are valuable human resources. Considering the challenges and needs of our ageing society, they will have an increasing relevance and importance, especially in the fields of social work, education and care for the elderly. Tested in seven European countries, the FamCompass guarantees a transparent and objective assessment of these informally acquired competences. It can be used to: facilitate the intake for education and training programmes, grant exemptions and shorten training pathways, validate family competences on the labour market.
With this project we also hope to influence local, national and European authorities to take the necessary steps for the official recognition and validation of competences obtained in the non-formal settings of family life and care. Programme
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| | Opening of the conference by Mr. Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth  Validating Informal Learning - opening speech by Mr. Maroš Šefčovič 
| Welcome by Pascal Smet, Flemish Minister for Education, Youth, Equal Opportuntities and Brussels - represented by his adviser Tom Dekeyzer Opening speech by Mr. Pascal Smet 
| Keynote 1: Recognition and validation of informal learning with regard to vocational education and training.
Dr. Gesa Münchhausen, researcher in the Section 'Skills and Competences Development' at the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), Germany PPT Mrs. Münchhausen 
| Keynote 1: Growing importance of the accreditation of prior learning and difficulties and opportunities in recognizing and validating these competences
Erik Kaemingk, Director Knowledge Center APL in Utrecht, The Netherlands PPT Mr. Kaemingk  | | Keynote 3: Results and findings of the project FamCompass - goals and key findings of the project: Lucia Schuhegger, Deutsches Jugendinstitut (DE) PPT Mrs. Schuhegger - presentation of the instrument: Joris Dewispelaere, Higher Institute for Family Sciences (BE) PPT Mr. Dewispelaere
- the use of the FamCompass in the formal education system: Mikas Balkevicius, Vilnius College of Higher Education (LT) PPT Mr. Balkevicius
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| | Debate on the difficulties and opportunities of validation of family competences Participating experts: Veerle Depauw, Manager of Diversity of VDAB, Flemish Agency for Employment Prof. dr. Emil Paun, professor at the Faculty for Psychology and Pedagogical Sciences and former director of the Department of Educational Sciences of the University of Bucharest Izabela Witczak, EURES (European Employment Services) adviser in the Voivodship Labour Office (Regional Labour Office) in Lodz Carl Foulon, Adviser for the IPV, advice and training center for the food industry Moderator: Georges Monard, former Secretary General of the Flemish Ministry of Education and president of the P&O Department in the Belgian federal administration 
FamCompass Conference: minutes of questions & debate | | Looking ahead PPT Conclusions 
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List of participants: FamCompass Conference - List of participants FamCompass Expert SeminarSaturday 24th October, Brussels
Programme:
Part 1: Three experts give a short introduction about their background and explain if they already work with an instrument like FamCompass or see possibilities to do this in the future: 
Part 2:
Two researchers and a governmental adviser give a short introduction about their background and explain their suggestions that could help to develop FamCompass further: 
Download the comments & questions following these presentations: Expert Seminar: minutes
List of participants:
Expert Seminar - List of participants
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