Recognition of learning in Scouting and Guiding

Date of event th th 14 16 of October 2011 Place of event nd Centre Social Joo Paulo 2 , Apulia, Portugal Date of report rd 23 of October 2011 Author of report Joris Schut Scouting Nederland Summary Recognition is one of the key issues today in several national Scout associations across Europe. Project proposal from the Scouting Netherlands got support from the Youth in Action program to lead a project that involves associations from Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain. WOSM and WAGGGS European Regions are supporting the project providing expert support if and when needed. KFUM Denmark hosted the first meeting of the project managers from all involved countries, from 27 to 29 May 2011 in Copenhagen. It was the opportunity to share and plan project ideas from each country and discuss next steps in project implementation. Corpo Nacional de Escutas hosted the second meeting, held from 14 to 16 October in Apulia, Portugal. Members of the involved countries as well as WOSM and WAGGGS representatives were present in this event. During the weekend the tools developed by the various counties were presented and some methodologies were experienced in a workshop setting. Feedback was given on the different systems for further improvements of the tools. Number of participants and countries represented Counties Female Belgium (SGV and Les Scouts) 1 Czech Republic Denmark (KFUM) 1 France (SGdF) 1 The Netherlands 1 Portugal (CNE) 3 Slovenia (ZTS) 1 Spain (ASDE) 1 WAGGGS 1 WOSM Total

Male 3 3 2 4 1 3 1 1

Total 4 3 3 1 5 3 4 2 1 1

Aims of the event Aim of the meeting was to present the developed project plans and related tools (if available) of the various countries and to exchange ideas for further improvement of these plans. Goals and priorities as formulated on the 1 recognition weekend in Copenhagen During the first weekend of the recognition project goals and priorities were formulated. During the second weekend the participating countries were asked how far they had progressed with these goals. 1 The progress varied between the different countries but all countries made a start .
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A full report of the progress of the different countries can be found in appendix 1

Programme The programme included elements like getting to know each other/teambuilding, presentations of the 2 national project plans, workshops to experience the different tools developed by various countries and feedback sessions related to the workshops. Teambuilding Teambuilding activities were done to transform the members of the various project teams into a single group. Presentations of the national project plans In a short presentation each country in the project presented the national project plan and how gave an indication how far they were with the development and implementation of their plan. Besides the national team a presentation was given by the WOSM representative on the learning in large scale scouting events (like the World Jamboree). Workshops 4 Workshops were given by four of the participating countries . Every participant took part in all of the workshops. The workshops were aimed to exchange ideas about the methodologies and/or tools by these countries. A short overview of each workshop is given. Belgium The Belgium workshop included a tool used for leaders in Scouting and Guiding. The tool aims to help leaders use the skills they gained in Scouting and Guiding for job applications. The tool was developed in association with Belgium universities in order to create a valid tool. It consists of hundred questions in 20 areas. In the workshop participants discussed the pros and cons of this methodology in the Belgium context. Czech Republic The Czech workshop included a tool used for leaders in Scouting and Guiding developed by France. The tool aims to help leaders use translate the skills they learn in scouting and guiding into language used in business. In the workshops participants practiced using the tool. Portugal The Portuguese workshop included a simplified version of the methodology used in Portugal. This methodology, based on the Dutch system, aims to make the requirements of different functions inside scouting visible. This is done by assigning different levels (based on a specific function) of increasing complexity to various competences. In the workshop participants discussed the pros and cons of this methodology in the Portuguese context. The Netherlands The Dutch workshop included a tool aimed at volunteers in scouting and guiding in the Netherlands. This methodology aims to visualize the competences of adults in scouting and guiding. This is done by assigning different levels of increasing complexity to various competences and to plot these in a radar plot. In the workshop participants filled in a part of the radar plot and discussed the pros and cons of this methodology in the Dutch context. Feedback sessions At the end of the programme participants were asked to give feedback on the various systems and 5 which parts of the systems presented they would like to use in their own countries . Follow up action The project includes individual projects in each of the countries and three more meetings of the project leaders or teams. 6 In May 2012 there will be second network meeting of the project teams (3-5 people from each partner organization) in Slovenia. This network meeting will focus on the further sharing of ideas, discussing
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These countries were: Belgium, Czech Republic, Portugal and the Netherlands Presentations and tools will be shared using the WOSM/WAGGGS Europak website These countries were: Belgium, Czech Republic, Portugal and the Netherlands 5 An overview of this can be found in appendix 2 6 Date yet to be determined due to national holidays

approaches, exchanging methods and materials and implementation of the activity plans for each national project team. Budget and financial report Travel costs were refunded for 70%, including the bus or train tickets to and from the airport and accommodation from the Youth in Action programme. The Regions covered WOSM and WAGGGS representatives' travels.

Appendix 1: Goals and priorities as formulated on the 1st recognition weekend in Copenhagen
Denmark: Making a catalogue of activities that can help the local leaders make a competence portfolio and their competence development areas. In progress, 20% completed Making several test runs of the different activities in local groups to get an evaluation of the activities usability. In progress, 50% completed Make a basic catalogue of competences that the leaders can use as inspiration when they are making the portfolio Pending Belgium: Branding of scouting an society and to parents Will start in 2012 Chats with HRM/CEOs Completed Pr-campaign to parents, investments in competences Will start in 2012 Self assessment tool for leaders Will be completed in March 2012 The end of 2011 everything ready New deadline: June 2012 Team: 5 people chez les scouts (1 staff) 2 volunteers at scouts & guides Flanders (process is already going on with at least one meeting every month) Share: Scouts & guides of Flanders : Denmark Les scout + Scouts & guides of Flanders

Fits in the policy of the associations Part of a broader debate in youth work / society France: Within the end of the year, SGDF will exchange about the tools of learning recognition that exist in CZ, B, PT to get new ideas Within 2012, SGDF will see if we can develop an e-tool of learning recognition based on valoise-toi after exchanging of tools, with especially Belgium Within the next meeting the matchmaking of the training tool specialists will be done. Portugal: Main goals: Create the awareness on outside society of the value of our training system Not yet started The training system will be linked to our educative programme Training system under development

Sub goals: The training system is recognized by the government and other institutions Not yet started Our training system receives certification of business companies. Not yet started

Until 30-09-2011: Identify the institutions that we want to work in In progress Get in touch with the institutions Not yet started Make the first appointment to know how to get the certification Not yet started To find stakeholders on business field Not yet started Our training system receives itep certificate Not yet started Until 01-07-2011: Get in communication with itep to know how our training system gets the certificate. Spain: Goal 1: Have a new training system adapted to the new professional qualifications appeared in a new law. Not yet started, awaiting new law (until then no action will be undertaken) Results: A document with the new training system with next characteristics: a) is based on competences b) certain amount of hours, according to the new law c) valid for the whole country Implementation of this training system in each federal scout organization Goal 2: Revalidate our training academy (scout schools) in order to continue giving the new professional certificates Not yet started, see goal 1 Result: Most of our federal scout organizations have its own scouting school validated by its own autonomous governments Goal 3: Count with an implemented and evaluated new training system, in ASDE and its federal organizations. Not yet started, see goal 1 Results: Federal organizations count with its training system The competences and qualifications got with one federal organization are valid for all others. Slovenia: By September, 50% of the participants of all trainings will give feedback (in written form, by email, directly in the visit) to the designed tool for recognition that will be improved. Completed In one year time the training system will be redesigned in accordance to the field of competences. In progress, 30% completed

Appendix 2: Overview of parts of the systems presented countries would like to use
Belgium Liked the Danish system for the way in which participants are motivated by means of coaches and for the general characteristics of the system

Czech Republic Liked the teambuilding activities Liked the Danish system for its online system Liked the Dutch system

Denmark Liked the translation of the Czech/French tool for translation of scout language into business language

France Not really sure what they want to use Everything presented was good

Portugal Liked the French and Belgium system since it can be useful for roverscouts Liked the French tool since it is already finished Liked the competence model of the Czech Liked the Dutch tool but they still have to evaluate its usefulness

Slovenia Want to use the tool developed by France to improve their own tool Liked the Belgium approach Liked the way France and the Czech Republic combined the progress

The Netherlands Liked the practical things incorporated in the different systems Liked the reminders used in the Danish system Liked the e-tools like the cv-translator

WAGGGS No opinion

WOSM Liked the idea behind the Danish system Liked the way Belgium collaborated with business