Α Socio-economic Approach to the Benefits of Recognizing Prior Knowledge in Western Macedonia: Field Survey of Local Workers and Graduates

Boutskou Lemon1 , Miltiadis Stamboulis2

(1. School in Amyntaio, University of Macedonia, Greece;

2. Department of Education and Social Policy, University of Macedonia, Greece)

Abstracts: Recognition of prior knowledge brings many benefits to trainees as well as to educational institutions. These benefits should be seen in particular on the basis of lifelong learning, taking into account the problems created by the financial crisis in the labor market, workers’ mobility, and the aging of the population. One’s employability is a function of one’s skills. Countries with high rates of adults with poor qualifications in basic (writing, reading and numeracy) and digital skills have lower levels of labor productivity and therefore lower prospects for growth and competitiveness. There is scope to make better use of Europe’s human capital over the course of its life, and even improve it by upgrading its overall level of competence. The assessment and recognition of prior knowledge has been used by trainees and employees as it enables them to obtain some certification for their prior experience. Usually the employee/trainee submits documentation or demonstrates skills to a practitioner who is trained in such methods, who evaluates these elements on the basis of specific criteria, and ultimately the certification remains. This contributes to the effectiveness of the education system by removing unnecessary forms of training for people who have developed skills and knowledge elsewhere than the teacher. The purpose of this paper is to explore the issue of recognition of adult knowledge through a field survey of existing certification bodies in order to realize a socio-economic approach to the benefits of recognition of background knowledge. People are encouraged throughout their lives to learn what they like, when they like it, and from anyone to impart their knowledge to those who want to learn from them. There is a wide range of types of learning and social value is added, as demonstrated by the results of the present study. The skills acquired in informal and informal situations are essential for each individual’s performance in the labor market and education system, as well as in local communities and voluntary work, and therefore this work can contribute to identifying systems and the validation of all forms of learning which in recent years has become one of the central themes in all areas of education and training.

Key words: lifelong learning, prior knowledge recognition, background knowledge certification bodies