Report - Salto

4
Bridges for Recognition | Bridges for Recognition in a Nutshell - Executive Summary
• Understanding the relationship between non-formal and formal learning is also crucial to
credibility. Many delegates saw complementarity but some expressed fears of competition.
There is a real concern for some that formal recognition and non-formal learning are
incompatible, that the voluntary engagement of young people in Non Formal Learning will be
threatened.
• Delegates understood that recognition is a complex issue: Young People need to be recognised
for a variety of things – their experience, their competences, their personal growth and their
contribution to society. They therefore need a variety of tools, instruments and approaches to
recognition. Portfolios seem to be the most flexible and the most popular at present.
• Recognition of youth workers, youth leaders and youth trainers was also a key area of
debate during the conference. A proposal was formulated to move forward with functional
analysis and occupational profiling in the area of training in particular.
120 people spent three full days exploring the current successes and the future challenges
of recognition in Non-Formal Learning and Youth Work. The result was a celebration of
achievement, greater clarity about priorities and renewed energy for further development.