This headline is also the headline of a new Danish website on "real competences". It was published on the 1st of September by the Danish Adult Education Association/Dansk Folkeoplysnings Samråd (DAEA/DFS).

The website deals comprehensively with Danish and international experiences about recognition and accreditation of prior learning.

Introducing the site the DAEA writes:

"We learn all the time, getting wiser, more able, and more competent at something.

Not only in school or in supplementary training. Not only in subjects like mathematics, language or IT.

We also learn at work, in the family, doing sport… and in non-formal adult education.

We learn hard facts and skills, but also more intangible competences, for example creating ideas, collaboration and taking care of our own health.

All this together is our real competences.

Most of us will gain from realising our real competences and from putting them into words. It makes us more self-confident and opens our eyes for possible changes in our lives.

But it will also be useful to have other people and institutions acknowledge our real competences. It may open doors to new kinds of education or to new jobs - to the benefit of the individual and of society."

At the site you will find articles on, why different kinds of actors are involved in research, development and concrete projects on this issue: from international organisations such as EU and OECD to universities and even local branches of non-formal adult education associations.

As a means of introducing the subject the website poses 10 central questions related to the issue - and 10 answers. The DAEA even call on readers to send in their own questions.

The most original part of the website is a dictionary, explaining 56 terms often used in research and development of "real competences", i.e. recognition and accreditation of prior learning - all with cross references.

The website on real competences is part of the redesigned website of the DAEA/DFS.

The DAEA website: www.dfs.dk

The DAEA website on real competences: www.dfs.dk/realkompetence/realkompetence.aspx

The DAEA website in English: www.dfs.dk/inenglish.aspx