A certificação profissional pelo reconhecimento dos adquiridos

Abstract

Globalization challenges and the development of social and educational policies, which follow from the European construction and its repositioning, have definitely added to the transformation of education systems. These new circumstances lead the educational systems to be confronted with new challenges and to cope with the increasing complexity of the already existing issues. These problems have lead to finding new answers (Pires, 2002). Throughout the enhancement of the population’s professional skills, acquired in non-formal and informal contexts, during their personal, social and professional paths, the main purpose of the above mentioned process is to contribute to the increase of qualification levels of the population, as well as to offer a new training opportunity for those who have not completed or have prematurely abandoned schooling in the formal education systems. The current research aims at portraying a specific reality within systems of Education and Adult Training, more specifically to understand in what way the processes of recognition, validation and certification of competences are organised in the area of Service for Children and Youth; and to assess to what extent the list of professional competences of this process are adequate to perform this function. Bearing this purpose in mind, we focused on a qualitative methodology, which features the contribution of the participants while undergoing the process and which stresses their verbal skills, and observation of activities and documental analysis as well. According to the survey, it became clear, on the one hand, the need to (re) adjust the list of professional competences in the area of Service for Children and Youth in order to perform the function, and consequently, the tools used for the processes of recognition, validation and certification of skills. On the other hand, we point out all the potential of the process for adults, in what relates to their self-accomplishment, confidence and incitement for learning and qualification throughout life.

Date of Award	2012
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	António Manuel Fonseca (Supervisor) & Eduardo Oliveira (Co-Supervisor)