Background information

The validation of prior learning was established by the Grand-Ducal Regulation of 11 January 2010 on the organisation of the validation of prior learning for the award of diplomas, degrees and certificates provided for in Chapter V of the law of 19 December 2008 on the reform of vocational training.

By regulation of 15 December 2017, the texts subsequently specified that the request has to be valid and directly linked to the profession. All employees or volunteers who have worked for more than three years with a total of 5,000 hours.

Content of measure

In order to apply for a VAE in Luxembourg, employees must have worked in their profession for at least three years. Their work should relate to the qualification for which they applied. Each application is considered by a validation committee which is composed of two representatives of trade unions, two representatives of employer organisations and two representatives of the educational system. This committee analyses the candidate's description of past and present activities against the requirements of the qualification. After this, an interview is conducted with the applicant or, alternatively, a check is carried out while working. Higher education degrees can be recognised by the University of Luxembourg.

Three types can be requested, depending on the certificate, qualification or diploma sought:

• Accreditation of prior experiential learning for the secondary technical education diplomas or the master craftsman's certificate which can requested from the Ministry of Education
• Accreditation of prior experiential learning for a higher education diploma (Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, PhD) which can be requested from the University of Luxembourg
• Accreditation of prior experiential learning for diplomas for evening classes which can be be requested from the Luxembourg Lifelong Learning Center

The VAE is funded by the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth, the Chambers of Employees, and of Commerce, the University of Luxembourg (for higher education degrees), the Luxembourg Lifelong Learning Center (for evening courses).

Use of measure

According to the activity report of Ministry of National Education, Children and Youth, 376 applications were submitted in 2021, of which 310 were declared admissible. The 66 applications were declared inadmissible for various reasons (error in the diploma requested, application incomplete applications, etc.). In total, 179 people whose applications were declared admissible (1st file), and who wished to who wished to benefit from support, received the contact details of a support person for the to prepare their application for substantive validation (2nd file).

Concerning the evaluation of applications for substantive validation, 172 files were presented to the various evaluation commissions, which issued 40 total validations, 50 files are at the stage of partial validation in 2021, 82 persons received a refusal, all diplomas, certificates and diplomas, certificates and diplomas combined.

This measure has a positive impact on career developments and enables employees to get accreditation for study modules they already know because of their work experience. It can be used as a springboard to a higher degree and some of the degrees can be flexibly conducted.

Weaknesses are difficult to be identified, as no scientific evaluation has yet been done. According to a press article published in May 2016 in the daily, there is a lack of voluntary accompanying people to support applicants (L'Essentiel, http://www.lessentiel.lu/fr/luxembourg/story/31982496).

The Ministry of Education identifies costs as a barrier to accompany applicants. The newspaper d'Lëtzeburger Land also points to the fact that the scheme and its formalities are too complex for low qualified people (http://www.land.lu/2016/03/25/weiter-länger-besser%E2%80%A9/). Another article published in the newspaper Lequotidien (in 2017 on the procedure at the level of the University underlines that it is a difficult task to continue studies in the context of the VAE when working full-time https://lequotidien.lu/politique-societe/valider-ses-acquis-a-luni-pas-simple-avec-un-travail-a-temps-plein).

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Employees in standard employment	Applies to all businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Employers' organisations	National funds Other

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: Unknown

Involvement

No involvement

Views and reactions

Unknown

Sources

• 11 January 2010: Règlement grand-ducal du 11 janvier 2010 portant organisation de la validation des acquis de l’expérience (legilux.public.lu)
• 30 January 2015: L'Essentiel, 'La validation des acquis n'est pas une formalité', 30 January 2015 (www.lessentiel.lu)
• 25 March 2016: D' Lëtzeburger Land, 'Weiter, länger, besser', 25 March 2016 (www.land.lu)
• 26 February 2017: Le Quotidien, 'Valider ses acquis à l’Uni : pas simple avec un travail à temps plein' (lequotidien.lu)
• 15 December 2017: VAE amendemen (legilux.public.lu)
• 28 February 2018: Lifelong learning (www.lifelong-learning.lu)
• 27 June 2018: Law of June 27, 2018 (legilux.public.lu)
• 06 March 2020: Ministry of Education, Report d'activités 2019 (men.public.lu)
• 26 February 2021: Business portal of the government (www.guichet.public.lu)
• 01 March 2022: MENJE - Activity report 2021 (gouvernement.lu)
• 21 July 2023: Law of July 21, 2023 (legilux.public.lu)