2.9 Skills recognition
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Policy Framework
The responsible authority for validation and recognition of skills is the National Commission for Further and Higher Education. Subsidiary Legislation 327.432, aptly entitled, the ‘Validation of Non-Formal and Informal Learning Regulations’ establishes a process which identifies, assesses and formally certifies the knowledge, skills and competences which individuals develop throughout their lives by means of participation in non-formal and informal learning.
Subsidiary Legislation 327.432, which regulates the validation of informal and non-formal learning in Malta, states that any individual with a minimum of three years’ experience in a particular occupation is allowed to apply for validation. Volunteering in particular occupations and sectors for which validation is already taking place in Malta would count towards the required years of experience.
The Youth Voluntary Service aims to support young people taking an active part in Voluntary Organisations. The scheme helps young people improve their skills and prospects by giving them an opportunity to take up volunteering as part of their non-formal and informal learning process. It will also enable them to discover the value of voluntary service and help to foster a sense of community and active citizenship. This scheme is also valid for academic accreditation, Youthpass and Europass.
Existing arrangements
As per subsidiary Legislation 327.432, the National Commission for Further and Higher Education ( is to set up and coordinate the work of Sector Skills Units (SSUs) for different sectors. Through these SSUs, national occupational standards are developed to ensure the proper set up of the validation process.
As of December 2018, the National Commission for Further and Higher Education has set up SSUs for 8 different economic sectors. These are: Hospitality and Tourism, Automotive, Education Support, Health and Social Care, Hair and Beauty, Printing and Digital Media, Building and Construction, and Information Technology. This means that individuals who have three years’ experience in occupations in any of these sectors, are eligible to apply for validation of their learning. The three years’ experience may also include voluntary work.