In 2012, the Council of the European Union called on member states to establish recognition systems for informally and non-formally acquired competencies. These are skills and competencies that individuals gain outside the traditional educational path, for example:

• In professional life
• Through further training
• In voluntary association work
• Through hobbies and personal interests

In East Belgium, the validation of non-formal and informal learning is implemented through two measures:

The KomAn Project (for summative validation) 

People without a formal professional qualification have fewer opportunities in the labor market compared to those with a diploma. However, they often possess valuable professional competencies.

KomAn aims to make these competencies visible and usable. The abbreviation stands for "Competency Recognition" but also plays on the phrase "Come and join the profession and East Belgium!"

At its core, competency recognition consists of a practical exam conducted at the Center for Training and Further Education in Small and Medium Enterprises. Those who pass the exam do not receive a journeyman's certificate but are awarded an official certificate that proves their professional competencies and can open new doors in the job market.

KomAn offers two types of certification:

• The "Competency Certificate" – awarded when the participant successfully completes all competency areas of the practical exam.
• The "Certificate of Professional Competency Recognition" – awarded when the participant successfully completes some but not all competency areas of the practical exam.

The East Belgian project has been in existence since 2019 and had its first successful graduate in 2021. Since then, successful KomAn procedures have been conducted in the following professions: painter, retail trader, media designer, landscape gardener, metalworker, and bricklayer.

Eligibility requirements for KomAn:

• Minimum age of 25 years
• Residence in Belgium or intention to work in Belgium
• Relevant professional experience
• Ability to speak and understand German

KomAn is available for 40 training professions

Competency recognition applies to professions for which dual training is offered in East Belgium—covering approximately 40 different professions.

KomAn is part of "Shaping Future Pathways"

KomAn is part of the "Shaping Future Pathways" project of the Ministry of the German-speaking Community. From 2018 to 2021, the project was co-financed by the European Social Fund. In addition to KomAn, the project also includes ProfilPASS Coaching and Further Education Counseling.

For more information: Ostbelgien Bildung - Kompetenzen anerkennen

ProfilPASS Coaching (for formative validation) 

Since 2019, the Ministry of the German-speaking Community has been offering individual competency coaching. Using the so-called "ProfilPASS," participants engage in a self-reflection process supported by counseling to identify their skills, strengths, values, and interests. Based on these insights, they develop concrete career perspectives. Often, a subsequent further education consultation complements the program.

Participation is free of charge. The only requirements are:

• A minimum age of 18 years
• Residence in one of the German-speaking municipalities
• Proficiency in either German or French

The ProfilPASS was developed by the German Institute for Adult Education – Leibniz Center for Lifelong Learning (DIE) and the Institute for Development Planning and Structural Research (ies). It is regularly evaluated to ensure its effectiveness.