Do you work with validation within Komvux?
Validation within Komvux is a structured process that requires a clear division of roles and documentation. To support the validation work, there are online training courses and materials that can help you further in your work.
The principal is obliged to ensure that a student is offered validation, but only if the student needs it and if the validation is done within the framework of one or more courses that are paid for by the student's home municipality. There is therefore no right for every student within Komvux to undergo validation at any time (Chapter 20, Section 42 of the Education Act and Bill 2021/22:123 Validation for competence provision and lifelong learning, pages 20 and 41).
Online training on validation
The Swedish National Agency for Education and the Swedish National Agency for Vocational Education and Training (MYH) have jointly developed a free basic introduction to working with validation. The online training is free for everyone to attend and is recommended for those who come into contact with validation in their work.
Validation in practice (National Agency for Education and MYH)
Validation Handbook
Region Gävleborg and Validation West, Västra Götaland Region have, through funding from the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Development, produced an inspirational manual for validation where the validation process is described and detailed. The manual is primarily aimed at vocational teachers but can be used to advantage by SYV and principals for planning and information about the validation process.
Inspirational guide for validation within Komvux (Validation West)
University course in validation
Linköping University offers a course in validation for those who want to further develop their validation work. The training is for those who work with validation of adult knowledge. The training gives you an in-depth understanding of the validation process and tools for developing validation activities.
Validation in practice and theory, 7,5 credits (Linköping University)
The validation process
Validation within Komvux contains several parts that all have different responsibilities. Below is a list of things that should be included in a validation.
For more information, see the Swedish National Agency for Education's information. Organize the work with validation and initial mapping (Swedish National Agency for Education)
The validation process
The principal has the ultimate responsibility.
Content:
- Documentation procedures
- Action plans
- Structure for who does what
- How should the documents be saved?
- Who do we turn to for support?
- How will you disseminate information that validation exists?
Documentation: Create an action plan for the structure of your validation with workflow and how it will be documented. A good idea is to put together a validation team where you together create the structure for validation in your organization.
Who performs: Usually a study and career counselor (SYV) but can be someone else with expertise for assessment conversations
Content:
- Exploratory conversation
- Collection of documents
- Information about mapping and validation
- Pure information gathering without assessment. Requires competence in handling information without evaluation.
Documentation: Use the Swedish National Agency for Education or your own templates
Who performs: In-depth mapping takes place if the person has demonstrated in-depth knowledge in certain areas of knowledge in the initial mapping.
The in-depth assessment builds on the initial assessment and is carried out by a qualified teacher in collaboration with the person who carried out the initial assessment.
Content:
- Specify as many of the skills as possible.
- Identify the tacit and deep knowledge.
Documentation: Please continue with the template for initial mapping.
Who performs: Authorized teacher
Content:
- Subject objectives (GY25, course objectives in GY11) and content
- Knowledge and experience
Documentation: Assessment basis - it is you as a teacher who has the competence to carry out the assessment based on the knowledge requirements. There is no difference between the knowledge requirements through validation or within regular education.
During testing or assessment, different assessment methods are used that best suit the person undergoing validation, such as observation, discussion questions and self-assessment. It is important to highlight the knowledge from different perspectives.
At the end of validation, a validation certificate is issued. The validation certificate can help shorten the path to grades in certain subjects.
In order to receive a grade, there may be a need for more reading in certain sections.