The Lifelong Learning Platform seeks to receive practices in the topic of ‘Reimagining validation and recognition: give value to all learners, learning and competences’, a theme that will be a yearly focus for LLLP. In fact, 2026 will be an appropriate year to tackle this essential theme: with many EU legislative and non legislative initiatives relating with validation and recognition, it is the perfect time to reveal the work of education and training stakeholders, highlight learner-centred initiatives and put forward best practices. Validation and recognition aim at making people’s learning visible and valued - yet these processes remain little known and shared. LLLP hopes to remedy that with the LLLAwards.

What does validation and recognition mean?

Recognition (of learning outcomes) can have two different meanings. It can refer to “formal recognition”, a process of granting official status, by an accredited body, to knowledge, know-how, skills and/or competences of a person through award of qualifications (certificates, diploma or titles); or “social recognition”: acknowledgement of the value of knowledge, know-how, skills and/or competences of a person by economic and social stakeholders. Validation (of non-formal and informal learning) is the process of confirmation by an authorised body that an individual has acquired learning outcomes measured against a relevant standard and consists of the following four distinct phases: 1. Identification 2. documentation 3. Assessment and 4. Certification. The LLLAwards take a broad approach to recognition and validation and are open to any initiatives that fall into the different scopes (including steps of the process and initiatives coming from civil society and non-official bodies).

Why apply?

Get your innovative practice recognised at European level! Your initiative will be assessed against the very best in the field, by a Jury of policymakers, researchers and civil society organisations. The LLLAwards are the perfect opportunity to get European visibility, network with like-minded partners from all over Europe and seek opportunities to upscale your project. The winners of each category will be invited to present their initiatives during the Opening Ceremony of the Lifelong Learning Week 2026 in Brussels.

Categories

1. Best policy: impactful systems for validation and recognition

Since the publication of the Council Recommendation on VNFIL in 2012, EU Member States were encouraged to set up a legal system for validation by 2018. Almost a decade later, while legislations have advanced in several countries, implementation is still insufficient. Validation and recognition systems are often fragmented, and developed at different speeds depending on the socio-economic sectors and target groups (migrants, unemployed, workers, students, etc.).

This category will recognise forward-looking projects / initiatives that have influenced policies at national, regional or local levels that contribute to the wide-spreading of recognition and validation. These policy could also come from public institutions involved in validation and recognition processes. Initiatives submitted under this category shall look at validation and recognition systems holistically, and support from public authorities should be demonstrated. The scale, impact and type of stakeholders involved in these initiatives will be particularly considered. 

2. Best organisation: being at the forefront of validation and recognition

When the system is moving slowly towards developing validation and recognition pathways, organisations move forward faster in developing their own system for making learning visible. Organisations of all sorts, public authorities, career guidance centres, companies, civil society organizations or education and training providers, design and implement innovative practices for validation and recognition.

This category will recognise innovative organisations that empower learners by putting value to their learning acquired in non-formal and informal learning environments. A specific attention will be paid to the inclusion dimension, reaching disadvantaged learners or specific target groups (low skilled, unemployed). For this category, initiatives can also address measures of staff professionalisation.

3. Best tool: future tools and methods for valuing learning

Standardised and traditional assessment methods are not always the best suited to validate learning in non-formal and informal environments. Transversal competences, for instance, require reimagining validation and recognition processes. The digital transition is also not only affecting education but also the way learning outcomes are evaluated. New methods can include AI-based assessment, microcredentials or peer evaluations.

This category will recognise innovative tools and methods that identify, document, assess or certify non-formal and informal learning, particularly (but not restricted to) in the field of new competences, green, digital or transversal.

4. Best learner: celebrating turning points in one’s life

Having your skills validated and recognised can really change your life around! This category will award individuals that have gone through processes of validation and recognition of all sorts and that managed to transform their lives afterwards. Do you know of individuals who benefitted from such processes and have opened doors accordingly? Have you seen your skills and competences recognised to the point that it managed to turn your life around? Submit your application!

Submit your application here

Eligibility criteria

• Applicants must be over 18;

• Applicants must be EU citizens or active in one of the EU Member States.

• The initiative can be, an entity, or project

• The initiative may target any age group;

• The initiative should not be older than three years, counting from its ending;

• The initiative must not have already been awarded another European prize;

• Additional points shall be given to initiatives which rely on cross-sectoral cooperation (involving civil society organisations, schools, trade unions, companies, universities, etc.);

Award criteria

The submissions will be evaluated against the following criteria:

• Impact and results achieved

• Innovative aspects

• Sustainable aspects

• Transferrability

The award is supported by the European Skills & VET Week 2026, an initiative of the European Commission organised by Cedefop.