»ValiKom« – an educational system compliant approach towards qualifications-related validation and the recognition of occupational competencies

The umbrella associations of the chambers have joined forces with the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) to initiate a project for the introduction of validation structures into the German vocational education and training system. The project is referred to in abbreviated form as “ValiKom” and is currently in its pilot phase. This article describes the background to and objective of the project. The authors also explain the basic principles behind the procedure, define the position it occupies within the educational and employment system, and compare it to existing competence assessment and evaluation processes. The article concludes by outlining the initial impressions that have emerged from piloting the process.