MyKnowledgeMap is teaming up with the Retail Academy, MRS Consultancy, and EIfEL (European Institute for E-Learning) to provide the e-portfolio system for a European initiative seeking to promote the recognition, validation and accreditation of informal learning in the workplace.

Most learning in the workplace occurs informally through working with other employees, clients, customers, suppliers and reacting positively to their feedback. Much of this learning goes unrecognised by the employer and also by the individuals themselves.

The European Initiative for the Promotion of Informal Learning (EIPIL-PAN) seeks to help employers recognise the value of informal learning in the workplace and develop a framework within which it can be accredited. MyKnowledgeMap and the Retail Academy are partnering with MRS Consultancy EIfEL to provide the e-portfolio to support the implementation of a single framework which accredits informal learning in the retail and IT sectors.

The EIPIL partners are MRS Consultancy, K.Kampanis and CO LP, Asset Technology, Cluster of Multimedia and Information Systems Association, Economic and Social Training Institute, The Retail Academy, MyKnowledgeMap, European Institute for E-Learning (EIfEL) and European Institute for Technology in Education.

The first phase of the EIPIL-PAN project was completed in 2007 where a simple framework was developed and trialled with a number of companies across France, Germany, Latvia, Spain, Sweden and the UK as part of a Leonardo da Vinci project. The companies involved, all of which were from the tourism and hospitality sectors, identified the significant impact informal learning had on their business performance as well as other benefits.

This current phase of the project is to adapt and transfer the original model, framework and instruments to new sectors such as retail and IT. This will extend both the concepts and implementation of the validation and accreditation methodologies developed under the first phase and will incorporate managerial competencies as well as those of other workers.

The project is funded under the European Commission's Lifelong Learning Programme from October 2008 to September 2010.

The European Initiative for the Promotion of Informal Learning (EIPIL) has been created from the Leonardo Da Vinci Pilot Project INFLOW - Informal Learning Opportunities in the workplace. The overall co-ordinator of post-project activities under EIPIL is The MRS Consultancy Ltd UK.

EIfEL is an independent, not-for-profit European professional association whose mission is to support organisations, communities and individuals in building a knowledge economy. It also seeks to create a learning society through innovative and reflective practice, continuing professional development and the use of knowledge, information and learning technologies.

To learn more, please visit the EIPIL-PAN website.