Classification Of Learning Activities Manual

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CLASSIFICATION OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES - MANUAL
- Table of contents

EUROPEAN

COMMISSION

THEME

Population

and social

conditions

ONI2006 EDIT

ISSN 1725-0056

Classification of

learning activities -

Manual

A great deal of additional information on the European Union is available on the Internet.

Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2006

Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union

Freephone number (*):

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It can be accessed through the Europa server (http://europa.eu).

ISBN 92-79-01806-X

ISSN 1725-0056

The views expressed in this document are the author’s and do not necessarily reﬂ ect the opinion of the European

Commission.

This document is available upon request at:

For more information: Agnieszka LITWINSKA

European Commission, Eurostat Unit F4, Bâtiment Jean Monnet, Ofﬁ ce BECH-D3/704, L-2920 Luxembourg

Tel.: +352/4301-36765 - E-mail: Agnieszka.Litwinska@ec.europa.eu

European Commission, Eurostat Unit F4, Bâtiment Jean Monnet, Ofﬁ ce BECH-B3/427, L-2920 Luxembourg

Tel.: +352/4301-35307 - E-mail: muriel.de-lattin@ec.europa.eu

Classiﬁcation of learning activities - Manual 3

Table of contents

1. FOREWORD ..............................................................................................................................5

2. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................6

2.1. The need for CLA ..............................................................................................................6

2.2. Purpose of CLA ..................................................................................................................6

2.3. Purpose of this manual .......................................................................................................7

3. GENERAL CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS ..........................................................................8

3.1. Lifelong Learning ..............................................................................................................8

3.2. Learning activities versus non-learning Activities .............................................................9

3.3. Single Learning Activities (SLA) ....................................................................................10

3.4. Learning map and aggregation of Single Learning Activities .........................................11

3.5. Scope of education and learning and categories of Learning Activities ..........................12

3.6. Operational criteria for distinguishing the broad categories of Learning Activities ........14

3.6.1. Informal learning versus formal and non-formal education ...........................14

3.6.2. Formal education versus non-formal education ..............................................15

3.7. Summarydecisionmakingowchart ..............................................................................19

4. CLASSIFICATION OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES (CLA)......................................................20

4.1. Content and structure of CLA ..........................................................................................20

4.2. Primary statistical units of CLA .......................................................................................20

4.3. Formal Education .............................................................................................................20

4.4. Non-Formal Education .....................................................................................................20

4.5. Informal Learning ............................................................................................................20

5. BROAD CATEGORIES, CLASSES AND SUB-CLASSES ....................................................22

5.1. Summary table .................................................................................................................22

5.2. Explanatory notes to CLA ................................................................................................23

6. BIBLIOGRAPHY ......................................................................................................................27

6.1. EUROPEAN COMMISSION ..........................................................................................27

6.2. CEDEFOP ........................................................................................................................28

6.3. UNESCO and UNESCO Institute for Statistics ...............................................................28

6.4. OECD ...............................................................................................................................28

6.5.

6.6. World Bank ......................................................................................................................28

6.7. National reference papers ................................................................................................28

6.8.

ILO and United Nations Statistics Division ...................................................................28

Internet sites of some of the references ..........................................................................29

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 4

Abbreviations and acronyms

LLL Lifelong Learning

FED Formal Education

NF Non Formal Education

INF Informal Learning

LA Learning Activities

NLA Non Learning Activities

SLA Single Learning Activities

NFQ National Framework of Qualiﬁ cations

ISCED International Standard Classiﬁ cation of Education

HALLA Harmonised List of Learning Activities

CLA Classiﬁ cation of Learning Activities

ETS WG Education and Training Statistics Working Group

TF/MLLL Task Force on Measuring Lifelong Learning

AES Adult Education Survey

Q&A Question and Answer

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 5

1. FOREWORD

Since the treaties of Maastricht and Amsterdam included education and training as part of action at Community

level, lifelong training has been a key element of the education and training policy in Europe. Thus, the

conclusions of the Lisbon summit (2000) mention lifelong learning as a way of ensuring a successful transition

towards a knowledge society. Moreover, the EU Council resolution of 27 June 2002 on lifelong learning

stresses that « Education and training are an indispensable means for promoting social cohesion, active

citizenship, personal and professional fulﬁ lment, adaptability and employability» and that lifelong learning

must cover learning from the pre-school age to that of post-retirement.

Lifelong Learning (LLL) is not simply a summing up of traditional education programme and modern

learning opportunities. While traditional educational institutions have been (and still are) primarily concerned

with transmitting knowledge, modern learning opportunities and the LLL approach put the emphasis on the

development of individual capabilities and the capacity of the person to learn. LLL implies a paradigm shift

from the dominance of traditional education institutions to a diverse ﬁ eld of traditional and modern learning

opportunities that are more process and outcome oriented as well as of a modular structure. At the same time,

responsibility for education and learning shifts from the public (state) to non-governmental organisations as

well as to the individuals themselves.

This political priority results in a growing need for statistics on lifelong learning. Now, learning activities

cover many ﬁ elds. According to the deﬁ nition of the European Union, education and lifelong learning include

the entire spectrum of formal, non-formal and informal learning. Furthermore, lifelong learning must be

understood as all learning activity undertaken throughout life, with the aim of improving knowledge, skills

and competence.

The work carried out by the Task Force set up by Eurostat with a view to proposing means of measuring

lifelong learning has resulted in several recommendations, including the establishment of a classiﬁ cation of

such activities.

Classiﬁ cations and nomenclatures are the basic tools for structuring statistical information in well-deﬁ ned

categories excluding one another. These classiﬁ cations are a prerequisite for the data collection and they

play an important part in the quality of statistics in that they make it possible to set common harmonised

deﬁ nitions.

A classiﬁ cation is primarily meant to ensure the comparability of the data. The existing classiﬁ cations

only cover part of all learning activities. Thus, regarding formal and non-formal learning, the ISCED 97

classiﬁ cation, which covers education programmes by levels and ﬁ elds, needs to be reﬁ ned before it can be

used for non-formal learning. And as for the Classiﬁ cation of Training Provisions (Brandsma and Kornelius)

of the Leonardo da Vinci project, it covers other aspects of education and formal and non-formal learning. It

would then be interesting to obtain a classiﬁ cation that would include these different aspects.

On the contrary, as regards informal learning, there is practically no information at the international level.

Some useful reﬂ ection on concepts that could underpin a classiﬁ cation of learning activities has taken place

in the project on Harmonised List of Learning Activities carried out at the request of CEDEFOP in 2001-

2002 (Dieter Gnahs, Alexandra Ioannidou, Klaus Pehl, Sabine Seidel). The results of this project constitute an

important input for the Classiﬁ cation of Learning Activities.

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 6

2. INTRODUCTION

2.1. The need for CLA

The need of policy-makers for statistical information on the participation of individuals in lifelong

learning had generated a need for appropriate statistical tools to measure this. A Classiﬁ cation of

Learning Activities (CLA) is one of the tools required for the statistical measurement of key lifelong

learning issues.

Within the framework of the CLA project launched by Eurostat in December 2002, a survey on the

needs of potential users of the classiﬁ cation was conducted. The main general conclusions that were

drawn from the survey can be summarised as follows:

• Need to develop an operational deﬁ nition of learning activity at EU level

• No operational deﬁ nition of learning activities has been identiﬁ ed even at national level

• Non-existence of a Classiﬁ cation of learning activities at country level

• Lack of conceptual work in the ﬁ eld of non-formal and informal

• Need to take into account all learning activities either formal or informal and/or taught or non-

taught

• Need to develop and detail the ISCED ﬁ elds of education and training, especially for subjects like

personal development and working life.

Moreover the UN Expert Group on International Economic and Social Classiﬁ cations formulated the

following recommendation (New York, 8-10 December 2003):

“The Expert Group recommended that the classiﬁ cation and reporting of non-traditional educational

and/or recreational and life-long learning activities should be addressed and solved. The UNESCO

Institute for Statistics (UIS), Eurostat and ILO should be involved in this task.”

Both the UIS and ILO have been involved in the development since the beginning of the CLA project

participating in the Task Group on Classiﬁ cations, which acted as the steering group for the project in

2002-2003, in the framework of the Eurostat Task Force on Adult Education Survey.

2.1. Purpose of CLA

CLA is intended to cover all types of learning opportunities and education/learning pathways. It is

intended to be universal in nature, applicable in countries irrespective of their level of development

or systems of education and learning.

It is designed to serve as an instrument for compiling and presenting comparable statistics and

indicators on learning activities both within individual countries and across countries. It covers all

intentional and organised learning activities for all age groups.

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 7

CLA is to be applied to statistical surveys to collect quantitative information on different aspects of

participation of individuals in learning. The CLA has been designed to cover and serve the scope

of the European Union Adult Education Survey (AES). However, other EU household surveys (e.g.

LFS1, TUS2, etc) as well as speciﬁ c enterprise surveys (e.g. CVTS3) may use it if it is adequate for

their needs.

CLA is intended for the collection, compilation and presentation of data:

• regarding both individuals (through household surveys such as the future survey on adult education,

which will focus on lifelong learning) and training providers;

• covering the participation of individuals in learning systems, as well as other aspects of learning

such as the time dedicated to learning, the money spent/invested in it.

CLA provides relevant criteria for the classiﬁ cation of all learning activities: formal, non-formal

education and informal learning. In doing so it remains coherent with ISCED 97, and builds on key

methodological references documents (see bibliography on last pages of this document).

2.1. Purpose of this manual

The CLA manual provides a set of deﬁ nitions and criteria aiming to ensure international comparability

in the classiﬁ cation of learning activities.

The manual seeks to clarify the fundamental concepts underlying statistical information on learning

activities.

Deﬁ nitions of “Learning Activities” do not exist at national level in Europe, nor at international level.

From the outset of the CLA project the non-existence of such a deﬁ nition was identiﬁ ed, and without

a deﬁ nition of learning activities there can be no classiﬁ cation.

The manual has three main components:

• Concepts and deﬁ nitions

• Classiﬁ cations

• Operational guidelines

General concepts and deﬁ nitions are covered in section 3. This section covers concepts and deﬁ nitions

of LLL, Learning activities versus non-learning activities, those of formal education, non-formal

education and informal learning. It provides the determining criteria to distinguish these 3 broad

categories of learning.

Section 4 presents the classiﬁ cation of learning activities while section 5 presents the broad categories,

classes and sub-classes as well as the corresponding explanatory notes.

Operational guidelines on the basis of the results of the CLA and manual testing are provided in the

text in form of question and answer.

Finally several cases exemplifying the application are proposed in the annexe 1.

1 Labour Force Survey

2 Time Use Survey

3 Continuing Vocational Training Survey

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 8

3. GENERAL CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS

3.1. Lifelong Learning

Lifelong Learning (LLL) is deﬁ ned as encompassing “all learning activity undertaken throughout

life, with the aim of improving knowledge, skills and competences, within a personal, civic, social

and or employment related perspective.”4

Lifelong learning includes all learning activities5:

“that are purposeful, that is activities which are undertaken with the purpose of improvement

in behaviour, information, knowledge, understanding, attitude, values or skills;

that are undertaken on an ongoing basis, which means that they are not incidental or random

but have “the elements of duration and continuity6”, as indication of organisation, in principle

without any lower duration limits;

independent of whether they are formal or not; includes different types of learning like

apprenticeships, second-chance schools, on-the job or off-the job education and training, self-

learning, etc.;

independent of source of funding, that is funded either by the private sector, the public sector

or the individual;

independent of mode of provision (using traditional or modern means, such as information

and communication technologies)

encompassing the entire population independent of age and independent of labour market

status;

– it includes in principal all kinds of activities ranging from early childhood education to

leisure education for retired persons.

– should not be limited to work related outcomes.”

The deﬁ nition of LLL remains consistent with ISCED since learning in ISCED is understood to be

“any improvement in behaviour, information, knowledge, understanding, attitude, value or skills”7.

Nevertheless, the focus of the LLL deﬁ nition is the process of learning while the ISCED deﬁ nition

describes learning by the intended outcome.

4 Deﬁ nition of the Communication from the Commission “Making a European Area of Lifelong Learning a Reality”, 2001a. The

European Employment strategy deﬁ nition of LLL reads: “all purposeful learning activities, whether formal or informal, under-

taken on an ongoing basis with the aim of improving knowledge, skills and competences.”

5 Report of the Eurostat Task Force on Measuring Lifelong Learning (Working paper 3/2001/E/N°4)

6 ISCED 1997, paragraph 11, page4: “Sustained: intended to mean that the learning experience has the elements of duration an

continuity”.

7 ISCED 97, paragraph 9, page 3.

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 9

3.2. Learning activities versus non-learning Activities

Learning Activities are deﬁ ned as “any activities of an individual organised with the intention to

improve his/her knowledge, skills and competence”

The two fundamental criteria to distinguish learning activities from non-learning activities are:

• the activity must be intentional (as opposed to random learning), so the act has a predetermined

purpose;

• the activity is organised in some way, including being organised by the learner himself/herself;

it typically involves the transfer of information in a broader sense (messages, ideas, knowledge,

strategies).

Intentional learning is deﬁ ned as “a deliberate search for knowledge, skills, competences or attitudes

of lasting value”8. The intention of learning formulated before starting the activity, by the learner or

by another individual is the crucial criterion.

It is the intention to learn that distinguishes learning activities from non-learning activities. Of course

a number of activities whose main purpose is not learning may also produce learning. For example:

when entering a sport competition one might improve one’s own performance although there might

not be a formulated intention to do that. This case should be considered as a non-learning activity

because, although learning may be generated, it is just a by-product of the activity.

In other words a non-learning activity can produce the same type of outcomes as a learning activity.

Random learning can be generated as a by-product of a non learning activity in the sense of

“improvement in behaviour, information, knowledge, understanding, attitude, values or skills” in

terms of “work, societal and personal outcomes”.

The borderline between learning activities and non-learning activities is sometimes difﬁ cult to

distinguish. Culture, sports or religion include activities, which may or may not be considered

learning activities, depending on whether there is or there is no intention to learn, have to be dealt

with particular care. This is particularly the case in less organised activities like self-learning. In more

organised activities designed for learning the desire or effort of the participant to learn would not

change the nature of the activity to make it a “non-learning activity”. Cases exemplifying borderlines

are presented in annex 1.

Q&A What are the limits between information and learning?

This borderline is basically between learning and non-learning activities. It has

been stated elsewhere in this document that “for informal learning knowledge is

made available and it is up to the individual to use it or not for learning, so it is the

“intention to learn” that counts.” So at this stage the decision is up to the individual

accessing the information.

Q&A Should there be a duration threshold for considering any activity as learning?

At the conceptual level a lower duration limit does not seem to be necessary. At the

implementation level the respondent in a household survey would implicitly use such a

threshold and imposing a common threshold of say 4 hours would not add much to the

comparability since the indication of the duration by the respondent is not considered

precise enough for informal learning.

8 Deﬁ nition based on the EU deﬁ nition of LA and HALLA. The term “deliberate” is proposed instead of term “voluntary” used in

HALLA. The word “voluntary” implies acting on one’s own free will, not constrained or compulsory. The word “deliberate” is

close to the meaning of “intentional” i.e. done on or with purpose. The word deliberate also keeps it in line with ISCED “the term

education is thus taken to comprise all deliberate and systematic activities designed to meet learning needs” para 7, page 3.

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 10

Organised learning is deﬁ ned as “planned in a pattern or sequence with explicit or implicit aims.

It involves a providing agency (person or persons or body) which sets up the learning environment

and a method of teaching through which the communication is organised. The method is typically

someone who is engaged in communicating or releasing knowledge and skills with a view to bringing

about learning, but it can also be indirect/inanimate e.g. a piece of computer software, a ﬁ lm, or a

tape, etc”. 9

From this deﬁ nition we can see that the concept of “organised” is a characteristic of any learning

activity, since the decision to organise an action in order to learn a subject is a key criterion for

considering that there is intention to learn. Some activities might have a high degree of organisation

(e.g. attending school). Others activities that are considered as a LA may have a very low level of

organisation, e.g. self-learning on a new software, by using a manual. From this perspective, every

purposeful action has a certain level of organisation.

The deﬁ nition of organised refers a decision being made on different aspects related to learning

(content, structuring knowledge, methods, timing, purpose, environment, etc) which are pre-

determined before starting the activity. This can refer either to the role of an institution or body that

structures, funds and/or conducts the learning process, or to the process of planning learning in terms

of setting the content, the methods or the timing.10

Learning Activities are made up of one or more Single Learning Activities. Thus the Single Learning

Activity is the basic theoretical building block of the CLA with which all learning activities can be

captured and described.

A Single Learning Activity is deﬁ ned as being “characterised by unity of method and subject”.

This means that each time there is a change in method of learning or subject of learning you have a

different single learning activity. Figure 1 illustrates this.

S6 SLA SLA

S5 SLA

S4 SLA SLA SLA

S3 SLA SLA SLA SLA

S2 SLA

M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7

METHODS

Figure 1: Single Learning Activities

9 ISCED 1997, paragraph 10, page 4

10 HALLA, page 12.

3.3. Single Learning Activities (SLA)

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 11

The Subject (or ﬁ eld) is what the individual learns. The ISCED Fields of education11 and the Eurostat

manual on “Fields of Education and Training12”should be adopted. However further work in detailing

the ﬁ elds is needed, especially for subjects like personal development and working life, to improve

the appropriateness of the classiﬁ cation for lifelong learning.

The Method is the organisational frame used to learn or to teach (i.e. acquire or transmit ideas,

information, knowledge, skills and competences). This can take the form of (educational) programmes,

courses, events, or other more or less organised forms.

The method i.e. organisational frame coincides closest with the everyday understanding of the method

used for learning at different levels (e.g. classroom instruction, private tuition, self-learning). Within

each SLA different learning media and tools may be used. A change of media or tools does not mean

change of SLA. This means that if, for example, classroom instruction includes oral presentation, use

of books in the classroom and use of internet in the classroom as part of the pedagogical approach of

the teacher, the activity should still be considered one SLA.

3.4. Learning map and aggregation of Single Learning Activities

The grid presented in ﬁ gure 1 completed with all learning activities attended by a person constitutes

the “learning map” of this person. It covers all kinds of methods used by the person to learn all kinds

of subjects and represents them graphically.

However in practice several Single Learning Activities can be grouped together. A series of SLAs to

learn a subject (ﬁ eld of study) is called a Course. A course is deﬁ ned as “a planned series of single

learning activities in a particular range of subject-matters offered by a provider” 13. Figure 2, where

the different methods used to learn subject S3 are framed in blue, illustrates this:

S6 SLA SLA

S5 SLA

S4 SLA SLA SLA

S3 SLA SLA SLA SLA

S2 SLA

M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7

METHODS

Figure 2: A Course is basically a grouping of SLAs by subject

11 ISCED 97 pages 35 to 39.

12 Eurostat, December 1999.

13 Adapted from the deﬁ nition of courses for formal education, ISCED 97 glossary page 41: “A course for this purpose is taken to

be a planned series of learning experiences in a particular range of subject-matters or skills offered by a sponsoring agency and

undertaken by one or more students”. Another deﬁ nition is that presented in HALLA (page 36): “A series of lectures or lessons

in a particular subject typically leading to certiﬁ cation or at least to a conﬁ rmation of participation” (source: based on the New

Oxford Dictionary, 1998)

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 12

Another type of grouping of is when there are several SLAs organised as a set using different methods

to learn different subjects. This is called a programme. A programme is deﬁ ned “on the basis of

its educational content as “an array or sequence of education activities, which are organised to

accomplish a predetermined objective or a speciﬁ ed set of educational tasks” 14. A programme would

typically include several courses but also separate SLA, i.e. activities where a speciﬁ c method is used

to learn a speciﬁ c subject which is not part of any kind of programme or course. Figure 2, where a

programme is framed in red, illustrates this.

S6 SLA SLA

S5 SLA

S4 SLA SLA SLA

S3 SLA SLA SLA SLA

S2 SLA

M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7

METHODS

Figure 3: A Programme can be a grouping of courses and SLAs

Note: The terms “programme” and “course”, which have been used above to facilitate the understanding

of the concepts of single learning activities and learning map, may be used with different meanings

in everyday language in different institutional and national contexts and can even go down to

corresponding to “the use of one method (e.g. classroom instruction) to learn one subject (history)

which according to the description above is a SLA. Therefore the existence of the term “programme”

or “course” in the description of an activity should not automatically be interpreted as corresponding

to the above theoretical description.

3.5. Scope of education and learning and categories of Learning Activities

Education and learning can be classiﬁ ed into four broad categories: Formal education15 (F), Non-

Formal education16 (NF), Informal learning (INF) and random/incidental learning. This conceptual

structure is presented in ﬁ gure 417.

14 ISCED 97, paragraph 17, page 5.

15 Education meaning by convention education and training.

16 Education meaning by convention education and training.

17 UNESCO, 1996: Manual for statistics on non-formal education.

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 13

Random Learning

Informal Learning

Formal

education

Non formal

education

Family, socially or self-directed

Media and communication

Figure 4: Scope of education and learning

Based on the deﬁ nition of learning activities for CLA, random learning is excluded from statistical

observation because it is not intentional. The scope of CLA is indicated with the thick red line in

ﬁ gure 4.

The organising concept of the CLA is based on 3 broad categories: Formal Education (F), Non-

Formal Education (NF) and Informal Learning (INF). It should be possible to classify all learning

activities into these 3 broad categories. The existing conceptual deﬁ nitions of these three categories

are the following:

Formal Education18 as “…education provided in the system of schools, colleges, universities and other

formal educational institutions that normally constitutes a continuous “ladder” of full-time education

for children and young people, generally beginning at age of ﬁ ve to seven and continuing up to 20 or

25 years old. In some countries, the upper parts of this “ladder” are organised programmes of joint

part-time employment and part-time participation in the regular school and university system: such

programmes have come to be known as the “dual system” or equivalent terms in these countries.”

Non Formal Education19 is deﬁ ned as “any organised and sustained educational activities that do not

correspond exactly to the above deﬁ nition of formal education. Non-formal education may therefore

take place both within and outside educational institutions, and cater to persons of all ages. Depending

on country contexts, it may cover educational programmes to impart adult literacy, basic education for

out of school children, life-skills, work-skills, and general culture. Non formal education programmes

do not necessarily follow the “ladder” system, and may have a differing duration.”

Informal Learning is deﬁ ned as “…intentional, but it is less organised and less structured ….and

may include for example learning events (activities) that occur in the family, in the work place, and in

the daily life of every person, on a self-directed, family-directed or socially directed basis”20.

18 ISCED 97 glossary, page 41

19 ISCED 97 glossary, page 41

20 As deﬁ ned in the report of the Eurostat TF/ MLLL (paragraph 32, page 12).

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 14

Q&A When do sports activities become “leisure” and stop being “learning”?

In order to focus on learning activities and exclude the activities which are merely

physical ﬁ tness programs, we only include programs/courses which focus on the

rules and techniques of participation and skill building in competitive (professional

or amateur) physical activities.

So sport activities not formally organised and without a trainer/teacher/coach

involved are not considered as training/learning and merely physical ﬁ tness programs

are not included in non-formal learning as well.

Courses for coaches/trainers and/or umpires/referees/judges that lead to a

qualiﬁ cation/ certiﬁ cate which allows the participants to perform some special

functions should be considered as non-formal education.

The following section includes the operational criteria to use in order to allocate learning activities

to the three categories corresponding to the conceptual deﬁ nitions. In the following the use of the

term “education” is used to mean “education and training”.

3.6. Operational criteria for distinguishing the broad categories of Learning

Activities

3.6.1. Informal learning versus formal and non-formal education

There is one fundamental criterion that distinguishes Informal Learning from Education (formal and

non-formal). This is whether the learning activity is institutionalised or not.

Institutionalised learning activities occur when there is “an organisation providing structured

arrangements (which must include a student-teacher-relationship), especially designed for education

and learning”.

Institutionalised learning activities happen when there is a providing agency/body responsible for

determining at least the following:

– Teaching / learning method (predetermined)

– Scheduling of the learning

– Admission requirements

– Location of the learning/teaching facility

Informal learning activities are not institutionalised.

They are less structured and they can take place almost anywhere: within the family, with friends, at

work or even using facilities made available by education and training providers.

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 15

Q&A What if the employer has a learning centre where the employees can borrow “teach

yourself” material (electronic or paper format) and use it either on location or take

at home?

The learning centre is knowledge infrastructure for learning and not institutionalised

learning activity. This means that “knowledge” is institutionalised (as it would be

for any type of learning centre made available by the state or the municipality or an

association) but not the learning activity which is self-learning and thus informal.

Q&A Is a teacher giving private lessons an “institution”, which means that most private

lessons qualify as “non-formal education”?

A private tutor should be considered as an institution. As far as the learner is

concerned it is an external body deciding (and at the same time implementing) the

teaching contents and methods.

Private lessons can even be “formal education” in the case where the national

educational system recognises home schooling, as the pupil would participate in

institutionalised learning designed to lead to a qualiﬁ cation in the NFQ.

Q&A Training during the military service may include some courses. How should they

be treated?

These courses should be classiﬁ ed using the CLA as non formal training. In the

framework of the implementation in a household survey it may be considered

necessary to exclude them (suggestion by a respondent).

3.6.2. Formal education versus non-formal education

Formal education and non-formal education are both part of the education framework. There is one

fundamental criterion that distinguishes Formal Education from Non Formal Education. This is

whether the activity is designed to lead upon successful completion to a learning achievement that is

possible to position within the National Framework of Qualiﬁ cation (NFQ).

The National Framework of Qualiﬁ cation (NFQ) is deﬁ ned as “the single, nationally and

internationally accepted entity21, through which all learning achievements may be measured and

related to each other in a coherent way and which deﬁ ne the relationship between all education

and training awards”. The NFQ could take the form of a regulatory document which stipulates the

qualiﬁ cations and their relative positions in a hierarchy of learning achievements as well as the bodies

that provide or deliver these qualiﬁ cations (awarding bodies). An institutionalised learning activity

(i.e. education in the broader sense) is formal when its completion leads to a learning achievement

(a qualiﬁ cation or award) that is possible to position within a National Framework of Qualiﬁ cation

(NFQ).

21 The entity can take the form of an organisation/body, or regulatory document. It stipulates the qualiﬁ cations and the bodies that

provide or deliver the qualiﬁ cation (awarding bodies) that are part of the National Framework of Qualiﬁ cations.

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 16

A National Framework of Qualiﬁ cations can be a mechanism to relate learning achievements to

each other, to communicate them to a wide audience and/or a regulatory device to for example set

overall standards for qualiﬁ cations The recognition of the qualiﬁ cation in the National Framework

of Qualiﬁ cations may, in some cases, be characterised by a “set of structured learning experiences …

leading to a completion point that is formally certiﬁ ed by an award or any form of recognition.” In

other cases, such frameworks may promote and facilitate the recognition of prior learning with a view

to the achievement of credit or a qualiﬁ cation.

It is important to note that the concept of NFQ is different from the concept of “Framework of

national qualiﬁ cations” which would only include the qualiﬁ cations awarded by national education

and training bodies. The NFQ should cover also the qualiﬁ cations delivered by awarding bodies

operating based in other countries.

(1) The concept of the NFQ is another way of taking into account the criteria proposed in the

TF/MLLL report22 to delimit formal education as opposed to non-formal education. These

criteria were: Hierarchy level-grade: Structure is deﬁ ned as “levels` of education is broadly

related to that of gradations of learning experience and competencies that the contents of

educational programmes require of participants if they are to successfully complete any given

programme. Broadly speaking, the level is related to the degree of complexity of the content

of the programme.”23 According to the ISCED deﬁ nition Formal Education can be seen as a

complex ladder of education where recognised completion of one level gives access to another

higher level of complexity.

(2) Admission requirements: They deﬁ ned as “The requirement or set of requirements, which

have to be fulﬁ lled to have access to learning”. Formal education is typically subject to

various admission requirements, notably in terms of age and prior education attainment. In

Non-formal education admission requirements may not exist.

(3) Registration requirements: They are deﬁ ned as “The requirement or set of requirements which

have to be ﬁ lled to record formally the enrolment to learning”. Formal education is typically

subject to registration. Non formal education is characterised by the absence of registration

requirements24.

Although the NFQ refers to “qualiﬁ cations” while these criteria refer to the characteristics of the

“programme that is designed to lead to the qualiﬁ cations” included in the NFQ they can be considered

as 2 ways to describe the same concept of i.e. “formal education” for the purpose of the CLA. In fact

concept of NFQ is used in the context of CLA as a means to indicate that an activity is “qualifying”.

The NFQ covers both education and training and is independent of the pathway leading to the award

of the qualiﬁ cations included in it. The national awarding bodies would typically include public

bodies with the authority to deﬁ ne and/or recognise the value of a qualiﬁ cation positioning it in the

NFQ, and therefore are not limited to the ministries of education, although they are expected to be

playing the major role in such a system.

22 Inspired from the UNESCO manual for statistics on Non Formal Education, 1996.

23 ISCED 97, page 5

24 UNESCO Manual for statistics on non-formal education, page 4.

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 17

Q&A Should a NFQ exist already in the country?

The NFQ is a concept used for the CLA. It may or may not correspond to constructions

bearing the same name in the country. It is assumed however that even if there is

no unique established construction which can be considered as corresponding to

the CLA NFQ concept, its elements exist and are already used in countries when

discussing about formal education and training. It includes a grid of qualiﬁ cations,

usually linked to programmes designed to lead to them, to institutions providing these

programmes and to organisations awarding or recognising these qualiﬁ cations.

By applying the NFQ criterion formal education refers to institutionalised learning activities that

are designed to lead to a learning achievement (qualiﬁ cation or award) that can be positioned in a

National Framework of Qualiﬁ cations. This situation can also be formulated as “formal education

includes activities that are part of the NFQ” denoting the link existing on the basis of the design of the

activity with the resulting qualiﬁ cation.

On the other hand non-formal education refers to institutionalised learning activities, which are not

part of the NFQ. It includes structured programmes that cannot be positioned in the NFQ usually

because the provider and/or the awarding organisation are not part of the NFQ. Therefore for examples

some programmes which may be organised in a well established institutional context may not be part

of the NFQ if the education and training provider and/or the awarding body are not part of the NFQ

(e.g. professional organisations, private commercial companies, non-governmental organisations).

Q&A What about formal training where the provider is an employer? Is this part of the

NFQ?

If the employer is providing this training as part of a programme designed to lead to

a qualiﬁ cation in the NFQ, then the employer is part of the NFQ and the activity, even

if it is 100% work based is “formal training”.

If the person is participating in training after receiving his/her qualiﬁ cation in order

to be a recognised professional (e.g. a law graduate practicing to become a lawyer,

or a medicine graduate practicing to become a pathologist) then this is work and not

learning.

If the person is obtaining work experience which s/he can later on decide to recognise

in the NFQ, then his/her activity is work and not learning (it is separate from the

recognition which may be undertaken on a voluntary basis).

The fact that national authorities may have established procedures for the recognition of prior work

experience or non-formal or informal activities (like self-learning) would not change the category in

which the activity of the person would be classiﬁ ed. An activity is considered formal only when the

“NFQ qualiﬁ cation” is part of the design of the programme/activity.

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 18

Q&A If a qualiﬁ cation is in the NFQ and the individual may obtain this by participating in

an examination after studying on his/her own, should this self-study be considered

as formal education?

The NFQ is a structure based on outcomes (qualiﬁ cations). A learning activity of an

individual is considered “formal” only when it is designed to lead to a qualiﬁ cation

in the NFQ. This means that if a person is studying in a programme designed to lead

to qualiﬁ cation A after succeeding in ﬁ nal examinations, this person is participating

in formal education or training.

If another person is studying on his/her own and is allowed to be registered for

the ﬁ nal examination so that s/he can obtain qualiﬁ cation A, then his/her learning

activity is informal as it is separate from the examination which may be undertaken

on a voluntary basis.

Q&A If somebody participates in a course (which can also be a distance learning course)

giving him/her credits which he can use for example in the framework of a modular

programme to complete a programme and obtain a qualiﬁ cation in NFQ, is s/he

participating in formal education?

Yes. Participating in and completing a module which is part of a programme designed

to lead to an NFQ qualiﬁ cation is formal education. The fact that the theoretical

duration of a programme in the case of full-time attendance may be 3 years while a

part-time participant may need 6 and a “module” participant may take 15 does not

change the nature of the activity.

Q&A Watching a “language course” programme on the TV is informal learning. What

if (case A) there is the possibility to be registered beforehand and have interaction

with a teacher while following the TV course and at the end participate in

examinations which lead to an NFQ qualiﬁ cation? And what if (case B) the person

who is attending the programme can at its end register for an examination to get a

degree corresponding to the knowledge acquired through the programme?

In case A the TV is used as any other means of distance learning (internet,

correspondence etc) and the registered viewer is in fact registered in a programme

designed to lead to an NFQ qualiﬁ cation. Therefore the activity should be considered

formal.

In case B the learning activity is separated form the requirement for obtaining the

qualiﬁ cation and therefore it should be considered as informal.

In the case of foreign educational institutions established in a country or distance learning in institutions

based outside the reporting country (i.e. the country of residence of the respondent/individual in the

case of a household survey), the qualiﬁ cation obtained by the participant which is included in the

NFQ of the country of origin. This activity is to be considered formal if this qualiﬁ cation which is part

of the design of the programme is already included in the NFQ (direct recognition and equivalence),

or if it is in principle recognised by the NFQ but there are additional equivalence examinations to

decide whether the student has a sufﬁ cient level of knowledge so as to recognise equivalence on a

personal basis. Otherwise the programme is non-formal education.

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 19

Q&A If there is a requirement for “equivalence examination” for a degree so that it can

be considered equivalent to a well established national formal degree, does this

mean that the degree does not belong to the NFQ?

A degree whose holder is admitted to participate in an equivalence examination

should in principle be considered as belonging to (recognised by) the National

Framework of Qualiﬁ cations (as opposed to belonging to the framework of national

qualiﬁ cations). The equivalence is normally meant to give a score for the degree

for further educational or professional use. Therefore the corresponding programme

should be considered formal education.

3.7. Summary decision making ﬂ ow chart

In synthesis, the process to allocate education and learning according to the broad categories is

presented in the decision making ﬂ owchart shown in Figure 5.

Activity

Intention to learn

Institutionalised

included in NFQ

not learning Informal learning Non-formal educ. Formal educ.

YES

Figure 5: Allocation of learning activities according to the 3 broad categories

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 20

4. CLASSIFICATION OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES (CLA)

4.1. Content and structure of CLA

CLA is a taxonomic coding scheme of Learning Activities. Learning Activities encompass one or

more Single Learning Activities (SLAs). The titles and description of the classes and subclasses are

generic categories based on common characteristics.

4.2. Primary statistical units of CLA

Each learning activity can be allocated to only one of the 3 broad categories of learning (Formal

education, Non-Formal Education or Informal learning) according to the dominating (see section 6)

method and the decisive criteria to be applied to the 3 broad categories as explained in the previous

section of this manual.

4.3. Formal Education

The primary statistical unit for formal education remains the educational programme as deﬁ ned by

ISCED 97.

The central or main SLA of formal education has to be taught learning (face to face and at

distance).

To classifying formal education learning activities educational programmes by level based on

educational content is considered sufﬁ cient.

4.4. Non-Formal Education

The primary statistical unit for Non-Formal Education are institutionalised learning arrangements

(organising frames) to learn one or more subjects.

These arrangements could take the form of courses, non-formal education programmes or any

arrangement where the central or main SLA is institutionalised and taught (face to face and at

distance).

Some Non-formal education learning activities are taken into account in ISCED97 classiﬁ cation of

educational programmes by level, based on educational content.

4.5. Informal Learning

The primary statistical unit for Informal Learning is the method used for one subject.

Those two statistical units form the basic theoretical unit Single Learning Activity of informal learning.

Informal learning may or may not involve taught learning but it must not be institutionalised.

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 21

Q&A What should happen when the activity reported is in fact several different

activities?

Although CLA is built around the basic building block of the “Single Learning

Activity” which has unit of method and subject the level of detail at which information

will be collected and analysed depends on the purpose of the survey that is going

to use CLA.

For this purpose we can say that there is an implicit hierarchy of the categories.

“Formal” is higher than “non-formal” higher than “informal”. Activities of a

lower level carried out as part of an activity of a higher level can be considered part

of the higher level activity: for example using self-study, additional tutoring, use

of internet resources as part of the preparation homework for a formal education

programme can be considered as part of the formal activity in case we are not

interested in going into the detail of the methods used by the student to participate

in the formal activity.

On the contrary when an activity at a higher level is organised in the framework of a

longer activity of a lower level then it should be considered as a separate activity.

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 22

5. BROAD CATEGORIES, CLASSES AND SUB-CLASSES

5.1. Summary table

The proposed categories, classes and subclasses for the Classiﬁ cation of Learning Activities are

summarised in the following table. The explanatory notes are presented in section 6.

Codes Broad categories / Classes / Sub-classes

1. Formal education

2. Non-formal education

2.1. Non formal programmes

2.2. Courses:

2.2.1. Courses conducted via classroom instuction (including lectures)

2.2.2. Combined theoretical-practical courses (including workshops)

2.2.3 Courses conducted through open and distance education

2.2.4.Private tuition (private lessons)

2.3. Guided on-the-job-training

2.4. Other non-speciﬁ ed elsewhere

3. Informal learning

3.1. Taught Learning

3.1.1. Coaching / Informal tuition

3.1.2. Guided visits

3.2. Non-taught learning

3.2.1. Self-learning

3.2.2. Learning-group

3.2.3. Practice

3.2.4. Non-guided visits

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 23

5.2. Explanatory notes to CLA

1. Formal education

Formal education refers to institutionalised learning activities that lead to a learning achievement that

can be positioned in the National Framework of Qualiﬁ cations (NFQ). The National Framework of

Qualiﬁ cations recognises learning activities constituted of structured hierarchical programmes with

chronological succession of levels and grades, admission requirements and formal registration.

The explanatory notes for the classes of formal education are those of the levels of education of ISCED

1997 (pages 13-33). Readers should therefore refer to this publication for any further information on

the content of this broad category, its classes and sub-classes.

2. Non-formal education

Non-formal education refers to institutionalised learning activities, which are not part of the NFQ.

It includes structured activities which either do not lead to any qualiﬁ cation or lead to qualiﬁ cations

which are that are not included in the National Framework of Qualiﬁ cations. The latter is the case for

example for programmes or courses that are not part of the NFQ but are recognised by professional

organisations.

2.1. Non-formal programmes

An education and training programmes, i.e. “an array or sequence of education activities, which

are organised to accomplish a predetermined objective or a speciﬁ ed set of educational tasks” is

classiﬁ ed as non-formal25 if it does not lead to a qualiﬁ cation included in the NFQ.

In case the content of non-formal education programmes can be considered as of similar/equivalent

level of formal education programmes then the ISCED criteria should be used (see UNESCO ISCED 97

document pages 13-33). Readers should therefore refer to this publication for any further information

on the content of this broad category, its classes and sub-classes.

2.2. Courses

Courses are typically subject oriented. They are taught by one or more persons specialised in the

ﬁ eld(s). They may take place in one or more settings/environments as listed below.26

2.2.1 Courses conducted via classroom instuction (including lectures)

This subcategory includes learning organised in a classroom for a group of people and is built around

the transmission of knowledge by a teacher/tutor/instructor with the intention to provide instructions

and educate. It may or may not include discussion on a given subject.

Includes:

Job-related courses undertaken during work time or outside work time either in the workplace or outside the work-place,

either paid or not paid by employer.

25 Non formal programmes are not broken down by ISCED levels because it might be difﬁ cult to clearly determine these levels in a

survey.

26 Note in HALLA, page 37, a lecture is deﬁ ned as “a talk on a subject by someone knowledgeable in that subject to a class or

invited audience” (source OECD, 1999).

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 24

Sessions having the character of a course conducted through classroom instruction, which may be provided during a

conferences or congresses. These sessions which may have names like “tutorial”, “seminar” or even “workshop” are

included if there is an educational objective, distinguishing them from information sessions, and there is no practical

training involved. In which case they would be classiﬁ ed under 2.2.2.

2.2.2 Combined theoretical-practical courses (including workshops)

This subcategory covers all courses combining classroom instruction (theoretical) with, practice

in real or simulated situations. It includes vocational apprenticeships, with the exception of those

covered by formal education (e.g. “dual system” programmes or “alternance training” combining

formal schooling and work/enterprise based training). Combined theoretical-practical courses include

also learning activities which include some classroom instruction together with guided on-the-job-

training and practice.

Includes:

Sessions combining theoretical instruction with “hands-on” training provided during a conferences or congresses which

may bear the names “workshop”, “seminar”, “tutorial” or other.

2.2.3 Courses conducted through open and distance education 27

This subcategory covers courses which are similar to face-to-face courses, i.e. they may have elements

like curriculum, registration, tutoring and even tests but take place via postal correspondence or

electronic media, linking instructors/teacher/tutor or students who are not together in a classroom. This

type of courses involves interaction between the instructor and the student, albeit not simultaneously

but with a delay.

2.2.4 Private tuition (private lessons)

This is a “planned series of (supplementary) learning experiences offered by experts or other who

act as experts, selected to deepen knowledge or skills, to learn more intensively, usually undertaken

by only one or very few learners”28. Typically the tutor (physical person) in this case is also the

“provider” having education as “core activity”.

Q&A What is the difference of a private lesson that is institutionalised (category 2.2.5)

from a private lesson that is not institutionalised (category 3.1.1)?

It is the role of the provider/tutor and his/her relation to the learner. If the person

has as main activity delivering private lessons and has a professional teacher-to-

student relationship in this context to the learner then it is 2.3. If the provider/tutor is

assisting the learner in the framework of a social relationship then it is 3.1.1.

2.3. Guided on-the-job-training

This type of training is characterised by planned periods of training, instruction or practical experience,

using normal tools of work, either as the immediate place of work or in the work-situation29 with the

presence of a tutor. It is usually organised by the employer to facilitate adaptation of (new) staff,

including transferred, re-hired and seasonal/temporary staff in their new or current jobs. It may include

general training about the company (organisation, operating procedures, etc.) as well as speciﬁ c job-

related instructions (safety and health hazards, working practices).

27 As deﬁ ned in HALLA page 36.Source: based on European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions.

28 Based on HALLA deﬁ nition, page 38.

29 This corresponds to category “Planned periods of training, instruction or practical experience”.

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 25

Excludes:

All apprenticeships under Formal Education and under combined theoretical-practical courses under Non Formal

education (see subclass 2.2.3)

Job-related courses undertaken during work time or outside work time either in the workplace or outside the workplace,

paid by employer or not paid by the employer (see sub-class 2.2).

2.4. Other non-speciﬁ ed elsewhere

This sub-category is for non-formal education activities that cannot be allocated to one of the other

categories of this broad category. Thus may be the case for certain activities very speciﬁ c to a country

or to new activities that could emerge on the market.

3. Informal learning

Informal learning activities are not institutionalised. It encompasses a less structured set of Single

Learning Activities. It can take place almost anywhere: within the family, with friends, at work.

3.1. Taught Learning

3.1.1 Coaching / Informal tuition

This includes a very wide range of organised not institutionalised learning experiences offered by

experts or other who act as experts, selected to deepen knowledge or skills, to learn more intensively,

undertaken by one or very few learners. It also includes activities designed to assist and support

individuals in other processes of learning.

This includes all taught learning, both face to face and at distance. Coaching and informal tuition may

involve monetary compensation (payment).

Includes:

Face-to-face instruction from a colleague on how to use a new tool at work.

Lessons provided by household members or other individuals, such as relatives, acquaintances or neighbours.

Tuition/Lessons by a relative, acquaintance or neighbour who is also an expert/teacher for the subject to be learned.

3.1.2 Guided visits

This includes a very wide range of organised events designed to transmit information within a

predetermined limited time period in a given location. The location is the principal medium for

exhibiting the subject-matter that the learner intends to learn about and for the provider to transmit

the information. The key criterion for deciding whether such an activity is a learning activity or not is

whether there is a pre-determined learning objective prior to the visit. This intention to learn may also

be reﬂ ected in the choice of type of guide (tourist guide or educational support/scientiﬁ c personnel

of the site visited).

Includes:

Visiting cultural heritage sites (e.g. museums, exhibitions, historical and sacral sites and buildings).

Visiting scientiﬁ c and natural sites (e.g. space centres, nature parks, botanical and zoological gardens)

Visiting private and public businesses or organisations (e.g. visiting a farm, a nuclear power plant, the EU institutions,

trade fairs and exhibitions).

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 26

3.2. Non-taught learning

3.2.1 Self-learning

Self-learning (self-study) is conducted alone by the individual. It involves the use of one, or more or

all the learning media presented in the classiﬁ cation of learning media, with which it may be useful

to combine with certain learning tools (see Annex1).

This can take place in private (e.g. the home, car), general public (e.g. train, aeroplane, in the

countryside) and job-related settings/environments.

Includes:

Studying a subject using printed material (books etc)

Listening to a foreign language audio tape in the car

Watching a documentary on TV

Systematically observing animals in the countryside

Using teaching material from the internet

Practising or doing homework

3.2.2 Learning-group

This includes participating in all types of informal groups (among like-minded persons, friends,

colleagues, students, etc.) that are not instructed. This can take place in private (e.g. the home),

general public (e.g. community hall, hotels) and job-related settings/environments.

Communication among the learners may be face-to-face or at distance. Distance group discussion

channels of communication can be via postal correspondence or via electronic means e.g. Internet

“chats”, email, web camera, video-conferencing.

This category includes “Learning circles” which are deﬁ ned as 30 “groups of employees who

come together on a regular basis with the primary aim to learn about the requirements of the work

organisation, work-procedures and work place (it is a form of individual learning within groups)”

or “Quality circles” which are deﬁ ned as31 “working groups with the aim to discuss about problems

and search for problem-solving in the production and on the work place where participants have to

be integrated in the planning and controlling procedures of the enterprise (a moderator co-ordinates

quality circles).”

3.2.3 Practice

Practice typically involves the implementation or repetition of knowledge, methods rules or

instructions related to a subject already received, with the intention to improve personal performance

in this speciﬁ c subject. It can be done in any setting/environment conducive to practising the subject-

matter. This can take place in private (e.g. the home), general public (e.g. the street) and job-related

settings/environments. It includes doing homework for formal or non-formal programmes.

3.2.4 Non-guided visits

This includes any visit undertaken with the predetermined purpose to learn, without the intervention

of a guide. Tools like printed visitors’ guides, brochures or pre-recorded audio guides may be used for

this type of non-guided visits.

30 CVTS2 manual

31 CVTS2 manual

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 27

6. BIBLIOGRAPHY

6.1. EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Communication from the Commission: European benchmarks in education and training: follow-up to

the Lisbon European Council, 20 November 2002.

Communication from the Commission: Making a European Area of Lifelong Learning a Reality.

Brussels, 20 December 2001. COM (2002) 629 ﬁ nal.

Commission Regulation (EC) N° 1313/2002 of 19 July 2002 implementing Council Regulation (EC)

N°577/98 on the organisation of a labour force sample survey in the Community concerning the

speciﬁ cation of the 2003 ad hoc module on lifelong learning. OJ 192/16 of 20.07.2002.

Fields of Education and Training Manual, Eurostat, December 1999. Authors: R. Andersson & A.K.

Olsson of Statistics Sweden.

Eurostat Task Force on Measuring Lifelong Learning (TF/MLLL) Report. By Spyridon Pilos, Eurostat

– Education and Training Statistics, March 2001. Eurostat Working Papers “Population and social

conditions” 3/2001/E/N°4.

Methodological manual for statistics on congresses and conferences, 2000 edition. Catalogue n° KS-

28-00-599-EN-C. ISBN 92-828-9213-1.

NACE Rev.1. Statistical Classiﬁ cation of Economic Activities. Catalogue n° CA-80-93-436-EN-C.

ISBN 92-826-8767-8.

CPA 1996. Statistical Classiﬁ cation of Products by Activity.

Eurostat Information Society Questionnaire 2002.

Eurostat Task Force on Adult Education Survey, Glossary for an adult learning to be used by the TF

AES, 3rd meeting of the Eurostat task Force on Adult Education Survey, 16-18 June 2003, Helsinki.

Doc.TFAES-M3-2003 – Background document N°1.

Eurostat Task Force on Adult Education Survey, Rainer Wilhelm, Statistisches Bundesamt Deutschland,

13 June 2003,Task 3 Group (T3G)

Eurostat Task Force on Adult Education Survey, Basic dimensions of learning activities, Rainer

Wilhelm, Statistisches Bundesamt Deutschland, 3rd meeting of the Eurostat, Task Force on Adult

Education Survey, Helsinki, 16-18 June 2003

Classiﬁ cation of Training Provisions. June 1999. Brandsma and Kornelius. Funded by the Leonardo

da Vinci project of the Commission.

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 28

6.2. CEDEFOP

Harmonised List of Learning Activities (HALLA). Final version. April 2002. Authors: D. Gnahs,

A. Ioannidou, K.Pehl, S.Seidel. Edited by: P. Descy, A.F. Moussoux, S.Pilo

Summary and analysis of the feedback from the Member States and other EEA countries as part of

the consultation on the Commission’s memorandum. November 2001.

6.3. UNESCO and UNESCO Institute for Statistics

International Standard Classiﬁ cation of Education, July 1995. Abridged edition. Ofﬁ ce of Statistics.

ED/BIE/CONFINTED.35/Ref.8.

International Standard Classiﬁ cation of Education (ISCED 1997). November 1997.

Operational Manual for ISCED-1997 (International Standard Classiﬁ cation of Education) 1st edition.

June 1999. UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Manual for statistics on non-formal education (preliminary version for ﬁ eld test and comments).

October 1996. ST-96/WS/1C.

6.4. OECD

OECD (1997), Manuel pour élaborer de meilleures statistiques de la formation - Conception,

mesure, enquêtes / Manual for better Training Statistics - Conceptual, Measurement and Survey

Issues, Paris.

OECD (2000), Guidelines on the measurement of training -- a draft proposal, Working Party on

Employment and Unemployment Statistics DEELSA/ELSA/WP7(2000)6, Paris

UIS/OECD/Eurostat UOE data collection. 2002 Data Collection on Education Systems: Deﬁ nitions,

Explanations and Instructions. Doc. Ref.: UOE (02) 1. Paris, April 2002

Standard statistical classiﬁ cations: basic principles, February 1999. By E. Hoffman (ILO) and M.

Chamie (UN). Presented at the UN Statistics Commission 30th session. New York. March 1999.

UN Glossary of Classiﬁ cation Terms, available directly on the UN Statistical Division’s website.

6.6. World Bank

Lifelong Learning in the Global Knowledge Economy. ISBN 0-8213-5475-2

6.7. National reference papers

GERMANY:

Towards a statistical framework for monitoring progress towards Lifelong Learning. By Walter

Horner, Federal Statistical Ofﬁ ce of Germany. Prepared for the INES Technical Group, 2000.

The inclusion of Lifelong Learning issues in the German Time Use Survey 2001/2002 (available as

annex 4 of Eurostat TF/MMLL report)

6.5. ILO and United Nations Statistics Division

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 29

CANADA and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:

Classiﬁ cation of Instructional programs (CIP – 2000), November 2001. National Center for Education

Statistics (US) and Statistics Canada.

FINLAND:

Participation in Adult education and training in Finland. Adult education survey 2000. By I.Blomqvist,

http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/III/III_en.html

http://forum.europa.eu.int/Public/irc/dsis/edtcs/library?l=/public

www.oecd.org

www.uis.unesco.org

www.ilo.org/stat

www.un.org/Depts/unsd/

www.worldbank.org

www.cedefop.europa.eu

6.8. Internet sites of some of the references

. Russkanen, H.Niemi, E. Nyyssönen, Statistics Finland, ISBN-952-467-140-9

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 30

ANNEX 1: CASES – CLASSIFICATION INTO BROAD CATEGORIES

nr case description classiﬁ ed as

Peter, aged 17, is learning French cuisine in an education college. The course lasts

3 years, and theoretical matters are taught in the classroom, complemented with

practice. To be admitted to this course, he had to have completed secondary school.

Every year he must sit for an examination that gives access to the next year. At the

end, the organisation gives a diploma recognised in the NFQ as a qualiﬁ cation in

French cuisine with the title of “French cuisine Chef”.

FED

Peter, aged 30, is learning French cuisine in an in a large employer. The course lasts

3 years, and theoretical matters are taught in the classroom, complemented with

practice. To be admitted to this course, he had to have completed secondary school.

Every year he must sit for an examination that gives access to the next year. At the

end, the organisation gives a diploma recognised in the NFQ as a qualiﬁ cation in

French cuisine with the title of “French cuisine Chef”.

FED

Peter, aged 30, is learning French cuisine in an unofﬁ cial religious organisation e.g. the

Moonies: the course lasts 3 years, and theoretical matters are taught in the classroom,

complemented with practice. To be admitted to this course, he had to have completed

secondary school. Every year he must sit for an examination that gives access to the

next year. At the end, the organisation gives a diploma recognised in the NFQ as a

qualiﬁ cation in French cuisine with the title of “French cuisine Chef”.

FED

Peter is learning French cuisine in an education college: the course lasts 3 years, and

theoretical matters are taught in the classroom, complemented with practice. To be

admitted to this course, the person needs to have completed secondary school. Every

year he must sit for an examination that gives access to the next year. At the end, the

organisation gives a diploma recognised by the labour market but not by the NFQ.

Peter is learning French cuisine in an in a large employer: the course lasts 3 years, and

theoretical matters are taught in the classroom, complemented with practice. To be

admitted to this course, the person needs to have completed secondary school. Every

year he must sit for an examination that gives access to the next year. The qualiﬁ cation

is not recognised by the labour market nor by the NFQ.

Peter is learning French cuisine with an unofﬁ cial association that organises 1 weekend

workshop with theoretical matters taught in a classroom, complemented with practice.

Everybody can register to attend the workshop. After the completion of the workshop

the organisation gives a certiﬁ cate proving the participation and completion of the

workshop.

Peter is learning French cuisine in a large employer that organises 1 weekend

workshop with theoretical matters taught in a classroom, complemented with practice.

Everybody can register to attend the workshop. After the completion of the workshop

the organisation gives a certiﬁ cate proving the participation and completion of the

workshop recognised by the NFQ.

FED

Peter is learning French cuisine with a group of friends. One of them is a “Chef

of French Cuisine” and, as such, gives them guidance on theoretical and practice

matters. The group will get together once a week, during 2 months. Each one bought

some books and/or some video material to keep after the end of the learning.

INF

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 31

nr case description classiﬁ ed as

Peter is learning French cuisine with a group of friends who have called themselves

the French Cuisine Association, and award themselves certiﬁ cates. One of them is

a “Chef of French Cuisine” and, as such, gives them guidance on theoretical and

practice matters. The group will get together once a week, during 2 months. Each one

bought some books and/or some video material to keep after the end of the learning.

INF

Peter is learning French cuisine with a group of friends who have called themselves

the French Cuisine Association, and award themselves certiﬁ cates. One of them is

a “Chef of French Cuisine” and, as such, gives them guidance on theoretical and

practice matters. The group will get together once a week, during 2 months. Each one

bought some books and/or some video material to keep after the end of the learning.

At the end of 2 months they take an examination for a qualiﬁ cation in the NFQ.

INF

Peter (qualiﬁ ed at ISCED 2) working in a commercial bank as an employee decides

to improve his skill on pottery. He chooses to take an evening course, during 1 year

with a cultural organisation named “Youth and cultural Training”. He attends 2 hours

classes, twice a week for practising and developing his creativity. At the end of the

year he will be able to participate in speciﬁ c exhibitions although the course does not

give any ofﬁ cial qualiﬁ cation.

Peter (qualiﬁ ed at ISCED 3) working in a commercial bank as an employee decides

to improve his skill on pottery. He chooses to take an evening course, during 1 year

with a cultural organisation named “Youth and cultural Training”. He attends 2 hours

classes, twice a week for practising and developing his creativity. At the end of the year

he receives an ISCED 2 qualiﬁ cation at the end, and becomes a professional potter.

FED

Peter (qualiﬁ ed at ISCED 3) working in a commercial bank as an employee decides

to improve his skill on pottery. He chooses to take an evening course, during 1 year

with a cultural organisation named “Youth and cultural Training”. He attends 2 hours

classes, twice a week for practising and developing his creativity. At the end of the year

he receives an ISCED 2 qualiﬁ cation. He continues his work in the commercial bank.

FED

Peter (qualiﬁ ed at ISCED 3) working in a commercial bank as an employee decides

to improve his skill on pottery. He chooses to take an evening course, during 1 year

with a cultural organisation named “Youth and cultural Training”. He attends 2 hours

classes, twice a week for practising and developing his creativity. At the end he

receives an ISCED 4 qualiﬁ cation.

FED

Peter retired for 5 years has a science and technology hobby. He decides to improve his

knowledge in the ﬁ eld of “Climate Changes”. He follows a distance learning course

in the Internet that organises 4 training meetings a year of the group. This course lasts

for 2 years and gives a university diploma recognised in the NFQ. He does not return

to work.

FED

Peter works as a technician in a biology laboratory, decides to train to become a

ﬁ nancial consultant. He ﬁ nds 1 distance learning course run by an “Open University”

lasting for 2 years. The course is organised in modules. These are valued according

to a system of credits that the individual is able to transfer to another university to

complete a diploma of ﬁ nancial engineering and do a Ph.D. in the same ﬁ eld.

FED

Peter (qualiﬁ ed to ISCED 4) works as a technician in a biology laboratory, decides to train

to become a ﬁ nancial consultant. He ﬁ nds 1 distance learning course run by the “Open

University” lasting for 2 years. The course is organised in modules. These are valued

according to a system of credits that the individual is able to transfer to another university

to complete a diploma of ﬁ nancial engineering and do a Ph.D. in the same ﬁ eld

FED

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 32

nr case description classiﬁ ed as

Peter (with no qualiﬁ cations) works in a factory of textiles as a worker. He decides

to learn about English civilisation during the leisure time. He buys some software to

develop his English language skills and chose a number of exhibitions and conferences

about the theme. He identiﬁ ed a number of websites from where he downloads

information that he studies 2 hours every evening.

INF

Peter (with no qualiﬁ cations) works in a factory of textiles as a worker. He decides

to learn about English civilisation during the leisure time. He buys some software to

develop his English language skills and chose a number of exhibitions and conferences

about the theme. He identiﬁ ed a number of websites from where he downloads

information that he studies 2 hours every evening. He takes an exam and gains an

ISCED 2 qualiﬁ cation.

INF

Peter (already has an ISCED 3 qualiﬁ cation) works in a factory of textiles as a worker.

He decides to learn about English civilisation during the leisure time. He buys some

software to develop his English language skills and chose a number of exhibitions

and conferences about the theme. He identiﬁ ed a number of websites from where he

downloads information that he studies 2 hours every evening. He takes an exam and

gains an ISCED 2 qualiﬁ cation.

INF

Peter, a non-skier, receives paid instruction from a registered ski-instructor who

works for “Ski like a Penguin company”. At the end he receives a recognised basic ski

certiﬁ cate (not in NFQ).

22 Peter, a non-skier, receives paid instruction from a registered ski-instructor who works

for “Ski like a Penguin company”. At the end he doesn’t receive any certiﬁ cate.

23 Peter, a non-skier, receives paid instruction from an instructor who is working privately

and declares earnings. At the end he doesn’t receive any certiﬁ cate.

Peter, a non-skier, receives paid instruction from a private instructor. But instructor

puts money in back pocket and doesn’t declare it. At the end he doesn’t receive any

certiﬁ cate.

25 Peter, a non-skier, receives unpaid instruction from a friend. At the end he can

participate in examinations to receive a recognised basic ski certiﬁ cate (not in NFQ).

INF

26 Peter, a non-skier, pays to learn to ski from someone who is not registered as a ski

instructor but is qualiﬁ ed as an instructor.

27 Peter, a non-skier, pays to learn to ski from someone who is not registered as a ski

instructor but is a qualiﬁ ed skier.

28 Peter, a non-skier, is teaching himself to ski. At the end he participates in exams and

receives a recognised basic ski certiﬁ cate (not in NFQ).

INF

29 Peter works in a cake factory, and is moving to a new machine. His supervisor gives

him 5 minutes/ 1 hour /4 hours/ 1 days training on how to use the new machine.

30 Peter reads a trade journal “Rat catching today” to keep up with developments in his

profession daily/weekly/monthly/annually at home/at work.

INF

Peter, a hairdresser, attends a seminar on hairdressing at a university/professional

organisation which lasts 1 hour/1 day to keep up with new developments in scissors

technology.

Peter, a hairdresser, attends a seminar on hairdressing at a university/professional

organisation which lasts 1 hour/1 day to keep up with new developments in scissors

technology but gets drunk on the train, and sleeps through the seminar.

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 33

nr case description classiﬁ ed as

Peter, a hairdresser, attends a seminar on hairdressing at a university/professional

organisation which lasts 1 hour/1 day to keep up with new developments in scissors

technology but Peter is not very interested and is only attending because his boss

couldn’t go.

Peter, a hairdresser, attends a seminar on hairdressing at a university/professional

organisation which lasts 1 hour/1 day to keep up with new developments in scissors

technology but found that he already new everything about scissors but didn’t learn

anything from the seminar.

35 Peter teaches himself to juggle over a 1 month/ 1 year period. INF

36 Peter teaches himself to juggle over a 1 month/ 1 year period and receives a certiﬁ cate

from the national juggling foundation.

INF

37 Peter teaches himself Russian using text books. He is then registered for an examination

at a college, and receives a qualiﬁ cation equivalent to ISCED 2.

INF

38 Peter wants to learn to type. He attends a course at work. NF

39 Peter wants to learn to type. He is given ”typing tutor” software to use at work by his

employer.

INF

40 Peter wants to learn to type. He uses “typing tutor” software at work, but doesn’t tell

his employer.

INF

41 Peter wants to learn to type. Peter’s employer asks Klaus, a colleague hired as a

qualiﬁ ed typing instructor to provide training to staff, to teach Peter.

42 Peter wants to learn to type. Peter’s employer asks Klaus, an external qualiﬁ ed typing

instructor hired for this purpose, to teach Peter.

Peter wants to learn to type. Peter asks Klaus, a colleague and a qualiﬁ ed typing

instructor (without telling employer) to give him private lessons at work which he

pays for.

Peter wants to learn to type. Peter asks Klaus, a colleague and a qualiﬁ ed typing

instructor, (without telling employer) to give him private lessons at work which he

doesn’t pays for.

INF

Peter decides to learn Spanish at work at lunchtimes. He does this in his employer’s

training centre using “teach yourself” material which was purchased by his

employer.

INF

Peter decides to learn Spanish. He takes home from work (with permission) the “teach

yourself” material which was purchased by his employer and uses it to learn Spanish

in the evening.

INF

47 Peter decides to learn Spanish at lunchtime, using “Manuel’s guide to Spanish” on the

Internet. Manuel built the language course for a hobby, and not for commercial gain.

INF

48 Peter is a diplomat and the foreign ofﬁ ce has told him to teach himself Spanish before

he becomes ambassador to Peru. He does this from text books in work time.

INF

In order to learn Spanish Peter is enrolled for a correspondence course. Every week he

receives the package with the lessons in the textbooks and cassette. Every 2 weeks he

is obliged to send back the exercises for a correction by a teacher. After the 10 weeks

he receives a certiﬁ cate (not recognised by NFQ) of ﬁ nishing the particular level of

the course.

50 Peter is learning Spanish following a “TV language course”. INF

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 34

nr case description classiﬁ ed as

Peter attends a seminar of 2 days on IT technologies. 10 personalities gave lectures

on the future of IT in the assurance business. No certiﬁ cate was delivered after the

seminar.

Peter attends a seminar of 2 days on IT technologies. 10 personalities gave lectures

on the future of IT in the assurance business. An attendance certiﬁ cate was delivered

proving attendance of the seminar.

Peter attends a seminar of 2 days on IT technologies. 5 workshops were organised

on the future of IT in the assurance business. All participants are registered and have

received before the workshop the material for the workshop they attend. At the end of

the workshop participants who want certiﬁ cation of the knowledge acquired, receive

a test and are given one hour to complete it. Those successful receive a certiﬁ cate of

successful completion of the subject of the workshop. The rest of the participants just

receive attendance certiﬁ cates. Pascal decides to participate in the test and receives

the successful completion certiﬁ cate which is not part of the NFQ.

54 Peter is visiting the history museum without taking any guide. NLA

55 Peter is visiting the history museum and is following the guided tour given by the

museum guide into small groups of persons.

INF

56 Peter is visiting the history museum and rents the pre-recorded audio guide. INF

57 Peter is visiting the Zoo to teach his children about reptiles. He is using the teaching

material provided by the zoo.

NLA

(teaching)

Peter is visiting the Zoo to learn more about reptiles. He had visited the zoo before

to get the “Zoo guide” and has studied at home the reptiles and has noted down the

characteristics for which he would need to observe closely the reptiles in the Zoo.

INF

59 Peter is visiting the Zoo on a weekend for fun. NLA

60 Peter is playing a football match. NLA

61 Peter is following a course on golf rules. The course also has some practice in order

to learn the rules.

62 Peter has just started playing golf with a trainer, who is giving him elementary

knowledge about the rules and practices of the game.

63 Peter plays golf with a trainer, in order to improve his performance. NLA

64 Peter attends classes in a Buddhist temple to learn about Buddhism. NFE

65 Peter is Muslim and is going to a mosque. NLA

66 Peter is Christian and is visiting a mosque. NLA

67 Peter is an atheist and is visiting a mosque as his hobby is comparing religious

practices.

INF

68 Peter is practising meditation. NLA

Peter is participating in a self-organised learning group of friends to improve computer

skills in Excel. The group has also engaged for some time a professional tutor for

more complicated subjects like Visual Basic programming.

INF

Peter belongs to a network of researchers working on numismatics of central Europe

in the 1st century. The network does not have any legal status. The network members

meet once a year in a “conference” organised by them in order to exchange knowledge

and best practice in their speciﬁ c domain. Peter participates in this conference.

INF

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 35

nr case description classiﬁ ed as

Peter is participating in a State-run “adult literacy programme” as he did not have the

opportunity to learn to write and read while he was young. The completion of this

programme gives a qualiﬁ cation at ISCED level 1.

FED

Peter is participating in a programme organised by the association “Fight illiteracy”

aimed at giving adults the basic literacy and numeracy skills for their everyday life.

No certiﬁ cate is delivered at the end of the programme.

73 Peter is participating in training as part of his compulsory military service. NF

Peter has completed successfully the classroom instruction (theoretical training) for

his driving licence. He is now taking driving lessons from a cousin with the aim to

pass the hand-on driving test of the Ministry of Transport.

INF

Peter is currently studying to become a car engineer in a vocational training school

(ISCED4). During his studies he has been searching on the internet for more

information on his subject. and he is now attending a conference on “evolution of

transmission systems”.

FED

76 Peter is a book publisher and is visiting the “Annual international book exhibition”

in his city. NLA

Peter is a book publisher and is attending the “31st International conference on

typography techniques” organised as part of the “Annual international book exhibition”

in his city During this conference he is taking part in the workshop on creating the

3D maps.

78 Peter is doing his homework for the upper secondary programme in which he is

participating. FED

79 Peter is participating in a training organised by Microsoft to receive a Certiﬁ cate in

Software Engineering. NF

Peter has worked as a manager of cultural events for 10 years. He now has the

opportunity to register in a national examination through which successful candidates

receive a certiﬁ cate which makes it possible for them to continue with advanced

studies in Management of cultural events at post-secondary level.

NLA

Peter has worked as a manager of cultural events for 10 years. He now has the

opportunity to register in a national examination through which successful candidates

receive a certiﬁ cate which he is recognised by his national professional association

but does not allow him to continue with more advanced studies (i.e. is not recognised

in the NFQ).

NLA

Peter is participating during his leisure time in a course on “Multivariate analysis” at

the University for 5 weeks speciﬁ cally designed for employed people. Upon successful

completion of the course he receives credits, which in a later stage can be added to

credits forming part of a degree in “Statistics”.

FED

Peter is participating in a course on “Multivariate analysis” at the University for 5

weeks. He does this during his working time (paid training leave) as his employer

has offered him this possibility. Upon successful completion of the course he receives

credits, which in a later stage can be added to credits forming part of a degree in

“Statistics”.

FED

Peter is participating in courses in Psychology provided by a municipal adult education

institution. Upon successful completion of the course he receives an upper secondary

qualiﬁ cation in Psychology recognised in the NFQ.

FED

Classiﬁ cation of learning activities - Manual 36

nr case description classiﬁ ed as

Peter was enrolled in a programme for medicine in a foreign university established

physically in his country. The degree is recognized as equivalent to university education

in his country (i.e. it is in the NFQ).

FED

Peter was enrolled in a programme for medicine in a foreign university established

physically in his country of residence. The degree received is in principle recognised

by the NFQ but Peter has to go through an equivalence examination speciﬁ c for his

country on the basis of bilateral (or multilateral) agreements between his country of

residence and the country of origin of the university in order to be able to use it for

further education or working as a doctor in his country of residence.

FED

Peter has participated in distance tertiary education programme on Law offered by an

institution outside his country. The degree is recognized as equivalent to university

education in his country (i.e. it is in the NFQ).

FED

Peter has participated in distance tertiary education programme on Law offered by

an institution outside his country of residence. The degree received is in principle

recognised by the NFQ but Peter has to go through an equivalence examination

speciﬁ c for his country on the basis of bilateral (or multilateral) agreements between

his country of residence and the country of origin of the university in order to be able

to use it for further education or working as a lawyer in his country of residence.

FED

Peter is participating in speciﬁ c “labour market education” which has as main purpose

to educate people in occupations lacking in the labour market. The certiﬁ cate received

is at the same level as upper secondary education but it is not in the NFQ.

90 Peter has participated in courses leading to a ﬂ ight certiﬁ cate recognized at the national

level (i.e. in the NFQ). FED

Classification Of Learning Activities Manual

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