CHAPTER 3RECOGNITION OF THE SKILLS AND COMPETENCES ACQUIRED BY EU AID VOLUNTEERS
Article 5Assessment and documentation process
1.
The assessment and documentation of the competences acquired by EU Aid Volunteers during their participation in the EU Aid Volunteers initiative shall support:
(a)
the professional recognition of competences acquired that would be usable in a professional context and that would improve the employability of a volunteer; and
(b)
the social recognition of the volunteers' contribution to expressing the Union's values of solidarity with people in need and visibly promoting a sense of European citizenship.
2.
The scope and process of assessment and documentation shall be adapted to make it suitable for junior or senior professionals and shall depend on the EU Aid Volunteer's individual needs and aspirations.
3.
The assessment and documentation of learning experiences shall reflect the continuous process of development that EU Aid Volunteers go through, thereby acknowledging and supporting learning and development throughout the different stages of a volunteer's participation in the initiative. Assessment and documentation shall be carried out on the basis of the learning and development plan referred to in Article 4.
4.
Sending and hosting organisations shall demonstrate ongoing commitment to the assessment and documentation of EU Aid Volunteers' learning experiences to facilitate professional and social recognition.
5.
The Commission and EU Member States shall provide the competent national authorities responsible for the validation of non-formal and informal learning with relevant information about the EU Aid Volunteers initiative and about the assessment and documentation process in order to facilitate the formal validation processes of the learning experiences of the EU Aid Volunteers in their home countries, where appropriate.
Article 6Professional recognition
1.
EU Aid Volunteers shall receive, upon request, a certificate of completion of participation in the initiative. This shall be issued by the Commission and shall include at least the following information:
(a)
dates of the assignment;
(b)
name and details of the sending and hosting organisations;
(c)
name and contact details of the volunteer's mentor and line manager;
(d)
name and details of persons in the sending and hosting organisations willing to provide a reference for the volunteer;
(e)
the EU Aid Volunteer's main tasks and responsibilities;
(f)
a description of the EU Aid Volunteer's main achievements during the assignment;
(g)
a description of the learning outcomes achieved by the EU Aid Volunteer during the different stages of their participation in the initiative, assessed in accordance with Article 3(3) of this Regulation.
2.
Upon request of the EU Aid Volunteers, a copy of the learning and development plan may be annexed to the certificate.
Article 7Social recognition
1.
Social recognition shall be promoted through the activities set out in the communication plan referred to in Article 17 of Regulation (EU) No 375/2014. EU Aid Volunteers shall have the opportunity to be involved in external communications work designed to publicise the initiative and the commitment made by the volunteers.
2.
Where appropriate, the Commission shall organise high-level events to raise public awareness and improve the visibility of the initiative.
3.
The sending organisations shall disseminate information about and promote engagement with the network for the EU Aid Volunteers initiative highlighting the opportunities it provides for volunteers to remain engaged with issues related to humanitarian aid and active European citizenship after their deployment.
4.
The sending and hosting organisations shall make EU Aid Volunteers aware of opportunities to stay engaged with issues related to humanitarian aid and active European citizenship. They shall, in particular, encourage EU Aid Volunteers to take part in conferences and workshops organised at EU and national level, in order to share their experience with relevant stakeholders.