The book gives an account of the research conducted in the independent evaluation of the New Opportunities Initiative (NOI), one of the largest Portuguese governmental programmes in recent decades to upgrade qualifications. The NOI demonstrates that the recognition of non-formal and informal learning is crucial in order to improve the competences needed in our societies today. This book reflects on the NOI and its potential for societies in Europe and the rest of the world.

The publication is based on a solid foundation of empirical evidence, encompassing seven papers subjected to an extensive academic peer review procedure.

The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, together with its partners in this publication, MENON and the Study Centre on Peoples and Cultures of the Portuguese Catholic University (CEPCEP), hopes that discussions on the NOI research papers will help to shed light on a reform agenda that is of the greatest urgency in our continuing and lifelong learning systems.

Keywords

academia and policy · accreditation of prior learning public policy · adult education · brand communications · brand equity · brand personality · CAf model · educational innovation · family influence · habitus · Lifelong Learning · management models · motivation for education and learning · new knowledge and quality · New opportunities initiative · permanent campaign · policy evaluation · policy making · policy paradigms · public governance tools · public policy · public sector innovation · recognition of prior learning · relationship marketing · research and change · S-D logic · self-assessment · self-regulation · service quality