Validation of prior learning

Validation of prior learning enables anyone engaged in working life to obtain professional certification by validating experience acquired in the course of a professional and/or extra-professional activity.

At the University of Guyana, there are three procedures available to you, depending on your situation:

Validation of professional and personal experience (VAPP)

References: decree no. 85-906 of 23 March 1985 | decree no. 2013-756 of 19 August 2013
This validation allows applicants to enrol in a course even though they do not have the diploma required for direct access. It is an authorisation to enrol by dispensing with the required qualification in the context of continuing or resuming studies. The authorisation may be accompanied by certain waivers of teaching units.
The VAPP allows you to :
- Meeting the needs and expectations of individuals, businesses and society more effectively
- Promoting closer links between university education and professional qualifications
- Offer those who entered working life early a new opportunity to access higher education courses, diplomas or qualifications
- Optimise training times by taking into account the knowledge and expertise of each individual

Validation of Acquired Experience (VAE)

References: decree no. 2002-590 of 24 April 2002 | decree no. 2017-1135 of 4 July 2017
Validation of acquired experience enables a candidate to obtain all or part of a diploma, provided that they can show proof of one year's activity as an employee, a self-employed person or a volunteer, with a direct link to the diploma. All the national diplomas awarded by the University of Guyana and the university diplomas listed in the RNCP are accessible by VAE.

VAE

Anyone, regardless of age, nationality, status or level of training, with at least one year's experience, whether continuous or not, in relation to the desired qualification, may apply for validation of prior learning.
It concerns all types of public, regardless of the diploma previously obtained or the level of qualification:

• Private-sector employees on fixed-term or permanent contracts, and temporary workers.
• Non-salaried workers (members of a liberal profession, farmers, craftsmen, shopkeepers, spouses of craftsmen or shopkeepers, self-employed workers).
• Employees of the state, local authority or hospital civil service, with or without tenure
• Jobseekers, whether on benefit or not.
• Volunteers with trade union, social or community experience, or anyone with or without a recognised qualification who wants to obtain one or add to it with a view to returning to work.
• For candidates with diplomas: DAEU, DUT, Licence or Master.

Pre-registration.

Pre-registration on E-candidat in June examination of applications by the DFPU then transmission to the DFR.
Contact the VAE department to fill in a positioning form.

Acceptability of the VAE application.

The application is forwarded to the DFR concerned for an admissibility examination at a cost of €50, regardless of the response. The decision is sent within a maximum of 2 months. The applicant is invited by the manager and his/her team for an interview (the aim being to encourage the applicant to take part in the support programme or to enrol in the training programme).

Support in the VAE process.

Candidates admitted after the interview are included in the VAE scheme. There are two possible scenarios:

• Candidates who do not wish to be accompanied pay: €180
• If the candidate accepts support, the fee will be between: €800 and €1000
• Third-party financing: VAE 180€ + Accompaniment 800€.
• Personal funding: VLE 180€ + Diploma registration between 170€ and 243€.
• Length of support (20 hours), i.e.
  - Pedagogical support and (16 hours)
  - Mentoring (4 hours).

This generally begins with the signing of the support contract and ends with the submission of the complete VAE application; at the latest, on the day of the invitation to appear before the selection board.

Diploma registration.

There is a viva session in June. To take part in the examination, candidates must complete the application form and pay the registration fee according to the diploma applied for:

• GOAL: €175
• LICENCE: €175
• MASTER: €250

Validation panel.

The jury checks and assesses the candidate's professional skills acquired through experience: it verifies whether the skills the candidate has acquired correspond to the skills, aptitudes and knowledge required by the certification reference documents to obtain the diploma. The jury's decision is notified to you in writing and is final.
The jury decides:

• Full validation.
• Partial validation.
• A refusal to validate.

If the validation is partial, the jury specifies the nature of the knowledge and skills that are to be the subject of further assessment. The decision is forwarded to the President of the University, who notifies the candidate.