Assessing Learning Over a Career: How to Value and Assess Lifelong, Experiential Learning

The purpose of this article is to construct better learning and competence assessment methodology for lifelong careers. A literature study has been performed for model construction of lifelong careers. In the article there are developed assessment methodologies that look at lifelong careers in a holistic way based not only on academic learning, but especially on experiential learning theory. The models created gives an understanding of the value of learning from practice and they can be used by employers in assessing mature candidates, who are applying for jobs–especially jobs in other fields than their present. By using assessment methodology on the experiential learning part of a career, assessors obtain more valid assessment of candidates’learning and thereby their employability. Societies want to keep individuals in the workforce longer, and individuals themselves have an own interest in continuing learning ‐ especially if it can give them credit in a job application situation. The article proposes assessment methodology for experiential learning that can be utilized by employers in assessing mature candidates for jobs.