The Cultural Competency Record

Making strenghts visible

While being active in arts and culture youths are not only learning to perform, play an instrument or the technical handling of media. They simultaneously develop competences like self esteem, creativity, tolerance and the ability to give and receive criticism which are all demanded in every day life and business. The cultural competency record helps to make these strenghts visible. So it is a proof of competencies which are all shown in cultural youth education.

The cultural competency record is a result of the dialogue between youths and professional workers in cultural youth education who have been qualified for it. Youths can use it to get to know their own competency profile and to apply it self-assured.

The cultural competency record is a educational record. It is awarded to youths from 12 years who actively take part in artistic or cultural-pedagogical offers. It is a proof about which individual personal, social, methodical and atristical competencies have been shown and improved by the young persons.

The cultural competency record is developed with the youth.

Between the tutor, artist, cultural pedagogue and the youth a temporary, intensive exchange about individual strenghts, learning experiences and the effects of one’s own artistical doing is generated. Through getting aware of the own abilities and strenghts and learning to express them the self confidence of the youth is strenghtened.

The cultural competency record is suporting the youth’s career entry.

It expands the possibilities of self-portrayal. In job interviews the cultural competency record can be an impuls for a talk about spezial abilities. The youth can credibly reflect what is written in the certificate because the youth took part the development.

The cultural competency record is acceptance and individual advancement.

Previous experiences document that higher attention for individual strenghts and competencies and the observing and reflecting discussion about it individaully supports youths.

The skilled personnel get security about the impacts of their work.

The professional discussion about the education effects of their own work encourages skilled personnel in their comprehension that they make a significant contribution to education of young people. To officailly approve the abilities and engagement of youths is motivating skilled personnel.

The cultural competency record proves the positive effects of cultural youth education.

It offers facilities and clubs a good possibility to present their education meassures. The cultural competency record is the answer to the ongoing education challenge.

Potentially every skilled person and every facility of cultural youth education can include the cultural competency record in their own offers. To provide consitent quality the following modalities are obligatory.

The cultural competency record is assigned in offers of cultural youth education which are voluntary, participant focused and offer possibilities for participation. The cultural competency record can moreover be assigned for cultural or cultural pedagogic projects in school if conditions are met.

The cultural competency record documents self, social and methodical competence which youths and young adults have acquired or strenghtened through offers of cultural children and youths education. To confirm these competencies a special method for skilled personnel of cultural youth education was developed which gives them a appropriate training certificate. The cultural competency record is the result of common monitoring and discussion between skilled person and youth. The skilled person awards the cultural competency record only if the verification procedure is accomplished completely. The skilled person is responsible for this.

Every youth decides by him/herself if he/she wants to get the cultural competency record. The cultural competency record is awarded to youths and young adults between 12 (recommended minimum age) and 27 years. To obtaine the cultural competency record youths and young adults have to participate in an offer of cultural youth education (recommended are at least 50 hours) and take part in the verification procedure.