Recognise your learning and turn your experiences into competence.
Experience – Learning – Description, or ELD, is a dialogue and documentation process to identify valuable skills, talents and character traits shown through real experiences.
The method ELD was developed at the Swedish Centre for International Youth Exchange (CIU) to help volunteers recognize the skills they used and developed during their period of volunteering.
In 2011, the organization CIU was dissolved, and the ELD brand was transferred to method developer Terese Raymond, who continued to run it privately. She licensed the methodological materials under a Creative Commons Attribution–No Derivatives license in order to ensure the continued dissemination and use of ELD.
Today, ELD is used, among other contexts, in open youth work and in connection with projects within international mobility.
ELD list of competence and competence cards
The material is mainly in Swedish but a list of competence and a set of competence cards have been translated to other languages. The competence cards that have been developed based on the ELD method are used by Euroguidance Sweden as a tool for guidance practitioners who have finished a course in mobility guidance. More information about the cards (in Swedish).
The ELD list of competence (in english).
Through cooperation with Euroguidance Sweden, an international dimension was added to the cards, with a globe next to some of the competence words. This globe is also visible in the ELD list of competences. The instruction below, that has been developed for the use of the cards, can also be used based on the lists.
Using ELD learning mobility competence cards
The ELD learning mobility competence cards are designed to help individuals reflect on experiences and identify skills acquired, especially after spending time abroad. These cards are ideal for guiding personal growth, recognising informal, transferable skills, and preparing individuals to include these competencies in job interviews or in their CV
1. Overview of competence areas
The cards highlight skills in six broad areas:
- Self-awareness and Personal Development
- Creativity and Entrepreneurship
- Communication and Active Participation
- Collaboration and Organisation
- Sustainability & Diversity
- Digital Competence and Digitalisation
Note: Cards marked with a globe icon often represent skills related to international experiences.
2. Setting the scene: identifying situations
Encourage participants to recall specific situations from their experiences, such as:
- Facing an unexpected or unusual situation abroad
- Tackling a challenging or enjoyable moment
- Experiencing a particularly educational situation
Alternatively, you could ask about instances such as:
- Working within a team (e.g., sports, academic projects, or work-related)
- Planning and organising a specific event or task
- Navigating a new environment (like a new workplace or study setting)
Open-ended questions, such as “Is there a specific situation you remember from your time abroad?” can also help individuals recall meaningful experiences.
3. Different ways of conducting a guidance session with the cards
For individual reflection:
The guidance counsellor works with the individual to discuss their role in various situations, focusing on how they contributed to outcomes and which skills were used.
The cards assist in identifying relevant competencies, making it easier for the person to name and describe their actions.
For Group Discussions:
In group settings, participants can share and discuss different experiences, identifying and exchanging competencies they developed.
4. Guiding questions to deepen reflection
Depending on the situation, ask questions such as:
- What role did you play in the situation?
- How did you influence the outcome?
- What strategies did you use to solve any issues?
- How did the experience make you feel?
- How did you find the information or resources you needed?
- Which competencies do you feel you used?
5. Highlighting competencies linked to mobility experiences
For experiences abroad, use the cards with the globe icon, which represent competencies often associated with adapting to new environments. Guide the participant to:
- Choose three competencies they feel are relevant to their personal development.
- Discuss specific contexts in which these skills were beneficial.
6. Example session with competence cards
Begin by laying out the cards by color-coded categories, introducing each area briefly.
Ask the participant to think of a relevant experience, such as a day when things didn’t go as planned, and ask them to reflect on how they felt and responded.
Using the cards, help them select terms that match their actions and feelings (e.g., “courageous,” “creative”).
As more terms are identified, discuss how each skill applied to their experience. Aim for a list of about 3–4 terms that best represent their key competencies.
Finally, suggest they remember these examples and terms for future job interviews or presentations, as they provide concrete examples of their adaptability and skills.
These guidelines should help structure sessions effectively, encouraging individuals to articulate and showcase their personal and professional growth.