1991 | 2011 EUCEN: Twenty years committed to LLL University Lifelong Learning (ULLL) in Europe and the Role of European Networks in enhancing Cooperation

1991 | 2011 EUCEN: Twenty years committed to LLL

University Lifelong Learning (ULLL) in Europe and the Role of European

Networks in enhancing Cooperation

ICOLLE 201218 September 2012, Mendel University Brno,

Congress centre Křtiny,

Andrea Waxenegger


Overview

1.What is understood by “University Lifelong Learning (ULLL)”

in Europe today?

2.How can European Networks enhance cooperation in the field

of ULLL? – example “EUCEN”

3.Challenges


1. What is understood by “University Lifelong

Learning (ULLL)” in Europe today?

The European Universities’ Charter on Lifelong Learning (EUA 2008) –

www.eua.be

Universities commit to: 1. Embedding concepts of widening access and lifelong learning

in their institutional strategies.2. Providing education and learning to a diversified student

population.3. Adapting study programmes to ensure that they are designed

to widen participation and attract returning adult learners.4. Providing appropriate guidance and counselling services.


5.Recognising prior learning.6.Embracing lifelong learning in quality culture.7.Strengthening the relationship between research, teaching and innovation in a perspective of lifelong learning.8.Consolidating reforms to promote a flexible and creative learning environment for all students.9.Developing partnerships at local, regional, national and international level to provide attractive and relevant programmes.10.Acting as role models of lifelong learning institutions.


EU Project BeFlex, led by EUCEN:

“ULLL is the provision by higher education institutions of

learning opportunities, services and research for: the personal

and professional development of a wide range of individuals –

lifelong and lifewide; and the social, cultural and economic

development of communities and the region.

It is at university level and research-based; it focuses primarily

on the needs of the learners; and it is often developed and/or

provided in collaboration with stakeholders and external

actors.”


ULLL Strategies in Higher Education Institutions - models:• Continuing Education/LLL as a concept has arrived;

implementation delegated to the Centre for Continuing Education;

is this “LLL”? Variation: All we do is “LLL” (meaning: we do not

need to change as institution)• Stronger connection between “regular university study

programmes” and continuing education, but organised separately;

opening up to new target groups, mixed groups; stronger

cooperation with external partners• LLL as new organisational culture – real focus on learners and their

needs – link to research – accompanying learners throughout their

professional career and in post-retirement; especially in “transition

periods”


2. How can European Networks enhance

cooperation in the field of ULLL? – example

“EUCEN”

• EUCEN-European University Continuing Education Network is an

Association (not-for-profit) based on Belgian law – founded 1991

(15 Universities)• Currently more than 200 members (institutional membership) from

more than 40 countries incl. 14 national ULLL Networks• EUCEN’s mission: the promotion and advancement of lifelong

learning within higher education institutions in Europe and elsewhere; to foster universities’ influence in the development of lifelong learning knowledge and policies throughout Europe


EUCEN’s external environment at European level -

Policy

• DG EAC but also DG Employment, DG Regio; CEDEFOP• After the Lisbon Strategy in 2010: Europe 2020: including the

goals that the percentage of early school leavers should be

under 10% and at least 40% of the younger generation

should have a tertiary degree.• 7 Flagship Initiatives: incl. Youth on the move und Agenda

for new skills and jobs•ET 2020 - Education & Training 2020 (since 2009): as strategic

framework for cooperation with member states; reform of

educational systems; permeability


• Modernisation of Higher Education incl. post Bologna: Further

implementation of the new degree structure; develop and

implement qualification frameworks based on learning

outcomes; mobility of students and staff; LLL (Leuven

Communiqué)

• EU Policy “Adult Education”; currently tender project

“Opening Higher Education to Adults”: above all enhancing

participation of adult learners in HE; results by end of 2012;

“renewed European Agenda for Adult Learning” (http://eur-

lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2011:372:0001:0006:EN:PDF)

• New programme generation: ERASMUS FOR ALL (2013-2020)


EUCEN’s external environment at European level -

Associations

• EUCIS – The European Civil Society Platform on Lifelong Learning

www.eucis-lll.eu ; 24 European Networks in the field “Education &

Training”; supported by the EC; Stakeholder Forum

•EUA-European University Association: Report Trends 2010; The

European Universities’ Charter on Lifelong Learning (2008) –

www.eua.be

•Other European networks incl.: UNICA | SANTANDER | COIMBRA |

EDEN | ENQA | ESU | EAEA | EURASHE | FEDORA | EADTU | EAN |

ESREA | ESMU | EAIE


The contribution of EUCEN at European level –

WHAT?

•“Thought Leadership” at European level:

Quality – Recognition of Prior Learning – Diversity – Indicators

– Institutional development – Management in organisations –

Curriculum development – Intergenerational learning –

ELearning – Guidance and counselling



Processes

Initiating and leading dialogue: Practice, research and policy

development in dialogue for innovation

Producing and valorising new knowledge: Collecting professional

experience and knowledge, structure it, evaluate it, discuss it, enrich it

and disseminate and valorise it – main instrument: European projects,

mainly with our members

Contributing to European Policy development: policy and position

papers, contributions to debates, working groups, presentations at all

levels – European Commission, other Stakeholders



Instruments

•Annual European conferences; two per year (spring “Annual

conference”; autumn: more staff development event); since

1991: 43 conferences with about 4700 participants; in 23

countries; Proceedings; Study visits: in 12 countries

•EU projects: since 2001 contractor of 15 EU projects,

coordinator 3 others for third parties; supported projects of

members through experts, evaluators, dissemination expert;

EUCEN managed project funds of over 15 million Euros


Output: Recommendations – Guidelines – Tools – Check lists – Reports (for example national reports) – Analysis and evaluations – Models, case studies – Training materials; target: quality

People involved in EUCEN and also as target groups:• Beginners and more experienced members of staff• Managers/Directors• Teachers/instructors/facilitators• Counsellors• Administrative and technical staff• Rectors, Vice-Rectors• Policy Makers• Pool of experts (freelance)


EUCEN projects - some examples :

•IMPLEMENT – Implementing LLUs through training and development (01/11-12/12) : Training materials (also online) for staff in ULLLhttp://implement.eucen.eu/•DIALOGUE – Bridges between Research and Practice in ULLL (01/11-12/13): Case studies, barriers and enhancing factorshttp://dialogue.eucen.eu/•OBSERVAL NET (11/11-10/13): a stakeholder-centric network of organisations looking at supporting the validation of non-formal and informal learning (VNIL) in Europehttp://www.eucen.eu/OBSERVALnet•ALLUME – A Lifelong Learning University Model for Europe (finished; products: (1) Executive Summary; (2) Pathways and Policies – Recommendations; (3) Tools and Results as well as a Benchmarking Tool) http://allume.eucen.eu/documents


Collaboration with National ULLL Networks (NN):

•exchange of information, feeding into the European debate; EUCEN

Conferences with a theme of not only European but also specific

national relevance

Special EUCEN services for NN:

•the “National Networks Forum”, inviting all delegates of National Networks to meet in the framework of EUCEN conferences;

•a space on the EUCEN website for the National Networks;

•providing speakers for events at national level upon request;

•supporting the creation of new National Networks by providing information and sharing experience, and, at the invitation of a promoting group, by holding a network development workshop at national level.


EUCEN contribution’s at institutional level

How can an individual university benefit from engaging at

European level?

•Professional knowledge – contacts – staff development –

additional income through projects•EU projects – supporting developmental work at institutional

level; an example:

EU project ALLUME – A Lifelong Learning University Model for

Europe – strategy development at institutional level; site visits,

workshops | http://allume.eucen.eu/


3. Challenges

At European level:• Increasing diversity (age – demographic development,

cultural backgrounds, migration, …) – challenge for our civil societies

• Global economic competition – International competitive environment for universities

• European Commission: focus on employability; youth unemployment, support for poorly qualified people

• What does this mean for Higher Education Institutions? For University Lifelong Learning? What are the specific roles of various actors/stakeholders? The need to position ourselves, also in ULLL


At national level:

• National Lifelong Learning Strategy – increasing

autonomy of universities• Implementation of the European Universities’ Charter on

Lifelong Learning• Implementation of European Tools, e.g. develop a

National Qualifications Framework• Quality Management and development/assurance• Funding – rethinking the models of funding: Who should

pay for what?


At institutional level:

• Who are our learners and how can we support them in

offering individual pathways into higher education and in

transition periods throughout their lives?• How can we as universities find our priorities in a

competitive higher education landscape? • How can we support business and industry/the public

sector/NGOs with short- and long-term provision?• Quality Development and Assurance• Organisation and staff development, a growing area of

employment – new roles, new skills needed


The Role of European Associations such as EUCEN

•Support our members in meeting the challenges – finding own institutional solutions for developing a strategy in ULLL, for developing a provision supporting learners on their individuals pathways and organisations as “learning organisations”

•Influencing European policy in our field; and strengthening National Networks to influence national policy

•In the end: assist universities in serving the people of Europe most effectively, for a better Europe, as democratic societies and an innovative and thus competitive economy!


And finally: an invitation

44th EUCEN European Conference: Border-Crossing as a Viable Choice: Collaboration, Dialogue & Access to Higher Education, 07-09 November 2012, University of Malta www.um.edu.mt/events/eucen2012www.eucen.eu

Contact:Andrea Waxenegger, EUCEN President, Director of the Center for Continuing Education at the University of Graz, [email protected]

Documents

1991 | 2011 EUCEN: Twenty years committed to LLL University Lifelong Learning (ULLL) in Europe and the Role of European Networks in enhancing Cooperation