Making a European area of Lifelong Learning a Reality

andCo-operation university -

enterprise doorYves Beernaert, KHLeuven

Definition LLL

Lifelong learning

all learning activity undertaken throughout life, with the aim of improiving knowledge, skills and competences within a personal, civic, social or employment related context.

Source: http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/life

• Memorandum on LLL

• Concrete future Objectives of Education and Training Systems

• Communication from the Commission: Making a European area of lifelong learning a reality

• Lifelong learning practice and indicators

European Summit of Lisbon 23/24 March 2000

The strategic objective of the EU is to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable growth, with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion.

The starting point

• European Council of Feira June 2000

“ The Member states, The Council and the commission are quested to identify coherent strategies and practical measures with a view to fostering lifelong learning for all.”

4 strategic elements

• The report on the Concrete future Objectives of Education and Training Systems

• e-Europe andrelated to it e-learning

• The Memorandum on LLL

• Communication from the Commission: Making a European area of lifelong learning a reality

Memorandum on Lifelong Learning (2000)

Active citizenship and employability

• New basic skills for all

• More investment in human resources

• Innovatie in teaching and learning

• Value learning

• Rethink guidance and counselling

• Bringing learning closer to home

Consultationprocess (2001)

• At the level of authorities (national, reg. )

• Civil society: CSR, EAAE, EFVET, EUA, EVTA, Solidar

• Council of Europe , OECD, UNESCO

Results• Reports, publicationss• Seminars, conferences

• Communication: COM (2001) 678

Structure Communication

1. Introduction and context

2. Building blocks of a coherent and comprehensive LLL strategy

3. Priorities for LLL action

4. Driving forward the agenda

5. Next steps

1. Introduction: a European area of LLL

• Report on the concrete objectives

• European employment strategy

• The agenda for a social policy

• Actionplan fro competences and mobility

• e-learning initiative (actionplan e-Europe)

• White paper on youth policy

• European Area for Research

2. Building blocks for LLL

2.1. Partnerships

2.2. Insight into demand for learning

2.3. Adequate resourcing

2.4. Facilitating access to learning opportunities

2.5. Creating a learning culture

2.6. Striving for excellence

2.1. Partnerships across the learning spectrum

• Governments• Local level partnerships:

learning communities, learning cities, regions

• Social partners

• European initiatives: good practice

Interactie amongst partnerships: Joint actions, all Socrates networks …!!!

2.2. Insight into demand for learning

• Basis skills literacy, numeracy, ICT etc.• Facilitators LLL: teachers, trainers, adult

educators, guidance workers • Needs of employers: o.a. SME• Understanding potential learners’ interests• Needs knowledge-based society: forecasts to

avoid shoratges, entrepreneuship, science, technology ....

2.3. Adequate Resourcing

• Raise public +0 private investments

• Rechannel existing resources

• New approaches to investment: fiscal and other incentives

• Integrated with local strategies

• New tasks + roles, recruitment + retention in the teaching and training professions

2.4. Facilitating access to learning opportunities

• Remove soc., geograph., & psychological and other barriers: workplace learning...

• Adapting entrey, progression and recognition requirements : (non-formal+informal)

• ‘tailored’ measures: H.Ed. + soc. Exclusion • More flexibility in work organisation • Improve information, guidance and

counselling services

2.5. Create a learning culture

• Value and reward learning • Promote positive perception of learning • Appropraite use of target funding • Information, guidance, counselling advisors• Enterprises as learning organisations• Roel van public service providers, voluntary and

community groups, employers and trade unions

2.6. Striving for excellence

• Ambitious targets / indicators

• Quality assurance tools for formal and non-formal learning

• Evaluation exercises

• Asessments /revision of strategies

3. Priorities for action

3.1. Value learning

3.2. Information, guidance and counselling

3.3. Invest time and money in learning

3.4. Bringing together learners and learning opportunities: learning communities, cities

3.5. New basic skills

3.6. Innovative pedagogy

3.1. Value learning

Valuing formal diplomas and certificates

• Min. Quality standards• End 2002: Guide to transparency of

diplomas and certificates: ECTS, Diploma supplement, Eur CV, Europass

• End 2002: flexible recognition regulated professions (NARIC, NRCVG)

• Bologna process

• European diplomas and en certificates

Value non-formal and informal learning

• Exchange expereince and good practice • Develop methodologies and standards dor

valuing NF & IF learning • Inventory by the end of 2003 • MS invited to create legal framework• Invitation of MS to H.Ed. to implement

measures to assess and recognise NF and INF learning

New EUR. instruments to support valuing all forms of L

• End 2002: portfolio:presentation of qualifications and competences at all stages of education and training

• COM & MS by 2003 een modular system of accumulation of qualifications combing Ed & Tr from diff. instutions & countries

(building on ECTS and Europass)

3.2. Information, guidance and counselling

Strengthen Eur. dimension

• 2002 internet portal Learning opportunities

• Eur. Forum Guidance Forum: dialogue, exchange practice, identify problems / solutions, qty of guidance, qty standards

• End 2003: coherent framework built on Euroguidance, EURES, Eurodesk, Fedora, EQUAL, Mobility centres Researchers

3.3. Investing time and money in learning

More transparent Investment

• European Investment Bank: e.g. Funding of tgeachers ‘training, local learning centres

• Eur. Bank Reconstrcution and Development• European Investment Bank• European Investmentfund• Nat. Targets to increase HR investment• Eur. Social Fund and EQUAL //indicators• Role of social partners

Providing incentives and enabling investment

• COM : evaluate models of individual funding schemes e.g. indiv learning accounts

• COM: 6 FP R&TD: research into benefits, costs and returns of investing in learning

• COM: overview of fiscal incentives avaialable for learning financed by individuals and companies to identify good practice

Ensure high quality returns and outcomes of investment

• end 2003: COM + MS:

- quidelines and indicators on qty aspects of LLL

- support policy development in MS through exchanges of good practice and peer review

3.4. Bringing together learners and learning opportunities

Learning communities, cities, regions, local learning centres

- MS : use schools, Ad Ed and H.ED., research instituions + other such as libraries as multipurpose centres for LLL- Jouth organisations: make visible NF + IF - MS more means for ERDF + ESF for LLL and ICT for employers of SME- Role Comittee of Regions: twinnings - COM: support networks regions and towns with well-developed LLL

Learning at the workplace

• Learning organisation

- role (Eur.) social partners: raise awareness that employees + mgt staff has to be learning facilitators or mentors for others

- flexible provisions: offer of H.Ed.

- individual learningplans employees

- develop a framework to promote LLL

- 2003: award for enterprises investing in LLL

3.5. Basic skills

Basic Skills : BS

• COM: BS provision outside the Formal Ed & Tr systems

• BS available to all, especially to less advantaged: early school leavers, adult learners

• MS: Digital literacy and ICT skills• Social partners : ICT literacy for every worker• Eur. NGO’s: identify factors that prevent or

promote acquisition of BS and participation in LLL especilly for excluded citizens.

3.6. Innovative pedagogy

• New learning methods: work-based learning, project-oriented learning, study circles

• Role of teachers, trainers and L facilitators• Develop their training• HE: more research and training LLL• ICT combined with more social modes of

learning: learning groups, family L, tutoring...• Qty learning materials, services and learning

processes

New Teaching and Learning methods: new roles teachers...

• COM: Socrates + LDV: development of a network for training teachers and trainers

• COM + soc. Partners: systematic exchange of experience FL and NFL

• COM: research (6FP) efficient + effective pedag. Approaches, especially for weak

• COM+MS+SP+NGO: Eur. Qty recommednations for L organisations outside FE&T; Eur. label

ICT enabling and facilitating LLL

• COM+MS: seals of Qty for ICT based learning and teaching materials

• COM: Socrates, LDV, e-Learning: support to setting up of transnational “virtual study circles”

4. Driving forward the agenda

4.1. LLL framework

4.2. Building on achievements at eur. Level

4.3. Indicators

4.4. Maintain the momentum

4.1. A framewrok for LLL

• Exchange of knowledge, experience andgood practice (o.a. peer reviews)

• Transparency in policy and systems

• Synergie Eur. Processes, plans

• Synergie between MS policy in LLL

2003: Database LLL on good prcatice

4.2. Building on achievements

• Follow-up report Concrete objectives• Links with Eur. Employment strategy,

Actionplan skills and mobility, European social agenda

• Support to projects: Socrates, LDV, Jouth, e-learning

• Role of ESF, ERDE; EQUAL• 6 FP R & TD

4.3. Indicators

• Investments• Participation• Early school leavers • Expenditure Ed/Tr Cies//% of labour cost• Household expenditure Ed as % total Exp• Participation in Ed / Tr by field of study• Number pupils per on-line computer in schools

4.4. Maintaning the momentum

• Policy develpt at Eur. Level and coordination of national policy :

- group senior LLL representatives ministries - national LLL coordinators- consultation networks- consulmtation soc.partners + civil society- Eur. Fora: Transparency, Quality, Guidance

- CEDEFOP, EURYDICE, ETF- OECD, Council of Europe , UNESCO

5. Next steps

• Discussions Eur. Parliament, Econ & Soc. Ctee and Comittee of Regions

• Endorsement by Education and youth Council and employment and social Policy Council (ES presidency)

• COM contribution to Barcelona spring Council 15- 16/03/02

• Report to European Council and European Parliament before end 2003

LLL Initiatives Commission

• Internationale Co-operation on LLL: (28/08/01)Call for projects in the framework of article 13 of the Socrates-programme

• Call for Joint actions Projects (DG EAC 30/01) // (31/08/01)

Proposals in relation to Research and Evaluation of LLL

6 FP: R into benefits, cost, retruns of LLL6FP /SOCR/LDV/ Y/Equal/eL: R and

experimentation into how we learn in F, NF and IF learning contexts + integration ICT

• Study recording investment in LLL• Study of factors of efficient + sustainable

LLL partnerships• Survey in LLL in SME : NF and IF

Sources

http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/life• Memorandum on LLL• Concrete future Objectives of Education

and Training Systems• Communication Commission: “Making a European area of lifelong learning

a reality ”• Lifelong learning practice and indicators