Introduction to day and overview of key EU issues Richard Tuffs West Midlands in Europe

Today’s agenda Modernisation of HE European Qualifications Framework Europe Institute of Technology Erasmus UK position November 2007

Presentation outline EU challenges Lisbon Social Reality Commission Work Programme EU budget Recent Commission Communication on 2010 November 2007

EU challenges Globalisation and adapting to change Competitiveness Lisbon Strategy Review in 2008 New 3-year rolling programme Cohesion Policy Review in 2008 Future Cohesion Policy post 2013… Research and innovation European Research Area Lead markets / procurement – innovation /sustainability Climate change Social dimension Social Reality Report 2007 Demographic pressures Ageing Migration Skills linked to declining social mobility EU Budget Review 2008/9 for post 2013… November 2007

Lisbon – Commission's Annual Progress Report Jan 2006 Four priority actions to be implemented before the end of 2007 Investing more in knowledge and innovation Unlocking the business potential, particularly of SMEs Getting people into work Moving towards an efficient and integrated EU energy policy November 2007

Investing more in knowledge and innovation Stronger commitment to R&D and innovation Public expenditure State aid for innovation Structural funds Step up investment in higher education (1.28% of GDP compared to 3.25% in the USA. Note EU target 2% by 2010) Universities to seek complementary private sources of funding Remove legal barriers to private/public partnerships European Institute of Technology Compulsory teaching of two foreign languages in schools November 2007

Social Reality Report - trends… Growing cultural gap between the cosmopolitans and those left behind by economic change and industrial restructuring Now more French living in UK than British in France (excluding second home owners) Is there a European social model now under attack by globalisation? Social change mainly internally driven but globalisation means margins for change are limited by globalisation November 2007

Transition to post-industrial knowledge society 1 In 2005 in EU15 – 40% employed in knowledge based sectors Sweden 54%, UK 50% - Portugal 26% Job growth in in EU15 in last 10 years of 23% in knowledge based sectors compared to rest of economy 6% 50% of existing jobs demand high level cognitive/personal skills New types of service jobs Position of unskilled men worsening November 2007

Transition to post-industrial knowledge society 2 Mobile capital linked to information technology opens up global supply chains Focus on short-term profit Cities now key to knowledge economies Creative classes Increasing intra-regional disparities November 2007

Succeeding in the age of globalisation Com(2007)581final Reshaping Europe by Getting the most out of the Internal Market Responding to Europe’s new social realities Migration in a globalising Europe Sustainable energy policies for a low carbon future Ensuring financial stability Mobilising the external dimension World’s largest trader – open markets Shaping global regulation Implemented by the Lisbon Strategy November 2007

Commission Work Programme Lisbon key vehicle 2008 Spring Council – opportunity to reshape Lisbon ‘Developing a knowledge society is a cornerstone of the growth and jobs strategy, and the Commission will continue to look at new ways to promote education, training, research and innovation as part of its Lisbon strategy’ Single Market Review Retail financial services Small Business Act Cyprus and Malta join the euro in 2008 November 2007

Education 2008 Communication on Multilingualism Promoting multilingualism via Open Method of Coordination to improve employability and competitiveness Green Paper on Migration and Education Central role of education in integration November 2007

The EU Budget November 2007

Changing budget structures November 2007

New Communication Delivering lifelong learning for knowledge, creativity and innovation COM 2007/703 Draft 2008 joint progress report of the Council and the Commission on the implementation of the “Education & Training 2010 work programme” November 2007

Challenges Raising skill levels Lifelong learning strategies Continued high levels of early school leaving, low participation in lifelong learning by older workers and the low-skilled, and poor skill achievement among migrants cause concern in most countries. Further, future labour markets in a knowledge-based economy will demand ever higher skill levels from a shrinking work force. Lifelong learning strategies The knowledge triangle (education, research and innovation) The knowledge triangle plays a key role in boosting jobs and growth. So it is so important to accelerate reform, to promote excellence in higher education and university-business partnerships… November 2007

Progress Lifelong learning and qualification systems Pre-primary education HE – a clear place in the Lisbon agenda Education and training – entering the EU landscape Teacher education Schools for 21st century Adult learning Multilingualism - consultation E-skills November 2007

Problems Implementation of lifelong learning Basic skills Early school leavers Teacher education Higher education – excellence, partnership and funding Adult participation in learning Attractiveness of VET Transnational mobility November 2007

Post-2010 Major challenges persist, new challenges have emerged Cooperation in the framework of the Bologna and Copenhagen processes, needs to be continued and indeed reinforced well beyond 2010. Reflections on the main priorities of the work programme beyond 2010 should therefore start now and be closely associated with the future development of the Lisbon process November 2007