European policy for education and training and the Lifelong Learning Programme Felix Rohn European Commission DG Education and Culture Brussels, 9 June 2009

2 Why is the EU active in education & vocational training? Article 149 To contribute to the development of quality education by encouraging cooperation between Member States and, if necessary, by supporting and supplementing their action. Article 150 To implement a vocational training policy which supports and supplements the action of the Member States. EU Treaty

3 Commission Package on Lisbon Strategy adopted in December 2008 Report on the implementation and future priorities Communication on "An updated strategic framework for European cooperation in Education and Training" Communication on "New skills for new jobs"

4 Communication on "An updated strategic framework for European cooperation in Education and Training – strategic challenges… Making lifelong learning a reality Significantly improving quality and efficiency Promoting equity and active citizenship Enhancing innovation and creativity at all levels of education and training

5 … and some of the priorities for Expanding learning mobility Developing partnerships between education and training providers and business, research, creative industries; Promoting language learning Expanding professional development of teachers and trainers Key competences: New skills for new jobs

6 2. Specific policies and programme priorities

7 Life Long Learning Action Programme Comenius School education Erasmus Higher education & advanced training Leonardo da Vinci Initial and continuing VET Grundtvig Adult education Transversal programme 4 key activities – Policy development; Language learning; ICT; Dissemination Jean Monnet programme 3 key activities – Jean Monnet Action; European Institutions; European Associations

8 Comenius School education Erasmus Higher education & advanced training Leonardo da Vinci Vocational education and training Grundtvig Adult education 13% 40% 25% 4%

9 Budget Breakdown Comenius 1,047 mio Erasmus 3,114 mio Leonardo 1,725 mio Grundtvig 358 mio Transversal 369 mio Jean Monnet 170 mio Operational costs 10 mio

10 Participating countries 27 EU member States, incl BG and RO since EEA countries IS, LI, NO Candidate countries: TR (Croatia and FYR of Macedonia preparing participation) Switzerland (depends on signature of bilateral agreement – not clear yet) Countries of Western Balkan (on condition of separate framework agreements with EU)

11 Recommendation: Key Competences, December 2006 Communication: Improving Competences for the 21th Century: an agenda on Cooperation on Schools, July 2008 Green Paper on Migration and Mobility: Challenges and Opportunities for EU Education Systems, July 2008 School education – selected policy issues

12 Motivation for learning and learning to learn skills Teaching and learning transversal competences School management Language learning and linguistic diversity Literacy skills Key competences Pre-primary and early learning provision Entrepreneurship and links with world of work Development of Special Needs Education (SEN) and inclusion of disadvantaged people – NEW PRIORITY Comenius priorities in centralised actions

13 Comenius decentralised actions School Partnerships (2 years) Assistantships (future teachers up to 45 weeks) In-Service Training (teachers, up to 6 weeks) New in 2009: Regio Partnerships (cooperation between 2 partner regions on common topic) in preparation for 2010: individual mobility of pupils E-twinning

14 Policy priorities in Higher Education …. … to support the Lisbon Strategy and the Bologna process the modernisation agenda for universities : Curricula, governance and funding reform Studies and papers

15 The modernisation agenda for universities Curricular reform: the three cycle system, competence based learning, flexible learning paths, recognition. Governance reform: autonomy, strategic partnerships, cooperation with enterprises, quality assurance. Funding reform: diversified income, promoting equity, access and efficiency, role of tuition fees, grants and loans.

16 Modernisation agenda and ERASMUS Main activities in 2009 Studies: Higher education mobility developments Progress in higher education reforms Green Paper on mobility (covering all education and training areas)

17 Priorities for centralised actions Multilateral Cooperation projects curriculum development cooperation between HE and enterprises modernisation of universities virtual campus Academic and structural Networks The ERASMUS programme

18 Erasmus decentralised actions Student mobility (between universities) Student placements (in enterprises) Teaching Assignments (up to 6 weeks) Training for HE staff at Enterprises and other HEI (up to 6 weeks) Intensive language courses (up to 6 weeks) Intensive Programmes (students and staff up to 6 weeks)

19 The 4 priorities of the Bordeaux Communiqué (2008) Implement tools for VET cooperation and recognition of competences Improve quality and attractiveness of VET systems Improving links VET / labour market Strengthen European cooperation, including with OECD, UNESCO, ILO, etc. Vocational Education and Training (VET) – selected policy issues- Copenhagen Process

20 Euroskills Helsinki Communiqué 2006 Bordeaux Communiqué 2008 ECVET Initiatives… EQF Lisbon Strategy 2000 Maastricht Communiqué 2004 Copenhagen Process 2002 Mobility

21 LdV Objectives a)Support participants in training and further training activities in the acquisition and the use of knowledge, skills and qualifications to facilitate personal development, employability and participation in the European labour market;

22 LdV Objectives b)Support improvements in quality and innovation in vocational education and training systems, institutions and practices; c)Enhance the attractiveness of vocational education and training and mobility for employers and individuals and facilitate the mobility of working trainees.

23 Mobility Target GroupActivityDurationFunding IVT Mobility of persons in initial vocational training Training Placements at the work place or within a training organisation weeks Participant: lump sum for subsistence and travel based on scales of unit costs per destination country Project organisation incl. Preparation, administration, monitoring: lump sum based on scales of unit costs PLM Mobility of People on the Labour Market Training Placements at the work place or within a training organisation weeks

24 Mobility Target GroupActivityDurationFunding VETPRO Mobility of Professionals in Vocational Education and Training Trainers, Teachers, human resource managers, guidance specialists,... to exchange experiences on vocational training in different countries weeks Participant: lump sum for subsistence and travel based on real costs Project organisation incl. Preparation, administration, monitoring: lump sum based on scales of unit costs Preparatory Visits Preparation of future projects (for all project types in LdV) Max 1 week Lump sum

25 Multilateral projects Development of innovationTransfer of innovation CONTENTDevelop a new, innovative solution to help several countries to cope with a common challenge in the area of VET which is not yet addressed One (or more) solution(s) in the area of Lifelong Learning that is (are) already implemented in one or more countries and needs to be adapted for implementation in some other countries AIMModernisation of educational and training systems of the countries participating Adapting training approaches at the level of the partners and the country(ies) involved

26 Multilateral Projects Multilateral projects on development of innovation Thematic Networks Multilateral projects on transfer of innovation Maximum Duration3 years 2 years Minimum number of partners 3 partners / 3 countries 3 partners / 3 countries 3 partners / 3 countries Co-financing by EUMax. 75 % Level of funding Maximum per year Maximum per project Selection procedureCommission National Agency Management of projects Commission, by the Executive Agency National Agency

27 1.Multilateral projects on development of innovation Transparency and recognition of qualifications Quality and attractiveness of VET systems and practices Training of VET teachers, trainers and tutors Meeting of vocational skills with the labour market needs Raising competence levels of groups at risk 2.Networks ECVET Networks Stakeholder Networks Leonardo da Vinci priorities Centralised actions

28 Decentralised actions in Leonardo da Vinci Mobility in initial vocational training (up to 39 weeks) Mobility for persons on the labour market (up to 26 weeks) Mobility for trainers and teachers (up to 6 weeks) Partnerships (2 years) Transfer of Innovation projects (up to 2 years) Priorities: mobility in initial vocational training, incl apprentices cooperation with SME

29 Leonardo da Vinci Progamme : LdV II –1800 innovative transnational projects – partner organisations involved – mobility projects (more than participants) : LLP-LdV - since 2007 –more than 600 projects on Transfer of Innovation started –60 Development of Innovation projects started –Around 6500 mobility projects (around participants) –160 partnerships (started 2008)

30 Adult Learning Action Plan – Sept 2007 Analyse impacts of reforms in other educational sectors on AE Improve quality of provision Better possibilities to achieve at least one higher level qualification Recognition of non-formal & informal learning for disadvantaged Better monitoring of AE sector Adult learning – selected policy issues

31 Key competences Quality of adult education Attractiveness of and access to adult education – NEW PRIORITY Validation of non-formal and informal learning Adult education for marginalised and disadvantaged citizens and migrants Teaching and learning in later life; inter-generational and family learning Language learning in adult learning Academic and stakeholder networking in adult education Validation and Certification – NEW PRIORITY Grundtvig priorities for centralised actions

32 Grundtvig decentralised actions Learning Partnerships Exchanges for Adult Education staff (up to 6 weeks) Assistantships (for present or future staff, up to 45 weeks) In-Service Training (for staff, up to 6 weeks) Workshops (learners from several countries, up to 10 days) NEW in 2009: Senior volunteering projects (up to 8 weeks)

33 Transversal and Jean Monnet Programmes Transversal Programme 4 Key Activities: 1.Policy cooperation and innovation 2.Language learning 3.Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) 4.Dissemination and exploitation of results Jean Monnet Programme: European Integration Studies

34 To find out more about the policy framework in education and training and the Lifelong Learning Programme please visit: Thank you for your attention!