Education & Training 2010 : Are we on track with the Lisbon goals ? ACA, Brussels, 6 February 2004 Dr Guy HAUG European Commission

Stages towards a Europe of education and training Phase 1: the traditional picture of the 1970' diverse, national, rather isolated systems - Europe, n° 1 destination of students of the world

Phase 2: Mobility within unchanged structures - Since 1987, mainly within EU programmes - First in higher education (ERASMUS, TEMPUS), then at all educational levels (SOCRATES) - Intra-EU, then intra-European activities -Positive results (networks, expertise, credits, etc.) -But growing tension: European "markets"/ activities vs. national systems and degrees -USA, n°1 destination of students/researchers

Phase 3: European convergence Higher Ed : Bologna (1999) Education/training systems: Objectives WP(2002) Vocational education: Copenhagen Decl. (Nov 2002) Common features: - convergent reforms in policy + structure - same deadline and core countries - action based on political cooperation - national policies, European goals - internal coherence, worldwide attractiveness

A response to profound changes in context: - globalisation: challenges from outside - knowledge society: new demands on education - EU enlargement: partly anticipated - Education behind in European integration ?

Education & Training 2010: diversity, cooperation, convergence Impetus from European Summits -Lisbon, 2000: a new ambition for the EU -new demands on education/training -the challenges of the enlarged Europe -higher stakes set in Stockholm and Barcelona: a worldwide reference

The Open Method of Coordination - a new approach to political cooperation in education - subsidiarity and cooperation - the tools of convergence: setting shared goals; measuring progress: indicators, benchmarks; comparing with others; sharing experiences - full participation of accession countries (since Bratislava Ministerial meeting, May 2001)

Convergence towards EU goals through: - 3 (strategic) goals and 13 shared objectives - concrete implementation of Work Programme - political commitments taken by Ministers

13 objectives for 3 strategic goals Improving the quality and effectiveness of education and training systems in the EU - Improving education/training for teachers - Developing skills for the knowledge society - Ensuring access to ICT for everyone - Increasing recruitment into science/technology - Making the best use of resources

Facilitating the access of all to education and training systems - Creating an open learning environment - Making learning more attractive - Supporting active citizenship, equal opportunities and social cohesion

Opening up education and training systems to the wider world - Closer links with work/research and society - Developing the spirit of enterprise - Improving foreign language learning - Increasing mobility and exchange - Strengthening European cooperation

Concrete implementation of the Work Programme on "Objectives" Content of WP for each objective: - key issues that need to be addressed - quantitative follow-up: indicators - qualitative follow-up: themes for exchange of "good practice"

Follow-up groups: - 8 thematic groups for the 13 objectives - standing group on indicators/benchmarks - national experts + other stakeholders - work started in stages; all groups active 2003 Commission Communications: (LLL, benchmarks, investments, universities,..)

European levels of reference for 2010: - Early school leavers: no more than 10% on average - Graduates in Maths, Science and Technology: total number of graduates in MST to increase by 15% + better gender balance - Completion of upper secondary education: at least 85% of 22 year olds - Basic skills: reduce % of low achieving 15 year olds in reading literacy in EU by 20% compared to LLL: EU average participation in LLL to reach 12.5% of adult working age population (25-64 age group)

A single, integrated strategy: - responsibility of MS (to achieve the objectives: to inform, involve, reform, fund) + Commission (to organise, coordinate, propose) - integrated implementation of various processes (Objectives, LLL, Bologna, VET/Copenhagen,..) - intra-European + worldwide dimensions

Reporting to European Council 2004: -Commission position (Nov 2003): indicators in red, urgent reforms needed, closer monitoring -Joint, final report to be adopted on 26 February: - positive achievements, 5 benchmarks; - three levers for priority action - giving more importance to the work program Education & Training 2010: closer involvement of education community and society, closer cooperation between actors - regular reporting to European Council

For the benefit of citizens and the EU/Europe: goals to be achieved by 2010 the highest quality will be achieved in education and training and Europe will be recognised as a worldwide reference for the quality and relevance of its education and training systems and institutions;

education and training systems in Europe will be compatible enough to allow citizens to move between them and take advantage of their diversity; holders of qualifications, knowledge and skills acquired anywhere in the EU will be able to get them effectively validated throughout the Union for the purpose of career and further learning;

Europeans, at all ages, will have access to lifelong learning; Europe will be open to cooperation for mutual benefits with all other regions and should be the most-favoured destination of students, scholars and researchers from other world regions.