Date: in 12 pts European Agenda for Adult Learning Martina Ní Cheallaigh European Commission Brussels, 6 May 2013

Overview Bigger EU policy framework Rationale and drivers behind EU Education and Training policy European Adult Learning Agenda Some recent policy documents & their significance for adult learning

 A European strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth  Making LLL and mobility a reality  E&T quality and efficiency  Equity, social cohesion, active citizenship  Entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation Europe 2020 ET 2020 Policy context

Seven flagship initiatives

Skills mismatch: supply and demand Educational attainment Skills supply in 2011Forecasted skills demand 2020 High26.8%35% Medium46.6%50% Low26.6%15% Higher competence levels Skills + key competences Competences for all - equity

Benchmarks for 2020 At least 95% of children between the age of 4 & the age for starting primary education in early childhood education Share of 15-years olds with insufficient abilities in reading, mathematics & science less than 15% Share of early leavers from education and training less than 10% Share of year olds with tertiary educational attainment at least 40% Average of at least 15 % of adults (age group 25-64) participating in lifelong Learning

Progress towards EU benchamarks PRIORITYBENCH MARK EU AVERAGE 2006 EU AVERAGE 2011 Early school leaving10%15,5%13,5% Tertiary Attainment %28,9%34,6% Early Childhood education95%89,3%92,3% Employment rate (age ) - Employability 82%79,0%77,2% Adult participation in learning 15%9,5%8,9% Basic skills15%R 23,1% M 24% S 20,3 R 19,6% M 22,2% S 17,7%

Participation by age

Agenda for Adult Learning – priority areas Making lifelong learning and mobility a reality Improving the quality and efficiency of education and training Promoting equity, social cohesion and active citizenship through adult learning Enhancing the creativity and innovation of adult and their learning environments Improving the knowledge base on adult learning and monitoring the adult learning sector

Date: in 12 pts Vision of adult learning by 2020  Access to high quality learning any time in life for personal, social and economic ends  Awareness of each adult /each employer  Fairly shared responsibility, adequate resourcing  Learner / learning outcomes at centre supported by guidance, validation, flexible provisions  Learning locally with a significant role for social partners, civil society and local authorities  Active learning for seniors and mutual learning & solidarity between generations Education and Culture

Date: in 12 pts Your Working Group-related Issues Curriculum – impact on flexibility/progression basic skills (needed for participating actively in modern society ) transversal key competences, such as learning to learn, sense of initiative/entrepreneurship, cultural awareness and expression - European Key Competence Framework Learning outcomes with a view to "new skills and new jobs" Assessment Effective use of ICT, incl. Open Learning Resources Embedded, e.g. in work; Validation; Higher Education Education and Culture

Date: in 12 pts Your Working Group-related Issues Quality – Personnel - Financing Improving the quality and efficiency ET2020 Developing quality assurance for adult-learning providers, building on existing frameworks, etc. Improving the quality of staff, e.g. by defining competence profiles, establishing effective systems for initial training and continuing professional development (Grundtvig) Intensifying cooperation with stakeholders particularly at regional and local level Public commitment to the sector & support for those who cannot pay, balanced distribution of funds across the lifelong-learning continuum Education and Culture

Date: in 12 pts Continuity Building on the achievements of the Action Plan, & its focus on low-skilled and disadvantaged groups Developing the adult learning sector – weakest link in the LLL chain, including access to HE Renewed focus on increasing participation, especially of those furthest from learning Exchanging good practice & experience among countries; programme support Education and Culture

Date: in 12 pts Complementarity Copenhagen process / Bruges Communiqué Bologna process & modernisation of higher education Modernisation of schools: influences from non- formal sector Offering compensatory route/second chance to early school leavers Assisting early childhood education through improved parental education Intergenerational learning & exchange Education and Culture

Date: in 12 pts Consolidation Emphasis on low skilled/low qualified groups & taking their basic skills „one step up“ Stronger emphasis on implementation within Member States (national, regional and local level) as well as through EU-level activities Effective liaison with all stakeholders: ministries, social partners, business, NGOs, civil society Nomination of a national coordinator to steer implementation, launch cooperation with other countries and liaise with the Commission Education and Culture

Commission contribution to the Agenda Awareness-raising Literacy and other basic skills Quality of the provision – working group Financing adult learning – working group Validation of non-formal and informal learning Older people – learning for active ageing Access to higher education Data on adult learning

Communication on Rethinking Education 1.Building skills for the 21st century Transversal, STEM, Basic skills, VET systems 2. Stimulating open and flexible learning Learning outcomes, assessment & recognition, ICT & OER, Teaching staff (SWD Assessment of Key Competences) 3. Promoting a collaborative effort Funding through efficient investment, partnership between institutions

Recommendation on Validation Have in place arrangements for validation of non-formal and informal learning, no later than 2018, thus : facilitating a better match between skills and labour demand, addressing skills shortages in growing sectors promoting better transferability of skills between companies and sectors helping citizens move around the EU to study and work Increasing motivation for lifelong learning, particularly among economically disadvantaged or low-qualified

Date: in 12 pts Lifelong learning programme Thank you for your attention! Contact: DG EAC: policy/adult_en.htm