Atlantis Seminar Amsterdam Dutch Goverment Policy on Lifelong Learning & Short Cycle Higher Education Patrick Leushuis – Dept. of Education, Culture & Science

2 Lifelong Learning (LLL) in the Netherlands 2005: Project Directorate Learning & Working (PLW) Interdepartmental:  Co-operation Department of Education, Culture & Science and Department of Social Affairs & Labour  With support of Department of Economic Affairs and Department of Agriculture, Nature & Food Quality Objectives:  upgrade qualification level of adult workforce  develop sustainable infrastructure for LLL Action time!

3 Actions PLW Subsidising regional co-operation businesses – education – government organisations Regional projects: specific targets upgrading qualification level through: Work Based Learning (WBL) Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Regional learning & working offices (44) Subsidising UAS-projects: RPL RPL and flexible learning pathways - WBL LLL-institutions Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) Quality code RPL and RPL-register Pilots Short Cycle Higher Education (SCHE)

4 Why Short Cycle Higher Education (SCHE)? Labour market demand: SCHE-level jobs Demand for shorter, qualifying programmes Building block LLL:  ‘Bridging the gap’ between level 4 and level 6  Flexibility  Differentiation Increase qualification level of workforce

5 Characteristics SCHE in the Netherlands Two year programme – 120 EC Formal qualification: Associate degree (Ad) Integrated in 4 year professional bachelor degree programme;  ongoing learning pathway for Ad-graduates  remaining programme 120 EC Accreditation Ad based on general accreditation framework HE Target groups:  Employees  Graduates secondary vocational education (SVE)

6 Facts & figures SCHE in the Netherlands 3 pilot rounds since Ad-pilots started at 21 UAS (2 private) Participants: 2006/2007: /2008: /2009: appr % employees (> 3 yrs. work experience) 25% graduates SVE Currently: round 4 Ad-pilots:  40 Ad-pilots at UAS  20 Ad-pilots co-operation SVEI’s and UAS

7 Evaluation of Ad-pilots in 2009 Associate degree: attracts new target groups leads to increasing number of participants in HE 60%-75% of participants aims to continue to professional bachelor’s degree level Labour market enthusiastic about Ad HBO-Raad (UAS-council): concerns about quality bachelor degree level; ‘associate degree attracts weaker students’ continuation of Ad-graduates to bachelor degree in 2 years / 120 EC problematic Student organisations: ‘too soon to decide, continue pilots’

8 Final evaluation Ad-pilots end of 2010: Effects and quality of continuation in bachelor degree programmes Labour market position of Associate degree graduates If positive: end of pilot stage, implementation of Ad in HEI Ad’s in co-operation between SVEI’s and UAS: evaluation in 2014

9 Objectives of LLL in the Netherlands Top 5 Global Competetiveness Index (GCI) Innovation Sustainable economic growth & welfare  Higher qualification level of workforce needed Anticipate shortages higher qualified workforce

10 Facts and figures LLL € 3 billion annually 85% private Mainly non-formal Training and Education Participation in T&E: 16%

11 Facts and figures LLL in HE Workforce: 37% HE-level (Bachelor / Master / Phd) Participation of target group 30+:  growth (10% since 1990) far below total growth HE-population (42%)  half of OECD-average Participation in part time HE (16.6%): below OESO and EU-average (20.2%)

12 Issues and problems LLL in HE Participation level Flexibility of programmes Work based learning Periodization Laws, rules & regulations

13 Government policy on LLL in HE Decisions to be taken by new government Which parties will form new government coalition? Election programmes political parties:  LLL serious topic: government policy measures required  LLL-agreements part of employment contracts  Labour market reforms  Same (financial) conditions for learning for all ages

14 Veerman - ‘Threefold differentiation’ Structural implementation of Associate degree Professional masters Learning entitlements for students 30+ Create conditions for flexible learning pathways Distinct profiles for HEI’s Financing HEI’s based on profile and performance

15 Education Council – ‘Secondary and Higher Education for Adults’ Limited number of HEI’s with specific LLL-tasks (not general) Separate arrangement for LLL (laws, rules & regulations, finance) Currently seven projects LLL-HPE

16 International study on LLL Flanders, Germany, UK, California-USA, Denmark, Sweden Learn from good practices re. government policies on LLL Key success factors:  Flexible arrangements training & education  Use of e-learning / blended learning  Financial arrangements for adults  Close co-operation HEI’s and businesses