1. Upskilling Pathways New Opportunities for Adults Detlef Eckert, Director: Skills, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

2. The challenges
64 m low-qualified adults
Large proportions of low-qualified and low-skilled adults
Big variations between Member States, regions
Low rates of adult participation in learning
Limited training provision for low- qualified adults

3. Upskilling Pathways
qualification at EQF level 3 or 4 (depending on national circumstances)
Adults with a low level of skills, knowledge and competences e.g. without upper secondary education (not eligible for Youth Guarantee support)
and/or
literacy, numeracy, digital skills

4. 2 Tailored offer of education, training
Upskilling Pathways – the three steps
1 Skills assessment
2 Tailored offer of education, training
3 Validation and recognition
Member State flexibility to choose priority target groups, to build on existing provision …

5. Upskilling Pathways -implementation
"By mid-2018, building on existing national arrangements and financial frameworks, outline measures for implementation at national level".
Outreach.
Guidance & Support
Set priorities
Cooperation, Partnership, Coordination
Outreach, guidance and support measures
many adults not aware of benefits of raising their skills levels or of opportunities for upskilling that do not require going back to a formal school setting.
Carefully targeted outreach strategies are needed to encourage people to make contact with the relevant services.
The design of such outreach measures needs to be based upon an adequate overview of the many different sub-groups that are included in the low skilled population, each of which may need a slightly different approach.
Registered unemployed people, for example, may be more easily reached through bodies helping them to return to the labour market.
On the other hand, people in employment can be reached with the active involvement of the employer or trade unions.
Specific measures may be needed to reach migrants if they are not familiar with the language of the host country etc.
Outreach should raise adults’ awareness of the benefits of upskilling, inform them of available guidance and support measures and learning opportunities, and provide incentives to motivate them to take advantage of these.
Guidance is another pre-requisite in providing advice and information as to what a Skills Guarantee entails, whom to refer to get started and how to stay on course throughout the process.
Such guidance and support should be available to learners throughout all stages of the upskilling pathway.
The Recommendation calls for supporting the initial and continuing professional development of staff in the adult learning field, recognising their key role in the delivery of education and training to low-skilled adults and in guidance and support.
In addition to outreach and guidance, Member States may also consider providing specific support to address barriers to participation. The recommendation provides examples of such direct or indirect support measures, including rights to training leave or financial incentives for learners or support to employers for encouraging them to support their employees' upskilling. Financial incentives and disincentives also play a role in the decision to invest in skills, for the learner and for the employer, and may need to be reviewed.
Identify beneficiaries
Monitoring, Evaluation

6. Upskilling Pathways – ESF
"Where appropriate … support use of EU funding programmes" for implementation of UPs.
Embed Upskilling Pathways in relevant Operational Programmes
There is scope to add basic skills components to new projects (in the new round of grants).
Development of basic skills in support for unemployed
Partnership approach and effective coordination; important to involve all stakeholders e.g.: PES, Social Services, Training Providers….
[PIAAC second cycle: funding of national costs]

7. Upskilling Pathways – ESF
Example 1:
TO 8 v - Adaptation to change
could include development of basic skills in workplace, e.g.:
embed basic skills within vocational training, or
at skills assessment stage, identify basic skills needs and provide basic skills training before or during vocational training.
Example 2:
TO 10 iii - Enhancing equal access to lifelong learning
could implement the Upskilling Pathways 3 steps model e.g.:
insert the 3 steps as obligatory elements of projects; or
if ESF finances implementation of Recommendation on Validation, projects could also cover validation of basic skills.

8. Upskilling Pathways – ESF
ESF projects:
LV: new skills and opportunities Aim: to improve existing professional qualifications, or learn new professional skills. Education tailored to user needs & needs of labour market.  40,000 people. €27 million.
HU: Training programme for low skilled adults Target: 80,000 low-qualified active adults without ISCED 3.
Will provide:
skills assessment,
tailor-made learning offer,
mentoring,
validation and recognition of skills acquired: leading to a nationally recognised certificate,
follow-up and counselling after the training to promote labour market entry.