1. Education and Training Statistics Working Group
31 January-2 February 2005
Main conclusions
Draft
ETS WG

2. Item 2: UOE 2004 data collection
The ETS WG :
took note of the status report
agreed to provide missing information as soon as possible in order to have a minimum number of updates in NewCronos after March 2005
ETS WG

3. Item 3: SiF “Key statistics on education in Europe
The ETS WG :
agrees with the contents of the SIF (with some proposals for additions)
Eurostat is to send to OECD countries* the SiF indicators in week 6 of 2005 asking for comments by the week 8.
* “Eurostat” countries have already received the indicators)
ETS WG

4. Item 3: Key Data on education 2005
The ETS WG:
took note of the timetable for the release of the publication
January and February 2005
March and April 2005
May 2005
EEU
Updating of the PISA 2003 indicator (Jan.)
Continued corrections
Finalisation of the “Main Issues” (Jan.)
Finalisation and dispatch to printers FR/EN (April)
Public Release
Nat. Units
Eurostat
Verification of the last three indicators (Feb.)
Reading of the PISA 2003 indicators (Feb.)
Reading of the “Main Issues” EN/FR (Feb.)
Final re-reading of the overall publication (March)
ETS WG

5. Item 4: UOE revision The ETS WG :
welcomed the improved U-O-E co-operation for the definition of the UOE2005 data request
underlined the need to maintain the current focus of the data collection
made first comments on the proposed tables for 2005
The ETS WG members will inform the national UOE data providers so that written comments are submitted in the framework of the consultation on the UOE2005 tables to the unique address:
by the 23rd of February 2005
Countries are also requested to indicate the feasibility and timetable of providing data according to the new request.
The U-O-E data requesters are planning to launch UOE2005 by the April 2005
ETS WG

6. Item 5: UOE Finance indicators
The ETS WG :
took note of the importance of education data for projections on “age-related” expenditure carried out by DG ECFIN
took note of the new focus of the “stability and growth pact” on the longer term, which means that the importance of education expenditure as a factor to monitor will increase.
welcomed the completion of the work on country profiles
agreed with the need to contribute to the establishment of a list of educational goods and services; work should start in 2005 but it does not seem feasible to consider delivery of data already for UOE2006
expressed doubts about the feasibility of reconciling UOE and CVTS data on initial vocational training expenditure but would like to be kept inform of the work CVTS TF on this issue.
ETS WG

7. Item 5: UOE Finance indicators
The ETS WG :
agreed on the need to include clear definitions on tax reductions, but work should start after the work on the list of goods and services is completed.
asked Eurostat to launch the work on the establishment of satellite accounts on education and agreed to inform about ongoing activities in this field
took note of the list of R&D contacts provided and the need to intensify co-operation at the national level
agreed on the need to intensify co-operation at national level with the R&D data providers to clarify the coverage of Higher Education Expenditure ; a list of R&D contacts has been provided to the ETS WG by Eurostat.
ETS WG

8. Items 7, 8: Information by DG EAC
The ETS WG:
took note of the following information provided by DG EAC:
- Work programme of JRC « LLL research unit »
- the plans for the development of new indicators
- DG EAC reorganisation
Stressed the need to develop and implement strategies for statistics and indicators in a co-ordinated way taking into account EU policy needs and available capacities in the Member States.
ETS WG

9. Item 10: ETS WG mandate
The ETS WG agrees with the proposed mandate including:
- the reinforcement of its strategic role
- the need for the ETS WG delegates to act as coordinators for the whole area of education and training statistics at the national level (« ETS coordinators »)
- the creation of Task Forces to deal with specific subjects
The ETS WG members will communicate to Eurostat as soon as possible (preferably by ) the name of the « ETS coordinator » who will be included in a mailing list to be contacted whenever written consultation is required on different issues.
The ETS coordinators will be responsible for informing Eurostat of any changes at the national level.
ETS WG

10. Item 11: Legal basis on lifelong learning
The ETS WG:
was in favour of a legal basis for education and lifelong learning statistics
agreed on a 3 level approach including a general framework act as level 1 and implementing act as level 2 for activities to be covered by the framework act both for the UOE data collection and for the AES; the 3rd level are the data collection manuals to which reference could be made in the higher levels.
took note of the importance to provide the name of the ETS coordinators as requested under item10.
Eurostat:
will redraft within one month the legal basis making it more general, simplifying the annexes and taking into account the possibility of having an implementing act also for UOE.
maintained the objective of having an opinion by the SPC at its next meeting on May 2005
Final document available in English by 18 March 2005
SPC document available in EN, FR and DE by 8 April 2005
SPC meeting: May 2005
ETS WG

11. Item 13: CVTS
The ETS WG:
welcomes the progress made towards adoption of the Council and EP regulation at 1st reading with a workable compromise allowing for sufficient preparation time
took note of the conclusions of the CVTS WG held in December 2004
took note of the planning and the progress made in the preparation of CVTS3 and on the call for expression of interest by countries to participate in the Task Force created to work on the priority activities (through the national CVTS correspondents)
ETS WG

12. Item 14: Education in the Labour Force Survey
The ETS WG:
took note of the changes agreed for structural indicators using education variables and the timetable for their implementation
took note of the draft report on the quality evaluation of the 2003 ad hoc module on lifelong learning; further input is expected from countries (the LFS-E subgroup network is involved) as soon as possible to keep the deadline of end March 2005 for the delivery of the final quality report
will send comments on the Eurostat proposal for a domain on « Education and the Labour Market » in NewCronos by 25 February 2005
ETS WG

13. Item 15: Implementation of the AES
The ETS WG:
agreed with the approach proposed for the implementation of the survey
accepted in principle the calculation of the sample size; additional comments and suggestions are expected by 25 February 2005
will update information on the national planning of the surveys and cost estimates as included in annex by 25 February 2005
took note of the information provided by Eurostat on the funding arrangements for the survey
France, Finland, Sweden, Italy, UK (countries that are piloting the survey in 2005) will participate in the TF « AES Pilots ». First TF meeting on April Other countries wishing to participate should inform Eurostat by 11 February 2005
ETS WG

14. Item 16: Classification of Learning activities
The ETS WG:
took note of the results of the testing of the survey and the answers given by Eurostat to questions raised during the CLA testing
agreed to send further comments on the CLA, by so that Eurostat can finalise the classification by
asked Eurostat to organise an exchange of information in order to achieve a common understanding of the concept of the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ)
The final version will then be submitted by Eurostat for international consultation (involving at least UIS and ILO)
ETS WG

15. Item 17: draft AES questionnaire
The ETS WG agreed with the following:
keep as core but simplify the modules on social and cultural participation
keep the proposed way of selection of non-formal education activities
ask only for the most recent formal activity
maintain informal in the questionnaire and have a closed list of methods used which will be finalised with policy users and will be consistent with CLA definitions
maintain the module on obstacles which should be tested using alternative methods (including an open question) in the pilot surveys
maintain the proposal on ICT but consider a change in the order of questions, splitting of the « basic level » of skills
use main labour status in background variables (self-assessment)
add « the variable « date » for the calculation of the age of respondents
add question on whether participation in the non-formal activity took place « in the country » or « outside the country »
The ETS WG agreed also to send further comments by the
The ETS WG asked for a clear distinction between core and non-core questions and variables
ETS WG