1. The Education Reform Initiative of South Eastern Europe – regional cooperation for development Aspasija Hadžišče Executive Director of the ERI SEE Agency

2. Content: 2. ERI SEE supported regional cooperation in the priority areas –Lifelong Learning –European Qualifications Framework and national qualifications frameworks –Quality and Equity in Education –The “Knowledge Triangle”: education, research and innovation 1.About ERI SEE 3.Challenges for future development

3. Commitment to regional cooperation - policy level Nicosia 2003 – Memorandum of Understanding on strengthening regional co-operation initiated by the Ministries of Education and Higher Education in SEE and the Task Force Education and Youth May 2007 - Istanbul Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministers responsible for education, science and research in SEE, the Stability Pact and the Task Force Education and Youth

4. Membership and context SEECP European Integration Process Lisbon strategy Education for All Millenium Development Goals Education and Training 2010 Bologna Process Copenhagen Process

5. The Initiative 2004 - Education Reform Initiative of South Eastern Europe (ERI SEE) was proposed as a regional platform for co-operation in the education area & an interface between on-going national reforms in SEE and current trends and developments in the education sector at EU level Governing Board: ERI SEE members and Austria as Co-chair of the TFBHC Consultative Body: RCC, donor countries Austria, The Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and relevant international organisations, institutions and associations: CoE, ETF, EUA and OECD. Croatia hosts the ERI SEE Secretariat since 2004. In 2006 the ERI SEE Agency started its work.

6. Thematic Areas 2005 - 2010 Lifelong Learning European Qualification Framework and national qualifications frameworks in SEE Quality Education and Equity in Education The “Knowledge Triangle” – education, research and innovation

7. Lifelong Learning: activities 2004-2009 2004 Seminar on creation of strategies for LLL in Europe 2005-2008: Series of seminars and workshops on Community programmes in education and training as preparation for the LLP Study visits to the National Agencies for EU Mobility Programmes in Romania, Slovenia and Norway 2009: Workshop on preparation of Terms of Reference and project fiche for Sector Wide Approach projects under IPA and ENPI

8. 2008: First networking conference of VET agencies of SEE –On the agenda: Qualifications frameworks Lifelong learning Entrepreneurial learning Networking day –Follow-up: Cooperation agreement between VET institutions of the SEECP region for creation of a regional VET network Collection and dissemination of comparable information on the VET sector in SEE. National Qualifications Frameworks. Quality assurance and improvement in the VET sector. Lifelong Learning and VET (including mainstream, non-formal and in-formal education) Social partnership enhancement in the VET sector Activities in close cooperation with ETF. Lifelong Learning: activities 2004-2009

9. 2009: Meeting of the SEE VET network: ‘Quality of Education in the Context of Lifelong Learning and its Role in the Development of National Qualifications Frameworks’ Establishing a forum of SEE experts in LLL Provision of relevant information on the ERI SEE website Lifelong Learning: activities 2004-2009

10. Lifelong Learning challenges ahead Encompassing human capital development in a LLL context: development of different sub- sectors of education not to be considered in isolation and link to labour market to be ensured. 2009 - contribution of lifelong learning to creativity and innovation in society and on strengthening the innovative approaches and culture of better learning to be addressed; Widening the concept of capacity building, not only to training, but also to strategic development, HRD policies and strategies, organisation management and tools, etc. Strengthened capacities in leadership, HRD management, and preparation of policy related documents. Capacity building for participation in the Community Action Programme in the Field of LLL 2007-2013 Capacity building for development and implementation of projects with Sector Wide Approach

11. EQF and national qualification frameworks in SEE: activities 2005 - 2009 2007 - 2009: Special sessions of the ERI SEE Governing Board and Consultative Body on the developments at European and national level Special session in framework of the Romanian Conference “Education and Training: social and economic benefits within a lifelong learning perspective” in 2007 2009 Project concept on sectoral qualifications in tourism covering IVET, CVET and HE. To adress credits for transferability and accumulation of prior learning. Provision of selected information on QFs on the ERI SEE website ERI SEE forum on qualifications frameworks

12. EQF and national qualification frameworks in SEE challenges ahead Recommendations: NQF development to be based on permanent dialogue between the education sectors, the labour market, trade unions and other stakeholders Joint work of the VET and HE sector is crucial for covering the LLL span of education and training for each citizen The NQF to be flexible, simple, applicable and visible Credits that allow transfer and accumulation to be allocated in order to assure progress and recognition of prior learning National structures and proper financing of NQFs development and implementation to be ensured Reliable assessment and certification Nation-wide information and transparency of the work  Develop trustworthy NQFs

13. Quality education and equity in education: activities 2005-2009 Regional networking of experts in assessment and evaluation in primary and secondary education: 2006: Assessment and evaluation-important tools for promoting quality in education 2007: National and international assessments 2008: Matura exams 2009: Assessment and evaluation in SEE versus future challenges. 2005 Seminar on investing efficiently in education Use of ICT in education and training.

14. Quality education and equity in education: activities 2005-2009 2007 OECD and TFEY International conference “Education Policies for Inclusion in SEE: Challenges and Opportunities” 2009 Seminar on teacher training for inclusive education/teacher training for diversity. Continuation of ERI SEE fora on assessment and evaluation in primary and secondary education and in quality assuarnce Provision of relevant information on ERI SEE website

15. 2007 Regional seminar “Equity in Education – a Challenge for SEE” Capacity building supported by the OECD and Norway Quality education and equity in education: activities 2005-2009 2008 Fourth Conference of EDC/HRE Network of SEE CoE document “Empowering Teachers: Core Competence for EDC/HRE” Study visit to Croatia to be acquainted with the ICT supported information system for QA in HE. Dissemination of the results of the EU funded project “MHADIE”

16. Recommendations: Building quality culture Strenthening the quality assurance systems at all levels Closing the quality loop – nurturing institutional self-evaluation culture Internationalisation of quality assurance processes – use of regional expertise Professional development of teachers and trainers Continuation of involvement of SEE countries in international assessments Strengthening the dialogue among different levels of mainstream education, non- formal and in-formal education in quality assurance processes (QA for LLL). Efficiency Capacity building and policy learning for evidence-based policy and practice Good governance - capacity building support on organising and facilitating the policy learning process, strategy formulation and policy action. Equity Design of national policies, practices and resourcing to reduce failure and dropout Educational disadvantage to be addressed by quality education and targeted support, combined with properly managed inclusion in mainstream education and training Promotion of intercultural skills, democratic values, the respect for fundamental rights and fight against discrimination Quality education and equity in education: Challenges ahead

17. The “knowledge triangle”: education, research and innovation – activities 2005-2009 2005 Seminar “The Bologna Process after Bergen. 2007 Round table on accreditation in higher education in SEE Seminar “The Bologna Process after London: the challenges for implementation in SEE” –Co-organiser Regional conference on education for sustainable development KulturKontakt Austria Dubrovnik conference on institutional reforms in creating the EHEA

18. 2008 CEE Network General Assembly meeting and Workshop on Regional cooperation; special SEE meeting ERI SEE forum on the Bologna Process Relevant information on the “knowledge triangle” provided on the ERI SEE web site 2009 Peer learning for staff members of newly established agencies on QA in HE to experienced onse in SEE Follow-up to the Bucharest conference: seminar co-organised with KulturKontakt Austria ‘The role of teacher education and the pre-university sector in building human capital by fostering creativity and innovation’ The “knowledge triangle”: education, research and innovation – activities 2005-2009

19. The “knowledge triangle”: education, research and innovation – challenges Firmly address brain drain by creation of favorable environment, international cooperation and networking with the diaspora. Higher education sector: Opening-up towards the wider society, cooperation with the business and other sectors. Synergy among the Bologna actors, actions and activities Organisational challenges: –Enforcement of the recently adopted national legislations on integtated universities –Diversification of HE education supported by strong quality assurance ECTS and curricula reform: enabling smooth selection of modules from different faculties within the same university, more profound curricula reforms, increased student mobility Application of the recommendations from the UNESCO/OECD Guidelines for Quality Provision in Cross-border Higher Education Mutual cooperation and development of joint programmes leading to joint degrees Strenghtened role of universities in LLL Student involvement Increased internationalisation of educational and scientific cooperation.

20. Well informed and involved in the “beyond 2010” preparations The Lisbon agenda and beyond …follow-up of the “Education and Training 2010” Bologna process beyond 2010 Copenhagen process beyond 2010 Challenges ahead.. Enhance innovation and creativity, including entrepreneurship, at all levels of education and training Integrate transversal key competences into curricula, assessment and qualifications Promote creativity and innovation through developing specific teaching and learning methods (including ICT and teacher training) Develop partnerships between education and training providers and businesses, research institutions, cultural actors and creative industries.

21. ERI SEE to become a SEE learning community in education and training Challenges for strengthening the Initiative Establishment of National ERI SEE Contact Points

22. Thank you for your attention. Contact details: Education Reform Initiative of South Eastern Europe Agencija za obrazovno reformske inicijative za jugoistocnu Europu Ivana Lucica 5 10 000 Zagreb, Republic of Croatia Email: secretariat@erisee.org Phone+385 1 6310 678 Fax+385 1 6310 680 Web page http://www.erisee.org Email: secretariat@erisee.orghttp://www.erisee.org