EC presentation for the AVA seminar
Transcript of EC presentation for the AVA seminar
Adult education at the European level
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Why EU is active in education and VET?
Article 165 The Union shall contribute to the
development of quality education by encouraging
cooperation between Member States and, if necessary, by supporting and
supplementing their action, while fully respecting the
responsibility of the Member States for the content of teaching
and the organisation of education systems and their cultural and
linguistic diversity.
Article 166 The Union shall implement a
vocational training policy which shall support and supplement
the action of the Member States, while fully respecting the
responsibility of the Member States for the
content and organisation of vocational training
The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
Education and Training
Adult learning in Europe
The entire range of formal, non-formal and informal activities, general and vocational, undertaken by adults after leaving initial education and training.
European benchmark: 15% of 25-64 year olds participate in learning by 2020.
In 2014, the rate was 10.7% and there are significant differences between countries
Who is the average adult learner?
Demographics Learning activities
Female
Young (below 34)
Employed
High educational attainment
From Northern Europe
Work-related
Company financed (short duration)
Non-formal learning
EU's 70 million low skilled adults
Vicious circle: people with high level of literacy 2.5 times more likely to participate in learning than those with low level of literacy (PIAAC) 1/5 EU adults lack literacy and numeracy skills 1/4 EU adults lack ICT problem-solving skills
Low skilled people: • are in jobs that offer no training • do less learning than high-skilled people • get stuck in 'low skills trap' • miss the benefits of continued learning
Consequences include: poor employment prospects, low wages, more socially excluded, poorer health, lower civic participation, less trust in state
Tackling the low skills trap
• Ensure initial education/VET make young adults acquire high levels of literacy, numeracy and digital competences
• Tailor opportunities for specific groups of adults(esp. most vulnerable) in a learner-centred approach
• Adopt a global vision on access challenges (motivational issues, accompanying measures for financial barriers…)
Developing the Open Method of Coordination
What the EU strives for
2011 Renewed European Agenda for Adult Learning: Underpinning ET2020
• Making LLL and mobility a reality
• Improving quality and efficiency
• Promoting equity, social cohesion and active citizenship
• Enhancing creativity and innovation
• Improving the knowledge base, monitoring
EU Agenda for Adult Learning: Vision 2020
Access to high quality learning any time in life for personal, social and economic ends
Awareness of lifelong learning benefits by learner/employer
Fairly shared responsibility, adequate resourcing
New approach to provision – flexible, learner-centred, clear learning outcomes, leading sometimes validation
Learning locally in a partnership approach will all stakeholders
Active learning for seniors, mutual learning between generations
Implementing the European Agenda:
National Coordinators for adult learning
Erasmus+
• Staff mobility
• Strategic partnerships
EPALE
• To inform & network the AL community in Europe
• Events, news, blogs, research, partners, materials
ET2020 Working Group 'Adult learning'
• National authorities and European stakeholders represented
Studies, data collection
Promoting recognition and validation of skills and competences acquired through
non-formal and informal learning
Koen NOMDEN, DG EMPL, European Commission
Date: in 12 pts
Council Recommendation on Non-Formal and Informal Learning 20 December 2012
•Member States agreed to put in place
arrangements for the validation of non-formal and
informal learning (VNFIL) experiences by 2018,
enabling individuals to obtain a qualification
(or part of it) on the basis of their validated
experiences.
Date: in 12 pts
Elements of VNFIL arrangements:
IDENTIFICATION
DOCUMENTATION
ASSESSMENT
CERTIFICATION
Date: in 12 pts
VNFIL
Main principles of VNFIL arrangements:
•Linked to qualifications frameworks and in line with the EQF
•Same/equivalent standards of qualifications obtained through formal education
•Transparent quality assurance measures supporting reliable, valid and credible validation methodologies and tools
•Information and guidance available to individuals and organisations
•Special "focus" on disadvantaged groups/individuals (e.g. skills audit)
•Professional development of staff
•Use of EU transparency tools
•Synergies with credit systems
Date: in 12 pts
Key actors:
•Member States: to implement the Recommendation and
report on progress
•European Commission: to support and work with MS
(Inventory, Guidelines, PLAs) and report on progress
•Cedefop: to provide expertise to support the implementation
of the Recommendation
•EQF AG: forum through which Member States and the
Commission should cooperate to follow up to the
Recommendation
Date: in 12 pts
Stakeholder involvement:
•Involvement of all relevant stakeholders
•Employers, youth organisations and civil society organisations
to promote and facilitate the documentation of learning
outcomes acquired at work or in voluntary activities
•E&T providers to facilitate access to further learning and
to award exemptions/credits for NFIL
•Coordination between stakeholders in the education,
training, employment and youth sectors and other relevant
policy areas.
• OUTPUTS
o 36 reports (covering
33 countries)
o 8 Thematic studies
o 2 case studies
o A survey of projects on validation
o A synthesis of main findings
o An executive summary
1. Early school leavers 2. Multi-level governance 3. Skills audits in the public sector 4. Validation methodologies
5. Guidance and counseling
6. Raising awareness 7. Competence assessment
in the private sector 8. Research themes
2014 European Inventory on validation
Date: in 12 pts
European Guidelines for validating non-formal and informal learning (2015)
http://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/publications-and-resources/publications/3073
VNFIL
Date: in 12 pts
Looking ahead
•2016 – Light update of the European Inventory
•2018 – Update of the European Inventory
•2018 – One-off national reports. Political response to the Council Recommendation
•2019 - Commission's report to the Council Reports on the experience gained and implications for the future, including if necessary a possible review of the Recommendation.
VNFIL