Political perspective about education and training policies in the European Union

1. Political perspective about education and training policies in the European Union Meeting of the ETS Working GroupLuxembourg 5-6 June 2012 Kjartan Steffensen European Commission, DG Education and CultureLuxembourg 5 June 2012

2. ET2020 Joint Report 2012 • Every two years, the education ministers from EU countries and the Commission publish a joint report on the overall situation in education and training across the EU and assessing progress towards common objectives. • Latest report 10 February 2012 • Assessment of progress in education and training reform in the Member States during 2009-2011. • Working priorities for the period 2012-2014 to ensure an optimal contribution to the Europe 2020 objectives.

3. European Semester Country Specific Recommendations 2012

4. Europe 2020: the EU’s growth strategy Strengthened EU economic governance Macro-economic & fiscal surveillance Regulation of financial services Targets and guidance for structural reforms Flagships for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth Digital Agenda Youth on the Move Innovation Union New Industrial Policy New Skills and new Jobs Platform against Poverty Resource Efficiency Modernised EU levers for growth and jobs Structural Funds and future EU budget Single Market Act Trade and external policies

5. The European Semester timeline January February March April May June July Annual Growth Survey and other reports Proposals for country-specific recommendations European Commission Debate & orientations Discussion in Council formations Council of Ministers Autumn: Monitoring and peer review at European level Debate & orientations European Parliament Spring EU summit: overall guidance on EU priorities Endorsement of country-specific recommendations European Council Autumn: Implementation at national level Adoption of National Reform Programmes (NRPs) & Stability and Convergence Programmes (SCPs) Member States

6. Country Specific Recommendations 2012 • Europe needs smart investment to equip people with the right skills. • In the European Semester 2012, the Commission proposed recommendations • to Member States in the area of education and training focussing on the • following priorities: • (1) countries' performance with regard to the education headline targets, i.e. early school leaving and tertiary or equivalent attainment, including early school leaving strategies and quality of higher education; • (2) VET reforms, including apprenticeships; • (3) addressing challenges related to specific disadvantaged groups.

7. Smart, sustainable and inclusive growth iv) the share of early school leavers should be under 10% and at least 40% of the younger generation should have a degree or diploma

8. One in seven young leaves school early • Share of early school leavers*: • trends since 2000 and scenario for 2020 Past performance If national targets are met 18 16 14 12 EU target % ≈ 10.3-10.5% 10 8 6 4 2 0 2010 2020 2000 On the basis of current commitments, the Europe 2020 target will not be met. * Percentage of young people aged 18-24 leaving education and training before completing upper secondary education or equivalents in vocational education and training Source: European Commission

9. There are big differences between countries • Share of early school leavers (age 18-24) performance in 2010 national target for 2020 EU target Source: European Commission

10. National targets will not suffice to deliver • Share of young people (age 30-34) with tertiary attainment in 2000, 2010 and 2020 If national targets are met Past performance EU target 40 38 36 ≈ 37.5-38% 34 32 % 30 28 26 24 22 20 • 2010 2020 On the basis of current commitments, the Europe 2020 target will not be met. Source: European Commission

11. Starting points are very different • Share of young people (age 30-34) with tertiary attainment Performance in 2010 National target for 2020 EU target % Source: European Commission

12. EU is lagging behind on tertiary education Share of population aged 25-34 with tertiary education in 2009 60 Highest EU score 50 40 % 30 20 Lowest EU score 10 0 EU US Japan • Today in the EU, only about one person in three aged 25-34 has completed a university degree, compared to well above 50% in Japan and more than 40% in the US. Canada, Australia and South Korea all do better than the EU. Source: OECD - European Commission

13. Access to lifelong learning is sub-optimal • Participation in adult lifelong learning*(% of population aged 25-64) % • About 80 million people in the EU only have low or basic skills. More access to training could help reduce this, but actual participation varies a lot across the EU, and is stagnating. Moreover, participation is typically highest for the youngest, the most educated and the employed, and is thus lowest amongst groups needing training the most. * Share of adult population having received education or training during the last 4 weeks Source: European Commission

14. Upcoming Communication on skills • Skills are a core strategic asset for Europe: • they are a key driver of growth; • they determine the EU’s capacity to benefit from its human capital potential • A stronger supply of relevant skills will increase Europe's innovation capacity and its position in the global competition for talent. • The aim of the Communication planned for autumn 2012 is to • steer the modernisation of Europe's education and training systems, in order to increase the quantity, quality and relevance of skills supply for higher economic outcomes.

15. Upcoming Communication on skills • 3 key areas of action: • Focusing on outputs: Raisingattainmentlevels, improvinglearningoutcomes and promoting excellence • Towards open and flexible learning • Promoting smart funding and partnerships

16. Council Conclusions New benchmarks adopted • Council Conclusions 29 November 2011: • Benchmark on learning mobility in higher education and IVET • Indicator on general youth mobility • Council conclusions 11 May 2011: • Benchmark on the employability of recent (last three years) graduates from education and training

17. Council Conclusions November 2011 By 2020, an EU average of at least 20 % of higher education graduates should have had a period of higher education-related study or training (including work placements) abroad, representing a minimum of 15 ECTS credits or lasting a minimum of three months. By 2020, an EU average of at least 6 % of 18-34 year olds with an initial vocational education and training qualification should have had an initial VET-related study or training period (including work placements) abroad lasting a minimum of two weeks, or less if documented by Europass.

18. Council Conclusions November 2011 • The Commission should report back to the Council by the end of 2015, with a view to reviewing and, if necessary, revising the European benchmark on learning mobility.

19. Council Conclusions May 2012 By 2020, the share of employed graduates (20-34 year olds) having left education and training no more than three years before the reference year should be at least 82% (as compared to 76.5 % in 2010).

20. Other recent Council Conclusions and Recommendations • EarlyChildhoodEducation & Care (Conclusions 20/5-2011) • Promotinglearningmobility (Recommendation 28/6-2011) • Early School Leaving (Recommendation 28/6-2011) • ModernisationofHigherEducation (Communication 20/9-2011) • Language competences to enhancemobility (Conclusions 28/11-2011)