European Agenda for Adult Learning

1. European Agenda for Adult Learning Martina Ní Cheallaigh European Commission Brussels, 6 May 2013

2. Overview Bigger EU policy framework Rationale and drivers behind EU Education and Training policy European Adult Learning Agenda Some recent policy documents & their significance for adult learning

3. Policy context Europe 2020 ET 2020 • A European strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth • Making LLL and mobility a reality • E&T quality and efficiency • Equity, social cohesion, active citizenship • Entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation

4. Seven flagship initiatives

5. Skills mismatch: supply and demand Higher competence levels Skills + key competences Competences for all - equity

7. Benchmarks for 2020 At least 95% of children between the age of 4 & the age for starting primary education in early childhood education Share of 15-years olds with insufficient abilities in reading, mathematics & science less than 15% Share of early leavers from education and training less than 10% Share of 30-34 year olds with tertiary educational attainment at least 40% Average of at least 15 % of adults (age group 25-64) participating in lifelong Learning

8. Progress towards EU benchamarks

10. Participation by age

12. Agenda for Adult Learning – priority areas • Making lifelong learning and mobility a reality • Improving the quality and efficiency of education and training • Promoting equity, social cohesion and active citizenship through adult learning • Enhancing the creativity and innovation of adult and their learning environments • Improving the knowledge base on adult learning and monitoring the adult learning sector

13. Vision of adult learning by 2020 Access to high quality learning any time in life for personal, social and economic ends Awareness of each adult /each employer Fairly shared responsibility, adequate resourcing Learner / learning outcomes at centre supported by guidance, validation, flexible provisions Learning locally with a significant role for social partners, civil society and local authorities Active learning for seniors and mutual learning & solidarity between generations Education and Culture

14. Your Working Group-related Issues Curriculum – impact on flexibility/progression basic skills (needed for participating actively in modern society ) transversal key competences, such as learning to learn, sense of initiative/entrepreneurship, cultural awareness and expression - European Key Competence Framework Learning outcomes with a view to "new skills and new jobs" Assessment Effective use of ICT, incl. Open Learning Resources Embedded, e.g. in work; Validation; Higher Education Education and Culture

15. Your Working Group-related Issues Quality – Personnel - Financing Improving the quality and efficiency ET2020 Developing quality assurance for adult-learning providers, building on existing frameworks, etc. Improving the quality of staff, e.g. by defining competence profiles, establishing effective systems for initial training and continuing professional development (Grundtvig) Intensifying cooperation with stakeholders particularly at regional and local level Public commitment to the sector & support for those who cannot pay, balanced distribution of funds across the lifelong-learning continuum Education and Culture

16. Continuity Building on the achievements of the Action Plan, 2008-10 & its focus on low-skilled and disadvantaged groups Developing the adult learning sector – weakest link in the LLL chain, including access to HE Renewed focus on increasing participation, especially of those furthest from learning Exchanging good practice & experience among countries; programme support Education and Culture

17. Complementarity Copenhagen process / Bruges Communiqué Bologna process & modernisation of higher education Modernisation of schools: influences from non-formal sector Offering compensatory route/second chance to early school leavers Assisting early childhood education through improved parental education Intergenerational learning & exchange Education and Culture

18. Consolidation Emphasis on low skilled/low qualified groups & taking their basic skills „one step up“ Stronger emphasis on implementation within Member States (national, regional and local level) as well as through EU-level activities Effective liaison with all stakeholders: ministries, social partners, business, NGOs, civil society Nomination of a national coordinator to steer implementation, launch cooperation with other countries and liaise with the Commission Education and Culture

19. Commission contribution to the Agenda • Awareness-raising • Literacy and other basic skills • Quality of the provision – working group • Financing adult learning – working group • Validation of non-formal and informal learning • Older people – learning for active ageing • Access to higher education • Data on adult learning

20. Communication on Rethinking Education Buildingskills for the 21st century Transversal, STEM, Basic skills, VET systems 2. Stimulatingopen and flexible learning Learning outcomes, assessment & recognition, ICT & OER, Teachingstaff (SWD Assessment of KeyCompetences) 3. Promoting a collaborative effort Fundingthroughefficientinvestment, partnershipbetweeninstitutions

21. Recommendation on Validation Have in place arrangements for validation of non-formal and informal learning, no later than 2018, thus : facilitating a better match between skills and labour demand, addressing skills shortages in growing sectors promoting better transferability of skills between companies and sectors helping citizens move around the EU to study and work Increasing motivation for lifelong learning, particularly among economically disadvantaged or low-qualified

22. Thank you for your attention! Contact: martina.ni-cheallaigh@ec.europa.eu DG EAC: http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-policy/adult_en.htm Lifelong learning programme