Ada Schaefer-Sotiropoulou, European Commission (EAC B4)

1. Contribution of the Adult Learning Action Plan and of Grundtvig Programme to the fight against poverty and exclusion Ada Schaefer-Sotiropoulou, European Commission (EAC B4) Conference on the fight against poverty and exclusion Kranjska Gora 1st October 2009

2. Poverty and exclusion in Europe and the EU Policy context • A rich Europe with 78 million poor people • the Lisbon strategy, (open method of coordinating national policies). • high standards and commonly agreed objectives. • MS multi-annual national action plans. 2 2 2

3. poverty and social exclusion a priority area in the social agenda and strategy. 2010: 26 million €, 17 million € by EU ESF : 10 billion € in people’s skills /year …. Poverty and exclusion in Europe and the EU Policy context

4. Education and training a key element for the growth and jobs to be better skilled is key for equity and social inclusion Policy cooperation at EU level provides support to countries’ educational reforms. Strategic Framework for European Cooperation in Education and Training 2009. Education and training a key element to social inclusion

5. Education and training and the economic crisis, trends and challenges : benchmarks for 2010 will not be reached, literacy is deteriorating The economic downturn and the urgency of reforming education and training systems all learners should benefit from innovative learning, teaching including the disadvantaged Implementing lifelong learning through formal, non-formal and informal learning Education and training a key element to social inclusion

6. Contributes to adress poverty paired with social exclusion: « It is never too late to learn » in 2006 (adults'employability, mobility, acquisition of key competences, socially inclusive labour market and society) « It is always a good time to learn » in 2007 (for MS with support from the Eu to develop efficient and equitable adult learning systems to Increase participation of adult learners: quality for learners, the professional development of staff, the providers and delivery. systems for recognition and validation of non-formal and informal learning quality and comparability of data on adult learning for policy-making. The Adult Learning Action Plan

7. adults with labour market skills, social integration and preparation for active ageing. 77 million adult Europeans with low qualifications. The Adult Learning Action Plan: literacy, languages and digital competence for low-skilled, unemployed and immigrants The disadvantaged : Low literacy skills Inadequate work skills Insufficient skills for integration The Adult learning Action Plan and its contribution to the fight against poverty and exclusion

8. national targets to increase skill level for disadvantaged identification of target groups and key factors for reintegrating people into market, education and training, and in society. pilot projects for reaching the target groups will be launched within the LLP for one level higher qualification. monitoring of the results. MS to report on progress in raising the skill levels of target groups in the Joint Progress Report on Education and Training. Priority area: Increase the possibilities for adults to go one step up and achieve at least one level higher qualification

9. Validation and recognition of skills and competences assessing and recognizing non-formal and informal learning Identification of good practice of recognition and validation of non-formal and informal learning Peer learning activity, exchange of good practice and cross border exchange of staff to be funded by the LLP First report of results Priority area: Validation and recognition of skills and competences

10. vulnerable social groups and marginal social contexts, adults who left school early, Migrants who never had the possibility to go to school an ageing population. The annual LLP Conference 2010 will be aligned to the fight against poverty and exclusion Grundtvig Programmeand its contribution to the fight against poverty and exclusion

11. Priorities for Grundtvig actions in the 2009 call • Priority for multilateral projects: • marginalised and disadvantaged citizens and migrants • Alternative learning approaches • Good practice on intercultural education • Using sport 11 11 11

12. Priority for Networks: Validation and certification of non-formal and informal learning outcomes Improving outcomes taking into account their specific needs Improving validation of prior learning of the AE practitioners How education and training frameworks can be applied to to adult learning Mechanisms for assessing competences Recognition of prior learning of migrants Priorities for Grundtvig actions in the call 2009

13. Official documentation-References and site • Communication on Adult Learning http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2006/com2006_0614en01.pdf • The Action plan on Adult learning http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/adult/com558_en.pdf • Grundtvig Programme • http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-programme/doc80_en.htm 13 13 13