Lifelong Learning and Higher Education The Hungarian and BME Perspective

1. Lifelong Learning and Higher EducationThe Hungarian and BME Perspective Péter Moson Dean, Faculty of Sciences and Vice-Rector for International Relations András Szűcs Director, Center for Learning Innovation and Adult Learning Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) – Rector: Gábor Péceli Bratislava, Sept.10.2009. - Lifelong Learning - BME, Budapest

2. The Lifelong Learning Strategy of Hungary (2006) • Adopted by the Government - A multi-sectoral document (Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour) • Priorities: • equal opportunities; • strengthening links between the education/training system and the labour market; • application of new governance methods; • enhancing efficiency of the education and training system and increasing public and private investment; • improving the quality of education and training. Bratislava, Sept.10.2009. - Lifelong Learning - BME, Budapest

3. Hungarian Lifelong Learning Strategy Areas of intervention and policy principles • Development of basic skills and key competences • Career guidance, counselling and monitoring • Recognition of informal and non-formal learning • Supporting disadvantaged groups and groups at risk on the labour market • Establishment of a new teaching/learning culture • New teacher roles • enhancing the teachers’ self-reflectivity • supporting the model of learning organisation • Extending learning opportunities • Use of information and communication technologies • Development of distance learning • Prospects of informal learning, alternative learning forms Bratislava, Sept.10.2009. - Lifelong Learning - BME, Budapest

4. The Hungarian lifelong learning paradigm Novel approach: promoting collaboration of sectors, instead of following the content and structure of traditional sectoral strategies • Lifelong learning for the whole lifecycle: from pre-school education to retirement age; • Development of competences in focus – professional, social etc. competences, enabling people to retain integrity in the changing environment; • Schools should also build on knowledge acquired outside its walls – formal, non-formal and informal learning; • Learning for all: strategies offering new chance for drop-outs, programmes combating learning disorders, • New learning culture, shift in attitude • Learning is not only a tool for the appropriate job, but something positive in itself, with impact on several dimensions of the quality of life; • Motivation to learn to be increased, learning can become an enjoyable, rewarding and successful activity; Bratislava, Sept.10.2009. - Lifelong Learning - BME, Budapest

5. Lifelong Learning and the quality of life Bratislava, Sept.10.2009. - Lifelong Learning - BME, Budapest

6. Lifelong learning and universities: international context Increasing role of higher education in LLL: New challenges and opportunities • Lifelong Learning Charter of European universities • “Framework for universities to develop their specific contribution to the overall objectives of lifelong learning” • Lisbon Declaration of the Council of the European University Association (EUA, 2007): • “Universities understand the urgent need to make lifelong learning a reality in the years to come” • Bologna process monitoring finding: • „Majority of European universities consider lifelong learning as a high priority” • Lifelong learning - European cooperation - global competition: • Education sector emerging as a revenue producing one in medium term, • Professional developments extend across national borders. • Open co-ordination to take into account the best practices of the EU Member States, and the features of global competition in education-learning services Bratislava, Sept.10.2009. - Lifelong Learning - BME, Budapest

7. Lifelong learning and universities: tasks and perspectives Assessment of social usefulness, efficiency and market position of any educational institution will greatly depend on their contribution to the Lifelong Learning ! • Lifelong learning increasingly integrated in institutional university strategies • responding to national policy priorities • adapting approach to changes of social-economic environment • Expectations on lifelong learning at universities: • development and expansion of training offers, diversity of services, • transparency and overview: easy assessment of the training subjects, the acquired knowledge and competence, and their market value, • quality assurance, • application of modern, flexible instructional methods as well as ICT support (e-learning). • Organisational and operational changes • greater openness, flexible learning paths, modular structures, • support for credit accumulation and transfer, • recognition of experiential, work-based or non-formal and informal prior learning, • establishment of specific units for lifelong learning, Bratislava, Sept.10.2009. - Lifelong Learning - BME, Budapest

8. Hungarian national networking and collaborationfor University Lifelong Learning • Hungarian Higher Education Lifelong Learning Network (MELLearN) • In support of LLL strategy and methodology development at universities and for international collaboration • Members: 23 universities and colleges • Activities: • Annual Conferences, Workshops, • Task Forces, • Policy Papers, • Surveys, Research, Case studies • Dialogue with stakeholders/employers Bratislava, Sept.10.2009. - Lifelong Learning - BME, Budapest

9. Lifelong Learning activities and servicesat the Budapest University of Technology and Economics Continuing and adult education at the University: • over 400 courses/programmes approximately 9000 participants per year. Main institutional tasks concerning Lifelong Learning: • organizational – administrative • Registration and accreditation of the University as institution and its adult learning programs (according to the Law on Adult Learning 2001), • Reporting and provision of statistics to national authorities, • Quality assurance, • Support of the legal operations (contracts with students, tax benefits, etc.), • Develop good relations with the stakeholders, the corporate sector and potential public sector employers • methodology support • Support for the University Departments in integration of lifelong and adult learning methods (including open and distance learning as well as e-learning) in the higher education context • information and promotion/marketing • provide information and promote the LLL developments, within the University • marketing of the continuing/adult training offers Bratislava, Sept.10.2009. - Lifelong Learning - BME, Budapest

10. The institutional service system at BME (integrated into faculties) • Principle of organization and management: centralized governance – decentralized execution • Service and resource centreapproach to continuing-lifelong-adult education:„Center for Learning Innovation and Adult Learning” • Institute for Continuing Engineering Education:the first such European institution (1939, 70th Anniversary this year!) • Financing: Market based, self-sustaining approach, generating income for the university. Increasing significance of EU (co-)funded projects. Bratislava, Sept.10.2009. - Lifelong Learning - BME, Budapest

11. Examples of EU Projects at BME in support of Lifelong Learning implementation • HEXTLEARN Higher Education exploring ICT use for Lifelong Learning EU Lifelong Learning Programme • MASSIVE Modelling Advice and Support Services to Integrate Virtual Component in Higher Education EU E-learning Programme Service areas: • University Strategies towards the integration of ICT in the teaching and learning practice • Evolution of University Libraries • Management of Intellectual Property Right issues • Support to teaching staff • Support to students • Development of online courses (Instructional Design) Bratislava, Sept.10.2009. - Lifelong Learning - BME, Budapest

12. Life Long Learning with open & distance learning in Hungarya historical perspective • EU directives and support to establish open & distance learning • Network of distance learning centres ( in the 90’s) created • International (EDEN = European Distance Education Network – office at BME) and National committees • Private distance learning university (Gabor Denes College) with early success (financial) Bratislava, Sept.10.2009. - Lifelong Learning - BME, Budapest

13. After the early open learning activities and some success in the private sector the real break-through did not happen at „classical” universities • New educational technologies and methods are spreading, but mainly as sole initiatives of teachers • The traditional higher educational institutions do not support the idea • The market is small ( Distances, population in Hungary are small, so the demand for distance learning is small (not like in the Nordic countries for example) Bratislava, Sept.10.2009. - Lifelong Learning - BME, Budapest

14. Lifelong learning strategy of BME The main principles: • BME’s first priority is to support all activities strenghtening its activities as a research university. • The continuing vocational training has priority over general lifelong learning courses • To offer courses based on the demand of enterprises, which often involves up-to-date, new technologies, enriching the regular engineering training Bratislava, Sept.10.2009. - Lifelong Learning - BME, Budapest

15. The life-long learning of the teaching staff and any such related activity is encouraged which improves the quality of education • Engineering education is heavily based on hands on training, procedures, tools, and materials. Therefore distance learning can only be a useful addition, can not be used as a complete training method. Bratislava, Sept.10.2009. - Lifelong Learning - BME, Budapest

16. 2010 Budapest – Pécs, Hungary You are cordially invited to our next discussion in Budapest and Pécs( Europe’s Culture Capital in 2010) September 16-18, 2010 Bratislava, Sept.10.2009. - Lifelong Learning - BME, Budapest

17. BUDAPEST Bratislava, Sept.10.2009. - Lifelong Learning - BME, Budapest

18. PÉCS Bratislava, Sept.10.2009. - Lifelong Learning - BME, Budapest

19. Thank You for your attention !2010 – 100 years , Central Building Bratislava, Sept.10.2009. - Lifelong Learning - BME, Budapest