European Civil Society Platform on Lifelong Learning – EUCIS-LLL
Newsletter #53 – FEBRUARY 2013
/// EUCIS-LLL NEWS ///
EUCIS-LLL at the EESC hearing on Rethinking Education
Last 5th of February the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held a public hearing on the Communication from the Commission “Rethinking Education: Investing is skills for better socio-economic outcomes”. Joke van der Leuuw-Roord, EUCIS-LLL Vice-President, participated in the panel discussion and gave a presentation about the platform’s main concerns and suggestions to this strategic initiative. She particularly invited EU institutions to adopt a broader, more ambitious and forward-looking strategy that would cover formal, non-formal and informal learning in a life-wide and learner-centred approach. Have a look also at EAEA, ESSOBU and AEGEE positions on Rethinking Education.
Erasmus for All Stakeholders’ Coalition – state of play & future steps
The Coalition of European Stakeholders, led by EUCIS-LLL in partnership with the European Youth Forum, met on 6 February 2013 at EUCIS-LLL premises to analyse the latest policy developments and decide on further advocacy actions in view of the upcoming trialogue negotiations on the Erasmus for All / YES Europe programme. They agreed on pursuing their advocacy joint actions at European and national level and on reviewing their suggestions on improving administrative and management simplification included in the Coalition position paper of March 2012.
Save the date! 14th of May EUCIS-LLL Annual Conference 2013, Vilnius
“Rethinking Learning: Transversal competences in the spotlight” will be the theme of EUCIS-LLL’s next Annual Conference that will take place on 14 May in Vilnius, Lithuania and be followed by our General Assembly on 15 May. It aims to create a debate around the concept and role of transversal competences in the framework of the European strategy on “Rethinking Education”. During the conference participants will work more specifically on four topics: civic education in the framework of the European Year 2013 on Citizens, digital competences, entrepreneurship skills and learning to learn. Save the date and find soon more details on our website
/// NEWS FROM MEMBERS AND PARTNERS ///
SOLIDAR round table on work-based learning – 5 March 2013
SOLIDAR and EVBB are organising a Round Table on “Promoting Work-Based Learning: Dual Vocational Education and Training (VET) systems – European Experiences” on 5th of March at the European Parliament. This round table will provide an opportunity to VET practitioners, stakeholders and representatives of European Institutions to exchange views on how to equip NEETs with skills matching labour market demands, through promoting work-based learning. You can register for the event here before 22nd of February.
EURASHE’s 23rd Annual Conference – 9 May 2013, Split (Croatia)
“Higher Education – Making the knowledge triangle work”, is the title of EURASHE‘s 23rd Annual Conference, which will take place on 9th of May in Spilt (Croatia). The conference will focus on what we can identified as key features of the Knowledge Triangle, and what this entails for higher education institutions engaged in applied research and experimental developments. Find out more information about the conference here.
International Symposium on Science Education, 10-12 June Helsinki
LUMA, the Finish Science Education Centre, is organising an international symposium on “Environmental Global Challenges in Science Education” on 10th – 12th June 2013 in Helsinki, Finland. The symposium is addressed to science teachers from elementary to senior high school level, prospective teachers, teacher educators and researchers in science education. It will be based on plenary lectures, hands-on activities, and poster and discussion sessions. For more information see the website.
/// INSTITUTIONAL NEWS ///
European Council agreement on the EU Budget 2014-2020: Erasmus for All cut, but still increased compared to previous budget
Last 8th of February the heads of state and government of all EU Member States reached an agreement on the next EU budget for 2014-2020, that for the first time ever will decrease. This has impacted the proposed new programme for education, training, youth and sports – Erasmus for All. Following the conclusions on the Multiannual Financial Framework, the sub-heading where this programme is included (competitiveness) has been cut almost 25% in relation to the Commission proposal. This will mean that, assuming a linear cut, Erasmus for All will get around €14.6bn compared to the initial €19bn. These are of course only initial estimations. The new budget proposal will now be discussed in the European Parliament before it is put to a final vote in a few months’ time, which means that the deal achieved by the heads of government is just the beginning of the process. The Parliament is concerned that the budget is not ambitious enough. In the meantime, the Commission will take into account this new budget allocation proposal and come up with suggestions on how the available funds could be concretely divided among the funding programmes. EUCIS-LLL has been advocating for a substantial increase of the EU budget for education and training, showing the benefits of investing in education and training for growth and jobs.
Education Council: Erasmus for All and education for growth and jobs
On 15 February 2013, the EU’s education ministers adopted Conclusions on investing in education and training, in response to the recent Commission communication “Rethinking Education”. It also held a policy debate on “Education and Skills for Jobs, Stability and Growth“, in the context of the European Semester and in particular the education aspects of the 2013 Annual Growth Survey. The Council also took note of the state of play concerning the proposal for a regulation establishing “Erasmus for All“. The negotiations between the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission will start on 19 February 2013. Since there is significant common ground between the European Parliament’s and the Council’s positions, there are reasonable hopes that an agreement is reached before the summer, which would enable important preparatory work by the Commission to be completed in time for the programme to begin, as proposed, on 1 January 2014. Concerning the European Council agreement on the MFF of 8th of February, the Council highlighted that even though the EU budget has been decreased, the next EU budget for education will experience a substantial increase compared to the MFF 2007-2013.
Commission calls Entrepreneurship education to be boosted…
Entrepreneurial education and training to support growth and business creation is one of three key areas identified for immediate intervention by the European Commission’sEntrepreneurship2020 Action Plan. With this plan, adopted on January 9, the Commission invited Member States to ensure that the key competence “entrepreneurship” is embedded into curricula across primary, secondary, vocational, higher and adult education before the end of 2015.
A Grand Coalition for ICT Jobs and Training
The European Commission in March is due to launch a so-called Grand Coalition for ICT Jobs and Training at a conference in Brussels on 4-5 March. The EU executive is seeking collaboration on industry-led training, assisting labour mobility, certifying skills, improving school and university curriculums, and creating an entrepreneurs friendly environment for start-ups. Such Grand Coalition is itself part of the Commission’s Employment Package and is seeking to capitalise and intensify existing policies, such as the Digital Agenda for Europe, the E-skills Strategy, the Opening Up Education initiative, the Rethinking Education Strategy, the Youth Opportunities Initiative, and the EU Skills Panorama.
/// RESEARCH & INNOVATION ///
Call for Papers & Projects on learning innovation & digital resources
LINQ Conference 2013 on “Learning Innovations and Quality: The Future of Digital Resources” has launched two calls for papers and projects. The conference will take place on the 16th and 17th of May in Rome (Italy). The submission deadline for both calls is Monday, 4th of March 2013.
Call for Papers on open and online education in European Universities
The Open and Flexible Higher Education Conference 2013, which is organised by EADTUon the 24th and 25th of October 2013 in Paris (France), has recently opened an opportunity to publish research papers in the well-established European Journal of Open, Distance and E-Learning (EURODL). Following the latest developments in policymaking and university strategies, this year’s conference scope is about “Transition to open and on-line education in European universities”. The deadline to submit papers is 1st of May 2013.
The Carer+ Digital Competence Framework: mapping and developing carers’ skills
CareNET – Building ICT competencies project is currently finalising a research that will lead to the creation of the Carer+ Digital Competence Framework. This framework will provide care workers and caregivers with a reference tool that will help them assess their digital competence and plan their further development in an organised and outcome-oriented way. The tool will be finalised in the first quarter of 2013 and published in a wiki environment in the Carer+ Portal for all interested stakeholders to use, review and comment.
/// EU FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES ///
Call for Proposals – Tempus IV —- EACEA/35/12
TEMPUS is the European Union’s programme which supports the reform of higher education through international university cooperation in the EU’s surrounding area. Deadline 26 March 2013. See call EACEA/35/12 here.
Call for proposals — Erasmus Mundus Partnerships and promotion of European Higher Education
Deadline 15 April 2013. See call EACEA/38/12 here
Call for proposals for joint mobility and degree projects
The 2012 ICI (Industrialised Countries Instrument)-ECP Call for Proposals supports co-operation with Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea by means of Joint Degree projects (JDP) and Joint Mobility projects (JMP). Such projects should focus on structured exchanges of students and faculty members and notably develop innovative international curricula or student services. Deadline for application is 15th May 2013.
Youth in Action Programme
Application forms for permanent calls for proposals 2013
/// PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS ///
Survey on the performance of the PROGRESS programme
PROGRESS is the EU employment and social solidarity programme established to support the implementation of EU objectives in the fields of employment, social affairs and equality and to contribute to the Europe 2020 Strategy. Its each the European Commission launches an internet-based survey designed to collect data on the performance of the programme. You are invited to participate in the survey by filling out the questionnairewhich should take approximately 15 minutes.
/// AGENDA ///
14-15 May 2013: EUCIS-LLL General Assembly and Annual Conference, Vilnius (Lithuania)
More events on our website!
