Less than one month left for EUCIS-LLL Annual Conference 2013!
The next EUCIS-LLL Annual Conference on “Rethinking Learning: Transversal competences in the spotlight” is approaching ! Its aim is to create a debate around the concept and role of transversal competences in the framework of the European strategy on “Rethinking Education”, with notable speakers such as Pierre MAIRESSE(DG EAC), Alistair ROSS (London Metropolitan University) or Pavel TRANTINA (EESC). Genoveita KRASAUSKIENE, Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Education and Science, will welcome the participants. The Conference will take place on 14 May in Vilnius, Lithuania. Find all details on our website.
Rethinking Education in the spotlight
On 23 April, “Rethinking Education” is to be discussed in the European Parliament by the Committee on Culture and Education (see draft agenda). Aroundtable held by MEP Katarina Nevedalova (S&D), rapporteur for the CULT Committee took place on 26th of March, where David Lopez, EUCIS-LLL General Secretary, defended the platform’s position on a genuine lifelong learning approach and the importance of non-formal and informal learning and transversal competences. Besides, he welcomed that the Communication acknowledged the importance of partnerships and reminded the crucial role played by civil society organisations of all levels. Discover as well the draft opinion of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs.
/// NEWS FROM MEMBERS AND PARTNERS ///
EAEA Conference: “The European Year of Citizens 2013 – The challenges and opportunities for adult learning”
The conference, organised by NIACE (UK National Institute of Adult Continuing Education) and EAEA (European Association for the Education of Adults), explores the wider role of learning for active citizenship across society and European countries through inputs from across the membership of the EAEA. There will be keynote speeches setting the context from academics, policy makers and civil society leaders, alongside practitioner-led workshops. Detailed programme and details on registration can be found on EAEA website. EAEA is also launching a call for projects on intergenerational learning in the framework of the GO-ACT project to collect best practices.
EUCEN: Validation Prize
EUCEN invites all organisations and individuals in Europe working on Validation of Non-formal and Informal Learning (VNIL) to send Case Studies on ‘Bottom Up Approach’, ‘New Profession’ and ‘Work-based Competence Development and Recognition’.
The prize will consist of an invitation to attend the Final Dissemination Event and Award Ceremony in Brussels, 15 October 2013 and a commemorative prize. Find all the information here.
EfVET launches 3 new projects on Vocational Education and Training
ELEVET is a 3-years project to improve mobility of young professionals through the creation of a European system of recognition and transfer of the learning outcomes of VET system in the civil- and the construction sector. Learn more at: www.elevet.sep.com.pl
ENTANGLE is a 2-years project aiming at providing VET teachers with the skills and competences in order to improve the quality of the entrepreneurship training and develop new programmes better adjusted to the business world. Learn more at: www.entangleforvet.eu (soon available)
TAF CITY is a two-year project which aims at developing a training programme to promote ‘The Age Friendly City’. In an age-friendly city, many aspects of life, policies and services take into account the requirements of an older population; these enhancements also assist younger people, families and people with disabilities. Learn more at: http://www.tafcity.eu/
DARE Network selected as best practice for LLL-networks
EUCIS-LLL member DARE network (Democracy and Human Rights Network) has been selected by the E.N.T.E.R. – initiative (European Network for Transfer and Exploitation of EU Project Results) as a role model for successful and sustainable EU funded projects that target on the development of Active European Citizenship. Congratulations! More.
MENON’s report & webinar on Quality Assurance in VET
The report on the conference European Conference on Quality in VET in Brussels last January 17-18 is ready for download. You can now take part in the initiatives MENON is planning in connection with the themes treated in the conference: on April 23rd 2013 between 10 and 12 am CET we will hold awebinar, with Nigel Lloyd as a key speaker on the theme “Feedback asking and giving as a basis for Quality Assurance”. Finally, submit your paper on quality in VET to be included in the book that is being prepared by EFQUEL, see the detailshere.
/// INSTITUTIONAL NEWS ///
Eight EU countries already hit 2020 education goals
The European Commission issues a report on Education based on latest Eurobarometer Results. European countries are making progress in tackling early school leaving and raising higher education attainment – but males are increasingly left behind.
Migrant children and Education
Newly arrived migrant children are more likely to face segregation and end up in schools with fewer resources, according to a new study conducted for the European Commission. This leads to under-performance and a high probability that the children will drop out of school early. The study suggests that Member States should provide targeted educational support for migrant children such as specialist teachers and systematic involvement of parents and communities to improve their integration.
Europass
The European Commission published the Final Report of the Second Evaluation of Europass. The evaluation aimed to analyse the current role of the Europass framework within the current European policy framework and to suggest future developments in synergy with European policies and initiatives.
/// RESEARCH & INNOVATION ///
OECD develops PISA-Based Test for Schools
The OECD has developed a new tool based on its Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) to help individual schools benchmark their students. Intended for assessing 15-year old youngsters, this tool will give teachers a more complete picture of student performance on reading, maths and sciences than normal tests allow so that they can work out the best way to improve results. The European Commission believes that science education is key to innovation, with some 20 million new, high-skilled jobs expected to be created by 2020. Tackling low achievement in those three areas is one of the EU’s 5 key targets for education and training. The aim is that by 2020, less than 15% of 15-year-olds should be classed as ‘low-achieving’ in those basic skills, as measured by PISA tests.
Three Surveys
STAY IN – Student guidance at university for inclusion aims to provide a comprehensive on-going guidance service to students in higher education. You can find the survey here. Filling it in takes cc. 10 minutes.
EDTF Survey – The European Association for People Management (EAPM) and The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) invite you to participate in the 2013 version of the biennial survey “Creating People Advantage: The Future of HR in Europe”. The survey is the largest and most comprehensive of its kind worldwide.
Step4All – Take 10 min of your time to answer the survey of the STEP4Allpartnership, aiming to create a network of VET stakeholders with the purpose of promoting transnational cooperation for a better access to European funds.
Call for contributions: 8th European Quality Assurance Forum in Higher Education
The 8th European Quality Assurance Forum (EQAF) will take place at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, on 21-23 November 2013. This year the Forum will specifically explore how both individuals and organisations can better understand the role that quality assurance can play in their daily lives, get engaged and work together to take quality forward. The Forum organisers, ENQA, ESU, EUA and EURASHE, have now opened a call for contributions(papers and workshops) until 2 August 2013.
A collection of selected contributions from the 7th Forum is now available in a new publication.
Cedefop’s latest publications
- Briefing Note “Quality: a requirement for generating trust in qualifications”
Latest InfoNet Adult Education newsletter is out
The latest InfoNet Adult Education newsletter is out with articles on Youth unemployment, Quality assurance in qualifications frameworks , Teaching and Handicap in the Czech Republic and The “Second Chance”– Systemic development of elementary practice based adult education.
/// EU FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES ///
Call for Proposals — Youth in the world: Cooperation with countries other than the neighbouring
Action 3.2 — Youth in the world: Cooperation with countries other than the neighbouring – EACEA/10/13. Application open until May 14.
Application open for higher education institutions to participate in Erasmus for All
You are a higher education institution and you want to participate in the new EU Programme for education, training, youth and sports 2014-2020? Apply now for the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education, valid for the full duration of the new programme (2014-2020).
Do not miss the deadline of 15th May 2013 or you will not be able to receive funding in the first year of the programme (i.e. the academic year 2014/2015). All relevant information can be found here.
Call for proposals for joint mobility and degree projects
The 2012 ICI (Industrialised Countries Instrument)-ECP Call for Proposalssupports co-operation with Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea by means of Joint Degree projects (JDP) and Joint Mobility projects (JMP). Deadline for application is May 15 2013.
Call for proposals – Intra-ACP academic mobility scheme
Projects under this call for proposals should be aimed at increasing cooperation between higher education institutions in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific to improve access to quality education in those regions and the attractiveness of those institutions. The broader objective is to promote sustainable development and combat poverty through skills upgrade and human capital investment. Deadline for application is 10 June 2013.
Youth in Action Programme
Application forms for permanent calls for proposals 2013
/// PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS ///
Entrepreneurship 2020 Action Plan
The Committee of the Regions organises a stakeholder consultation with the Rapporteur Mr Pawel Adamowicz on the “Entrepreneurship 2020 Action Plan”, Monday 22 April between 2.30 p.m. and 4.00 p.m. in the Committee of the Regions building.
/// AGENDA ///
14-15 May 2013: EUCIS-LLL General Assembly and Annual Conference, Vilnius (Lithuania).
More events on our website!
