For EUCIS-LLL monitoring the implementation of the Erasmus+ programme is of crucial importance to verify that application procedures are as user-friendly as possible and to assess how the programme can be improved for an even better experience from next year on. On 28 May 2014 EUCIS-LLL launched a consultation within its constituency on the new Erasmus+ programme. On 25 June 2014, we received 52 responses from which we based the following report (see also consultation summary and recommendations). The analysis was discussed with EUCIS-LLL members and partners, the European Commission and the EACEA on 30 June 2014. Read also our recommendations after the survey and the meeting.EUCIS-LLL third CB4LLP Fair
The Capacity-Building for Lifelong Learning Programme (CB4LLP) project aims at exploiting successful projects’ outcomes by policy makers and other stakeholders at various levels in setting up policies, strategies and actions by creating and promoting new capacity-building methodologies (i.e. providing gateways to project databases, organising workshops). To promote the initiative, EUCIS-LLL organised its third Capacity-Building Fair on 30 June 2014 in its new premises to raise awareness of various civil society stakeholders on the advantages of the CB4LLP method. Many participants signed up as capacity-builders on the project website and had the occasion to discover the final CB4LLP guidebook. If you want to know more about this great initiative, you can visit the project website, EUCIS-LLL project webpage or see the project presentation.CB4LLP International Conference // 16-19 September, Athens (Greece)
EUCIS-LLL is a member of Capacity Building for Lifelong Learning Programme project (CB4LLP), that is supported by the Lifelong Learning Programme. It will take part in the CB4LLP International Conference that will held in Athens on 16-19 September to wrap up the project. The conference will mainly deal with lifelong learning key policy areas discussed from different perspectives by multilevel actors such as decision makers, local development agencies and professionals. If you want to join us, you can now see the full program and register.EUCIS-LLL new position on ET2020 review: striving for a more social Europe
2014 is a turning point for European cooperation in Education and Training: mid-term review of the Europe 2020 strategy, of the Education and Training 2020 Strategic Framework (ET2020), elections of a new Commissioner and Members of Parliament, launch of the EU funded programme Erasmus+ 2014-2020… The mid-term review of ET2020 is of particular importance, as EU institutions will set new political priorities. EUCIS-LLL believes that only comprehensive strategies can bring results in terms of employment, social inclusion and civic participation including important dimensions such as tolerance and intercultural dialogue. We ring the alarm bell in our new position paper to build a more social and cohesive Europe and to reflect this in the revision of ET2020 and more broadly of the Europe 2020 strategy.Building Learning Societies: EUCIS-LLL and other partners met to advance on a European campaign for validation of non-formal and informal learning
“Building Learning Societies” is a project aiming to develop and implement a campaign for the validation of learning outcomes of non-formal and informal learning. On 26 and 27 June, the partners of this project, including EUCIS-LLL, met in Loughborough (UK) in order to make effective progress on the development and promotion of a European campaign on validation, but also draw policy recommendations. The next important meeting of the Building Learning Societies project will be on 14 October when the European Guide for fostering participation and raising awareness on validation of NFIL will be launched. Further information about the project and the partners on SOLIDAR website.
The 2014 EUCEN autumn seminar will address the development of University Lifelong Learning programmes, especially the process of their creation from needs analysis to design. This seminar will aim to be a dialogue between research (thanks to the presence of experts) and practice with active participation, contribution and ideas sharing from participants. Read the programme, the practical information and register.SOLIDAR Resolution: Investing in lifelong learning for Social Justice
In its resolution for Social Justice in Europe and world-wide, SOLIDAR insists on the fact that realising a Social Europe implies investing in education and lifelong learning. SOLIDAR aims to build learning societies in order to fight social exclusion, unemployment and poverty. The organisation notably calls European institutions to recognise and promote the added value of non-formal and informal learning to achieve social equity.EAEA strives for a European Year of Adult Learning
EAEA contacted 18 newly elected MEPs to ask them to share their views on adult education and will keep on advocating for the promotion of adult learning in European Union towards the new Education and Culture Committee of the European Parliament. EAEA will put a particular emphasis on the perspective of a European Year of Adult Learning in the framework of its flagship initiative on adult education launched in 2013.Volonteurope upcoming key events
/// INSTITUTIONAL NEWS ///
Erasmus + welcomed Turkey, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia
On 18 June, Turkey has officially joined the Erasmus + programme like the 28 Member States, Macedonia, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. The day after, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia signed, in the context of the 3rd Ministerial Meeting of the Western Balkans Platform on Education and Training, an agreement for their partial participation in Erasmus + programme. These four Balkans countries will therefore participate in external cooperation activities such as higher education and youth in the fields of mobility and capacity building in the EU. More details about the entries of Turkey and Balkans countries.
Impact of cost-sharing on higher education students’ behaviour
In line with the agenda for the modernisation of Europe’s higher education systems (September 2011), a recent study financed by the European Commission and independent researchers entitled “Do changes in cost-sharing have an impact on the behaviour of students and higher education institutions?” just came out. It reveals that financial support for students is necessary to offset the negative impact of increasing university tuition fees. Moreover, when the increase is too important, one can notice that enrolment of older students in higher education decreases; besides these increases are not always reinvested in learning conditions improvement. However the institution does not make any recommendations. Read also the press release.
TALIS results push European Commission to act for teachers
The new Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) focusing on teachers reveals that more than 80% of teachers in the EU feel undervalued and a third of the interviewed teachers declared that they work in schools with a shortage of qualified teachers. The Commission decided to take action and recommended for instance to the Member States to implement long-term strategies to better train teachers. It is interesting also to compare those results with those of PISA as students seem to perform better where teachers are happier. See all recommendations in the press release and see also the full TALIS report.
EU committed towards education in developing countries through consequent new funding
On 26 June, the European Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs announced significant new funding of €375 million for the Global Partnership for Education to support education in developing countries. This new funding reflects the European Union’s commitment for education in the context of the Agenda for Change. The Commissioner engaged himself to allocate at least 20 percent of EU development aid budget to human development and social inclusion, especially through education programmes. Read the press release for more details.
/// RESEARCH & INNOVATION ///
EU launches the European Tertiary Education Register (ETER)
On 2 July, the EU launched a new transparency tool in the field of higher education: the European Tertiary Education Register (ETER). This new register – which completes the recent U-Multirank programme – concentrates data from 2 250 schools, in the European Union and 8 other countries, and is updated regularly. ETER is financed by the former Lifelong Learning programme (now part of Erasmus+) and aims to help on the one hand policy makers to better manage European higher education systems and on the other hand, to give universities the possibility to compare and cooperate with each other. To know more about this new register, read the press release.
European Commission study and survey: “Adult Learners in Digital Learning Environments”
The European Commission has recently launched a study on Adult Learners in Digital learning Environments. The starting point of this study is a survey concerning the use of ICT and Open education resources (OER) by adult learning providers. The survey results will be discussed during European policy debates and will serve as a basis for reflection on adult learning policies and practices, and on Erasmus+ targets. To contribute, you can fill in the survey here.
On 30 June the Eurydice network published a new report entitled “Financing Schools in Europe: Mechanisms, Methods and Criteria in Public Funding”. This report based on funding flows national diagrams aims to highlight primary and secondary education funding systems features. To this extent, the report provides an analysis of different authority levels actions, methods and criteria to determine the level of resources for school education funding. Go further with the full report and see the main highlights.LLinE study: Learning and adult education in conflict situations
The new issue of LLinE marks the centenary of the beginning of the First World War and deals primarily with learning and adult education in conflict situations, with the aim of learning from the past and history to avoid similar situations in the future, peace being always a learning process. This study is a result of about ten contributors and is articulated on three stages from conflict prevention to reconciliation. Read the full issue./// FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES ///Evens Prize for Peace education 2015: Call for applications
The Evens Foundation has recently announced its Call for applications for the Evens Prize for Peace Education 2015. With this Prize, the Evens Foundations wants to put forwards the initiatives and the practices which awaken and strengthen the social competence of preschool children, focusing on skills that facilitate a constructive attitude towards conflicts. Soon you could find criteria and procedure information in Evens Foundation website./// PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS ///
Public Consultation on Europe 2020
In the framework of the revision of the Europe 2020 strategy, a consultation has been launched by the Commission to collect stakeholders’ views on the lessons learned from the early years of the Europe 2020 strategy and on the elements to be taken into account in its further development, in order to build the post-crisis growth strategy of the EU. Read soon EUCIS-LLL contribution to the consultation. Deadline 31 October 2014.
SALTO-YOUTH needs your ideas to improve Inclusion and Diversity in Erasmus +
SALTO-YOUTH is a resources center network in the youth field. It notably works in the areas of inclusion and diversity. In the context of the new Erasmus + programme, SALTO-YOUTH gives you the opportunity to make your voice heard and to improve the Inclusion Strategy for Youth in Action. Therefore, if you have ideas to make diversity and inclusion projects more effective in Youth in Action, share your suggestions online here.
