26 mai 2012
Brussels in Brief - updates on EU activities
At the Council of the European Union (Education, Youth, Culture and Sport) meeting earlier this month (11 May), ministers reached a “partial general approach” on the proposal for a regulation establishing the Erasmus for All Programme (2014-2020). They also adopted conclusions “on the employability of graduates from education and training” which include the establishment of a European benchmark.
Erasmus for All
The Council of the EU (EU member states) agreed on 11 May a partial general approach on the proposal for a regulation establishing the Erasmus for All programme for the period 2014-2020, for which the European Commission proposes a significant increase in funding compared to the current budget. Discussions however did not broach the proposed overall Erasmus for All budget, which will be debated during the ongoing negotiations on the EU multiannual financial framework.
The European Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou welcomed the fact that there had been a ‘broad consensus’ on the major programme points, that they had been able to focus on European added value and that the ministers had confirmed the key programme action areas. The Council nevertheless introduced some changes in the Commission’s proposal, including the introduction of a separate youth chapter with a separate budget for youth. The European Commissioner believes that the integrated approach of Erasmus for All should be preserved and that the distinction between the youth field and the other parts of the programme was in fact “artificial”. Read more here.
Benchmark on employability of graduates
The Council of the EU also adopted a series of conclusions on the employability of graduates from education and training which aim to establish a European benchmark for identifying those education and training policies which boost the employability of graduates from general education, vocational education and training and higher education, and help to ensure successful transitions from education to work.
The benchmark will measure the share of graduates entering employment within three years of graduating and – on a more qualitative note – will look at the match between educational attainment and the occupations pursued during the first years of employment. More specifically it states that: “By 2020, the share of employed graduates (20-34 year olds) having left education and training no more than three years before the reference year should be at least 82% (as compared to 76.5% in 2010).”
The Council of the EU notes that an assessment of the employability benchmark will be carried out in 2014. Read more here.
European Commission publishes latest Erasmus mobility statistics (2010-2011)
Meanwhile, the European Commission has published its latest figures on the number of students, teachers and other staff in higher education who take part in the Erasmus Programme. According to the figures for 2010-2011, 231 410 European students and 42 813 staff in higher education received Erasmus funding to go abroad for studies, job placements, teaching or training. The EC also noted that the “three most popular destinations for students in 2010-2011 were Spain, France and Germany. Spain also sent the largest number of students abroad, followed by France and Germany.” Read more here.
Erasmus for All
The Council of the EU (EU member states) agreed on 11 May a partial general approach on the proposal for a regulation establishing the Erasmus for All programme for the period 2014-2020, for which the European Commission proposes a significant increase in funding compared to the current budget. Discussions however did not broach the proposed overall Erasmus for All budget, which will be debated during the ongoing negotiations on the EU multiannual financial framework.
The European Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou welcomed the fact that there had been a ‘broad consensus’ on the major programme points, that they had been able to focus on European added value and that the ministers had confirmed the key programme action areas. The Council nevertheless introduced some changes in the Commission’s proposal, including the introduction of a separate youth chapter with a separate budget for youth. The European Commissioner believes that the integrated approach of Erasmus for All should be preserved and that the distinction between the youth field and the other parts of the programme was in fact “artificial”. Read more here.
Benchmark on employability of graduates
The Council of the EU also adopted a series of conclusions on the employability of graduates from education and training which aim to establish a European benchmark for identifying those education and training policies which boost the employability of graduates from general education, vocational education and training and higher education, and help to ensure successful transitions from education to work.
The benchmark will measure the share of graduates entering employment within three years of graduating and – on a more qualitative note – will look at the match between educational attainment and the occupations pursued during the first years of employment. More specifically it states that: “By 2020, the share of employed graduates (20-34 year olds) having left education and training no more than three years before the reference year should be at least 82% (as compared to 76.5% in 2010).”
The Council of the EU notes that an assessment of the employability benchmark will be carried out in 2014. Read more here.
European Commission publishes latest Erasmus mobility statistics (2010-2011)
Meanwhile, the European Commission has published its latest figures on the number of students, teachers and other staff in higher education who take part in the Erasmus Programme. According to the figures for 2010-2011, 231 410 European students and 42 813 staff in higher education received Erasmus funding to go abroad for studies, job placements, teaching or training. The EC also noted that the “three most popular destinations for students in 2010-2011 were Spain, France and Germany. Spain also sent the largest number of students abroad, followed by France and Germany.” Read more here.
Commentaires