Social Dimension and Lifelong Learning

Working Group on the Social Dimension and Lifelong Learning
Composition
Armenia, Austria, Belgium/Flemish Community, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Norway, Romania, United Kingdom, Ukraine, EC, EI, EUA, EURASHE.
Reference to the Bucharest Communiqué
(With reference to the sections of the Communiqué on “Providing quality higher education for all”, “Enhancing employability to serve Europe’s needs” and “Setting out priorities for 2012-2015”)
In the Bucharest Communiqué, in undertaking to provide quality higher education for all, EHEA Ministers observed, “…widening access to higher education is a precondition for societal progress and economic development. We agree to adopt national measures for widening overall access to quality higher education. We will work to raise completion rates and ensure timely progression in higher education in all EHEA countries…”
Ministers also re-confirmed the declared objective of the social dimension as already outlined at the London and Leuven/Lovain-la-Neuve Ministerial Communiqués – that the student body entering and graduating from higher education institutions should reflect the diversity of Europe’s populations.
Ministers also agreed to step up their efforts towards underrepresented groups to develop the social dimension of higher education, reduce inequalities and provide adequate student support services, counselling and guidance, flexible learning paths and alternative access routes, including recognition of prior learning.
In setting out the specific priorities for 2012-2015, the Ministers committed to strengthening policies of widening overall access and raising completion rates, including measures targeting the increased participation of underrepresented groups. The Ministers also undertook to develop a system of voluntary peer learning and reviewing by 2013 in countries which request it and initiate a pilot project to promote peer learning on the social dimension of higher education.
The Ministers further committed to enhance the employability and personal and professional development of graduates throughout their careers. In that regard, they asserted that lifelong learning (LLL) is one of the important factors in meeting the needs of a changing labour market, and acknowledged that higher education institutions play a central role in transferring knowledge and strengthening regional development, including by the continuous development of competences and reinforcement of knowledge alliances.
Overarching aims of the working group
- To further support the development of the social dimension of higher education at national and the EHEA level through strengthening policies to widen overall access, raising completion rates and targeting the increased participation of underrepresented groups;
- To assist the EHEA countries in their work to enhance employability and lifelong learning through improved cooperation with relevant stakeholders;
- To work closely with the sponsoring consortium on the development of the pilot project on peer learning for the social dimension of higher education (PL4SD), with a general oversight mandate to further BFUG social dimension goals.
Objectives of the working group
- To mobilise the cooperation of all relevant actors in pursuing efforts to promote greater access, participation and completion rates in higher education for all students.
- To fulfil the Ministerial commitment to adopt national measures for widening overall access to quality higher education by supporting EHEA countries in their work to develop and implement national access plans or strategies.
- To support the development of common approaches in monitoring the implementation of national access plans by elaborating core indicators that may be used for measuring and monitoring the relevant aspects of the social dimension in higher education.
- To promote the development and implementation of institution-level strategies for widening access, targeting the increased participation of underrepresented groups and raising completion rates.
- To support and guide the implementation of a pilot project (PL4SD) to facilitate peer learning on the social dimension of higher education which will assist EHEA countries in developing, implementing and monitoring social dimension policies.
- To contribute to the development of structured peer review processes across EHEA countries and institutions.
- To address the emerging pedagogical and didactical requirements to support the needs of a more diverse student population and improve their completion rates, through practical recommendations on implementing student-centred learning (SCL).
- To address aspect of employability by advancing implementation of Bologna reforms and raising awareness on the purpose of those among stakeholders (including employers).
- To help to identify and set priorities for peer learning and peer review activities concerning the areas of the social dimension and lifelong learning.
Reporting
Minutes of working group meetings will be made available to the BFUG on the protected part of the website (by the Bologna Secretariat). Bologna Secretariat, at the request of the WG Chairs, may circulate relevant updates to the WG members by email.
The BFUG should also receive regular reports and updates from the working group.
To ensure good communication with the BFUG as a whole and for the necessary consultations, progress reports should be submitted at least two weeks before each BFUG meeting.
Meeting Schedule
First meeting Brussels, 13 December 2012
Second meeting Dublin, 17 April 2013
Liaison with other WGs and networks
- Reporting on the Implementation of the Bologna Process WG
- ‘Structural Reforms’ WG
- NESSIE
- RPL Network
Additional remarks
In addition to the objectives above, the working group will also set out a number of explicit tasks, which will contribute to accomplishing its mandate. These will be specific activities designed to realise the objectives set out above in the context of the overarching aims identified by EHEA Ministers in the Bucharest Communiqué. They will also take into consideration the recommendations of the 2012 report of the social dimension working group and the social dimension chapter of the 2012 report on the Implementation of the Bologna Process.
The draft action plan of the working group for 2013-15 can be found in Annex 1. During the meeting on 17th April 2013, the working group will be invited to discuss and approve the draft action plan.
Contact person (Co-Chairs): Karina Ufert – ESU (karina@esu-online.org); Brian Power – Ireland (brian_power@education.gov.ie).
Download Social Dimension and Lifelong Learning Working Group.