The 2014 European elections will provide the right momentum to think about the future of learning in Europe. The current economic and social crisis gave a new impetus to deeper cooperation in education and training with a high focus on growth and employment while at the same time austerity measures have weakened our educational systems. EUCIS-LLL believes that a sustainable investment should be made in learning as essential for our social model, in line with their prioritization at EU level. Poor access to lifelong learning limits people’s ability to access quality jobs and participate fully in society. We need a vision to ensure our education and training systems deliver better for economic development, social and civic participation, personal fulfilment and well-being. EUCIS-LLL calls MEPs to consider three top priorities and a set of 12 policy recommendations for lifelong learning in its Manifesto “Building together the future of Learning”.
The Manifesto
I. Ensure Accessible and Quality Learning for All
Salaires des cadres en 2013 : un tout petit plus
Par Romain Giry. D’après la 11e édition du baromètre Expectra du groupe Randstad, les salaires des cadres en 2013 ne progressent que de 0,5% par rapport à l’année précédente. En cause, notamment, un marché de l’emploi dégradé et une conjoncture économique morose, avec des entreprises qui jouent la carte de la prudence en matière de politique salariale.
L’étude est basée sur les salaires réels extraits de 74 100 fiches de paie. Elle établit que, suite à deux années consécutives de hausse modérée (+2,4 % en 2012 et 2,9 % en 2011), on assiste à un véritable coup de frein en 2013. « La maîtrise des coûts salariaux est plus que jamais de rigueur dans les grands groupes comme dans les PME. Le manque de visibilité pénalise des investissements toujours orientés à la baisse. Lorsque ceux-ci repartiront de l’avant, alors les rémunérations des cadres devraient retrouver un rythme de progression plus favorable », déclare Didier Gaillard, directeur général d’Expectra. Suite...
Gestion des entreprises : le MOOC (cours gratuit en ligne) de la TV des Entrepreneurs débute le 30 novembre
Fort du succès de son MOOC de l’entrepreneuriat, qu’elle a organisé en octobre dernier, la TV des Entrepreneurs, école de formation sur internet, réitère en organisant un MOOC Passeport pour gérer du 30 novembre au 9 décembre 2013.
Les enjeux de la formation à l’organisation et à la gestion sont importants. Il suffit de constater l’augmentation considérable des dépôts de bilans et des plans sociaux pour s’en persuader. Le MOOC Passeportpourgerer, entièrement gratuit, s’adresse à 4 publics : 
les chefs d’entreprises les comptables, responsables administratifs, gestionnaires salariés, les managers responsables de centre de profits ou de services les professeurs, consultants, étudiants, etc.
Inscriptions ouvertes à partir du 4 novembre : MOOC Passeport pour gérer. Article entier...
Formation : l’exemple du système dual allemand
Par R.C. L’employabilité des jeunes est un objectif présent en permanence dans la formation des élèves en Allemagne et tout particulièrement dans le système dual dont la France gagnerait à s’inspirer. Le taux de chômage des jeunes en France, est largement lié au taux extravagant de sortie sans qualification du système éducatif. Si le taux d’accès au niveau IV (baccalauréats) a pu augmenter ces dernières années, c’est en raison de la réforme DARCOS du Lycée professionnel. Toutefois, nombre de baccalauréats professionnels – notamment tertiaires – n’offrent que peu de débouchés à leurs titulaires.
Le problème reste donc entier. Les gouvernements successifs ne s’y sont attaqués que marginalement : en tentant de réformer l’orientation, en autorisant le pré-apprentissage dès 15 ans (« DIMA », supprimé depuis par l’actuelle majorité), en s’efforçant de rendre possible la maîtrise par tous les enfants de 16 ans d’un socle commun de connaissances et de compétences (Loi FILLON), plus récemment en expérimentant le « dernier mot aux parents » en matière de décision d’orientation. Les gouvernements ont aussi tenté de développer l’apprentissage (objectif de la prochaine Loi : 500.000 apprentis en 2017…), dont le taux d’accès à la qualification et à l’emploi est évidemment bien supérieur à ce que peut offrir la formation scolaire initiale. Enfin, l’État a consacré beaucoup d’énergie à la lutte contre le « décrochage scolaire », créant un « système interministériel d’échange d’informations » facilitant le repérage des « décrocheurs ». Mais il s’agit là, une fois encore, de remédier aux effets d’un système dont chacun sait depuis des décennies qu’il fonctionne par éliminations successives, comme une véritable machine de tri social, alors que l’urgence est de prendre le problème à sa racine. Au total, toutes ces politiques ont un point commun : elles sont essentiellement incitatives et laissent intactes les structures et les cursus qui, dans notre pays, amènent inexorablement une partie de notre jeunesse à l’échec.
Sur l’organisation du système éducatif allemand où l’absence de collège unique permet l’orientation précoce dès élèves dès la sortie du primaire (entre 4 cycles différents : les cycles courts, Gesamtschule et Hauptschule, le collège jusqu’à la seconde, Realschule ou le Gymnasium - cursus de la 6ème à la terminale), puis à 14 ans en fonction des résultats obtenus à l’équivalent du Brevet des collèges (Hauptschulabschluss), voir les précédents travaux de la Fondation iFRAP ici et ici. Voir l'article entier...
CNEE : Vers une redéfinition des relations école-entreprise ?
Près de 20% des jeunes quittent chaque année le système scolaire sans diplôme ni qualification ; ces jeunes les moins qualifiés sont aussi les plus menacés par le chômage.
Afin de lutter contre la mauvaise insertion des jeunes sur le marché du travail, Jean-Marc Ayrault et Vincent Peillon ont annoncé, le 18 octobre dernier, la mise en place du Conseil National Éducation Économie (CNEE). Selon les déclarations du ministre de l’Éducation nationale, il sera "chargé d'animer une réflexion prospective sur l'articulation entre le système éducatif et les besoins du monde économique". Au fondement de cette initiative, un enjeu central : (re)connecter les mondes de l'entreprise et de l'école afin de tenter de réconcilier deux univers trop souvent hermétiques ; faire enfin de l'éducation un facteur-clé de la croissance et de la compétitivité de la France. En outre, le ministère insiste sur un point : "il faut aussi que les entreprises s'ouvrent davantage à nos jeunes, qu'on assure davantage d'offres de stages". More...
EQAR: Three new agencies listed on the Register
23 october 2013: At its meeting in Ghent last week, the Register Committee accepted the following agencies to the Register. The Estonian Higher Education Quality Agency (EKKA), the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA, United Kingdom) and the Slovenian Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (SQAA).
The Register now features 32 agencies that have demonstrated to operate in substantial compliance with the European Standard and Guidelines.
European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education
In most European countries, higher education institutions or study programmes are subject to regular external review by a quality assurance agency. The European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR) is a register of such agencies, listing those that substantially comply with a common set of principles for quality assurance in Europe. These principles are laid down in the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance. The register is web-based and freely accessible for everyone. Read more...
Register of QA Agencies
Public call for international experts – Re-accreditation of higher education institutions in Croatia
The Croatian Agency for Science and Higher Education is commencing the re-accreditation of Croatian higher education institutions for the academic year 2013/2014. The procedures will take place between March and May 2014, and include a site visit lasting up to 6 days and peer review of the institutions’ programmes, quality of their teaching and research, as well as the effectiveness of the institutional management.
The review teams ideally include 2 Croatian and 2 foreign experts, supported by a coordinator from the Agency. The language of the procedure is English.
The Croation agency welcomes applications from experts who fit the following profile:
• Teachers at the tertiary level (including teachers at non-university higher education institutions in countries with dual higher education systems)
• Published researchers in the fields of humanities (all fields including philosophy, religion, literature, linguistics, history, art history and philology), social sciences (archaeology, anthropology, psychology, sociology, political science, area studies and cultural studies) and/or applied fields: education (all fields, including teacher training), rehabilitation science, kinesiology, divinity, security and police studies, communication, information science, library and museum studies
• Proficient users of English
• Experience in evaluation procedures is an asset.
The application for the post is to be submitted online by December 10, 2013, via the link here.
The experts to participate in the review teams are appointed by the Agency’s Accreditation Council. The Agency for Science and Higher Education covers all travel and local costs and provides a fee for site visits in the amount of 200€ per day. For more information, please contact ASHE at akreditacija-visoko@azvo.hr
Lifelong Learning Week 2013
This year, the Week will have a particular focus on the upcoming European Elections of Spring 2014. At this occasion EUCIS-LLL will launch its Manifesto for the European elections and many events will take place in order to provide ideas on how to modernise education and training systems in Europe.
Civil Society Meeting Place
Come and meet us! EUCIS-LLL members will have stands from 2 to 6 December at the European Parliament (ASP building, 5th Floor, Zone G). Animations and other activities will be organised during the whole week.
Exhibition
The 10 finalists pictures of EUCIS-LLL contest on “The Future of Learning: Unlocking each and everyone’s unique potential” will be exhibited at the European Parliament (ASP builidnig, 5th Floor, Zone G).
Events
EUCIS-LLL and its members are organising several events during the LLL Week in order to raise awareness on Lifelong Learning in Europe with a particular focus on the upcoming European elections in 2014.
A key moment during the Week will be the launch and discussion of EUCIS-LLL Manifesto for the European elections with representatives of the main political groups at the round table taking place on Tuesday 3rd (9:30-13:00).
OECD’s survey on Adult Learning, European Citizenship Education, Validation of Non-Formal learning, entrepreneurship education, measuring progress on LLL, learning mobility, … are some of the other key topics that will be discussed during the LLL Week.
For an overview of all events taking place during the week, have a look at the LLL Week 2013 calendar.
/// Tuesday 3 December
- 9:30-12:45 Round table on EUCIS-LLL Manifesto “Building together the future of Learning”
- 12:45-13:00 EFIL Flash Mob at the esplanade of the European Parliament
- 15:00-18:00 EAEA Policy debate on PIAAC
- 18:00-20:00 Cocktail reception LLL Week 2013, ASP building, 5th Floor, Zone G.
/// Wednesday 4 December
- 9:00-12:00 EUCIS-LLL and European Civic Forum Seminar “Making the case of European Civic Education” hosted by MEP Renate Weber (ALDE, RO)
- 12:00-14:00 SOLIDAR seminar on Validation of Non-formal Learning
- 15:00-17:00 EfVET round table on Entrepreneurship Education
- 15:00-18:00 EUROCLIO event on “Teaching History for Democratic Citizenship”
/// Thursday 5 December
- 10:00-12:00 EuroMobility workshop on Mobility & Recognition of Non-formal Learning
- 12:00-15:00 EUCIS-LLL Seminar on “Measuring progress in Lifelong Learning”
- AEGEE event on “Pan-European Database & Network for Youth Workers” (tbc)
/// Friday 6 December
- 13:00-19:00 EPA conference 2013: Challenges for Organised Parents in the future of Europe
Lifelong Learning Week - LLL Week 2013
Today, the concept of “lifelong learning” (LLL) is widely used but its meaning differs according to whom is using it. According to EUCIS-LLL, lifelong learning covers education and training across all ages and in all areas of life be it formal, non-formal or informal. It shall enable citizen’s emancipation and full participation in society in its civic, social and economic dimensions. The idea of organising Lifelong Learning Weeks aims to raise awareness on Lifelong Learning (LLL) in Europe and to put forward the need to adopt a holistic approach at all levels of decision-making, implementation and evaluation. This is necessary if we want the EU to become a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy as set in the Europe 2020 strategy.
LLL Week 2013
EUCIS-LLL organises its 3rd Lifelong Learning Week in the European Parliament, Brussels, from 2 to 6 December 2013. This year, the Week will have a particular focus on the upcoming European Elections of Spring 2014. At this occasion EUCIS-LLL will launch its Manifesto for the European elections and many events will take place in order to to provide ideas on how to modernise education and training systems in Europe. Go to the LLL Week 2013 website and check out all the events that will take place on the future of Learning in Europe.
Past Lifelong Learning Week
LLL Week 2012: “Rethinking skills: A civil society perspective”
The aim of Lifelong Learning Week, organised for the first time in 2011 by EUCIS-LLL, is to raise awareness on the social dimension of education and training, as the important factor to reach the headline targets of Europe 2020 in … Learn more
LLL Week 2011: “Different Pathways to Learning”
“Different Pathways to Learning”, Permanent Exhibition, 14-17 March During the Week, EUCIS-LLL and its members organised an exhibition on “Different pathways to learning” within the European Parliament aiming at raising awareness on Lifelong Learning and on the various actors that … Learn more
EUCIS-LLL Manifesto “Building together the future of learning”
Pedagogic Innovation
Encourage pedagogic innovation by putting the learner at the centre. Support enhanced learning experiences and new learning solutions such as e-learning, distance learning and open educational resources.
Quality Assessment
Reflect upon quality, tailored-made assessment and evaluation mechanisms that better reflect the competences acquired during the learning process.
Educators’ working conditions
Advocate to improve teachers, facilitators and trainers’ initial and continuous training as well as their working conditions; offer a better societal recognition of their role, as well as that of other members of the educating community.
Flexible pathways
Support a wider use of European transparency tools and the setting up by 2018 of national validation mechanisms for non-formal and informal learning to foster flexible learning pathways and facilitate access to the labour market.
II. Invest in the Social Dimension of Education and Training
No More Segregation
Recognize the role played by non-formal and informal learning for active inclusion and social cohesion. Fight against the marginalization of vulnerable groups and promote intercultural dialogue and tolerance.
Learning Mobility
Defend the idea that learning mobility should be the rule and not the exception and ensure every one can access programmes regardless of their socio-economic and cultural background.
Key competences and basic skills
Promote the acquisition of basic skills, in particular foreign language skills, as the lack of such skills hinders citizens’ chances of finding a job and participating in society. Refer to the European Key Competences Framework as a basic framework for all educational sectors.
Lifelong guidance
Strengthen and coordinate guidance services from the earliest age, as the learner’s compass to find the best tailored-made learning opportunities at all levels (national, regional, EU).
III. Bring the EU Closer to its Citizens
European Civic Education
Give priority to European civic education to ensure all citizens have a basic understanding about the EU and its common values.
Good Governance
Contribute to the debate about the revision of the governance of EU cooperation in Education and Training (ET2020, Open Method of Coordination; European Semester) and strengthen the engagement of civil society.
Civil dialogue
Acknowledge the role played by European organisations in education and training by implementing an open, transparent and regular dialogue with representative associations and civil society (article 11 TUE). Set up an Intergroup on Lifelong Learning at the European Parliament.
Statute of European Association
Reinitiate the impulse on the setting up of a European Statute for the European Association, giving institutional recognition to the engagement and to the activism of millions of citizens.
Download the Manifesto in PDF
Unite for Quality Education!
On the 4 October 2013, Education International (EI) launched a year of action, an initiative for quality education around the world that will culminate on a World Day of Action in October 2014. EI and ETUCE invite everybody who cares about the education of our children to join forces with us in our call for a ‘Better Quality Education for a Better World’.
