Formation Continue du Supérieur

Greece will hold the Presidency of the European Union in the first half of 2014, before handing over reins to Italy on 1 July 2014. It is the fifth time that Greece will hold the EU Presidency since its accession to the European Communities in 1981. 
The main objective is to balance the timetable of fiscal consolidation with the implementation of a substantially enhanced and realistic Compact for Growth and Jobs that can be transformed into a diverse European investment programme, modeled after the cohesion policy, with a focus on employment. Priorities and programme of the Greek Presidency.

This proposal for a Council Recommendation seeks to ensure that traineeships efficiently ease education-to-work transitions and thus increase young people’s employability.
It sets out guidelines that can ensure high-quality learning content and adequate working conditions. It also outlines how the Commission will support Member States’ action through the EU funding framework, the exchange of good practices, and monitoring.
It covers so-called ‘open-market’ traineeships, i.e. traineeships agreed between trainee and a traineeship provider (business, non-profit or government) without the involvement of a third party, generally conducted after completion of studies and/or as part of a job search.
The proposed Recommendation does not address traineeships forming part of academic and or vocational curricula, neither the one which form part of mandatory professional training (e. g.  edicine, architecture etc). Quality Framework for Traineeships.

The Council has adopted the regulation establishing "ERASMUS +", the Union Programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport for the period 2014-2020. 
It brings together in a single programme activities previously covered by a number of separate programmes (including the Lifelong Learning  programme, Erasmus Mundus and Youth in Action) and it also covers activities in the new area of European competence, sport. 
The new programme has a total budget of about €14.7 billion which represents an increase of 40% compared to the precedent budget. Press release.

According to first findings from the OECD survey of adult skills (PIAAC), literacy levels vary across countries and between vocational education and training (VET) and general education graduates at upper-secondary levels. Cedefop is working closely with the OECD on developing indicators for the survey to measure development and use of skill.
In a joint workshop on 4-6 December the two organisations examined the findings.
Across all 24 countries (and sub-national regions) participating in the survey the mean literacy score for young adults aged 16-29 whose highest level is vocationally oriented upper-secondary education is 273 out of a possible 500. In some European countries such as Finland or the Netherlands literacy scores are significantly above the OECD mean for this group, while in Spain, Poland and Ireland they are below. More...

LanCook engages with some of the major challenges concerning how to increase foreign language proficiency, motivation and the contribution of language skills in the Europe. It does this by engaging with a diverse range of language learners at the level of instructed language learning and addresses a number of well-known problems within that setting, namely:
- that students in classrooms are rehearsing foreign languages, rather than actually using the language to carry out actions and,
- that it is difficult to bring foreign culture to life in the classroom.
LanCook does this by developing technologically-enhanced language learning materials. The materials will enable learners to practice and learn aspects of the selected foreign languages whilst performing meaningful real-world tasks and experiencing the cultural aspects cooking a foreign dish.
Cooking is a relevant task as there is currently huge interest throughout Europe in cuisine. This is seen in the number of cookbooks which are sold annually and the number and range of cooking-themed programmes on TV. LanCook implements the advantages of task-based learning and uses digital technology outside the classroom setting. Rather than simulating language use inside the classroom, learners in the kitchen are using language to physically carry out a useful and culturally relevant real-world task.
LanCook also engages with many European agendas by promoting language learning, as well as linguistic and cultural diversity, in that our project will provide for the use of 7 different European languages.  The project supports development of innovative ICT for language learning, mobility across EU countries and the integration of migrant language learning. In Finnish and Catalan, our project promotes the acquisition of less-used languages. EU agendas include the Inclusive Growth priority of Europe 2020, Agenda for New Skills and Jobs and Youth on the Move.

Promoting European Language Learning, mobility and collaboration through cooking and technology 
LanCook, short for Learning languages, cultures and cuisines in digital interactive kitchens, is an innovative project which engages with increasing foreign language proficiency, motivation and the contribution of language skills in the EU. The project does this through a combination of cooking, technology and language learning and involves a committed partnership of language teaching and learning experts and enthusiasts from Finland (University of Helsinki), Germany (University of Paderborn), Italy (The University of Modena and Reggio Emilia), Spain (Universitat Autònoma of Barcelona) and the UK (Newcastle University). More...

Erasmus+ aims at boosting skills and employability, and modernising Education, Training and Youth work. The seven year programme will have a budget of €14.7 billion. This represents a 40% increase compared to current spending levels and shows the EU's commitment to investing in these areas. 
Erasmus+ will provide opportunities for over 4 million Europeans to study, train, gain work experience and volunteer abroad. In addition to providing grants for individuals, Erasmus+ will support transnational partnerships among Education, Training and Youth institutions and organisations to foster cooperation and bridge the worlds of Education and work in order to tackle the skills gaps we are facing in Europe. It will also support national efforts to modernise Education, Training and Youth systems. In the field of Sport, there will be support for grassroots projects and cross-border challenges such as combating match-fixing, doping, violence and racism. 
Erasmus+ brings together seven existing EU programmes in the fields of Education, Training and Youth; it will for the first time provide support for Sport. As an integrated programme, Erasmus+ offers more opportunities for cooperation across the Education, Training and Youth sectors and is easier to access than its predecessors, with simplified funding rules.
L'appel à propositions Erasmus+ 2014 est publié 
La base légale et l'appel à propositions 2014 ont été publiés le 12 décembre 2013. 
Retour sur les dernières étapes qui ont conduit à l'adoption d'Erasmus+  :

Nelson Mandela is already one of the giants of history. The International Association of Universities expresses its sorrow upon his passing; he leaves humanity with a huge legacy. Nelson Mandela embodies integrity, courage and an undying commitment to justice and equality of all peoples. We join all South Africans and people all over the globe in celebrating his life and his achievements! Rest in peace Mandela!