This event is on 7 July 2014

This event is on 3 April 2014

This event is on 13 February 2014

This month EUCIS-LLL took part in a focus group organised by the MENON network in the framework of the EU-USR project. The initiative, focused on Comparative Research on University Social Responsibility in Europe and Development of a Community Reference Framework, was conceived as a response to the policy priority of the European Commission about the need for a common social responsibility strategy for all European universities. In this context, the EU-USR project creates a European model to enhance social responsibility of universities in a long-term perspective. To this end, the project uses a bottom-up approach which starts from some leading EU universities in the field of USR. EU-USR supports the achievement of a European Area of Higher Education by developing of a common European Framework for Universities Social Responsibility. EUCIS-LLL notably provided expertise on the project Manifesto that should be soon released and precise the consortium objectives.

Claudio Dondi, vice-president of the MENON Network (European innovation and research network member of EUCIS-LLL) intervened in a public hearing (see intervention summary) organised by the Committee on Culture and Education in the European Parliament on new technologies and open educational resources (read also the EP draft report). The hearing follows up on the release of the Commission’s Communication on “Opening Up Education” last September, foreseeing many actions to be undertaken in 2014 in the field of digital learning. Claudio Dondi welcomes the Communication’s holistic approach and recommended that the political ambition should be supported by adequate policy instruments. He took up on key elements of EUCIS-LLL position on the issue i.e. the crucial role of teachers, and underlined the importance of networks such as the Platform to mobilise Member States in a bottom up approach through grassroots stakeholders. See also EAEA position in reaction to the Communication.

SOLIDAR has released a briefing paper on “Empowering people through non-formal and informal learning”, gathering many innovative good practices from the network and policy recommendations which value non-formal and informal learning as a tool to empower people, so that they fully participate in society in a democratic, social, economic and cultural way. See also SOLIDAR project on “Building Learning Societies: Promoting Validation of Non-formal and Informal Learning” partnering EUCIS-LLL and EUCIS-LLL task force on validation and related documents.

On 27 January the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) and the German Institute for Adult Education (DIE) organised in the European Parliament a policy debate hosted by MEP Mitro Repo (S&D, FI) to present the research results of the BeLL – Benefits of Lifelong Learning project showing why investing in adult education makes good sense for individuals, communities and economies as a whole (see also LLinE article). The project outcomes were also linked to PIAAC results and in this line, policy-makers, project partners and key educational stakeholders reflected on how to invest in and increase the visibility of adult education on the European political stage. See the media release on the event and take the opportunity to visit the new EAEA website!

In November 2013 EUCIS-LLL joined several civil society organisations in a common effort to reflect on a new European Convention in particular and European democracy in general, coordinated by European Movement International. EUCIS-LLL President David Lopez was elected to be part of the Alliance Steering Committee. EUCIS-LLL also attended the inaugural meeting of Democracy International’s Citizens Campaign for a democratic EU Convention, complementary initiative to the Civil Society Alliance, and will follow up on both initiatives in the next months.

DG EAC has made public its evaluation plan from January 2014, which includes the revision of key legal documents in the field of education and training. The evaluation of the Strategic Framework for European Cooperation in Education and Training (ET2020) has for instance already begun and will last until the end of 2014. From this month on the Commission will also work on a study on efficiency of investment in education and training, which should help to strengthen the implementation of ET2020, the Europe 2020 Strategy and the 2012 Communication on “Rethinking Education”.

The Greek Minister of Education Konstantinos Arvanitopoulos presented on 21 January in front of the Parliament Committee for Culture and Education the Greek presidency priorities in the field of education and training for the next semester (members only: see EUCIS-LLL infonote). He put a special emphasis on ensuring quality at all levels of education and training. In line with the Lithuanian presidency that had shed light on leadership in education, the Greeks will keep on focusing on the pedagogical team with particular attention to teacher training (initial education, recruitment criteria, high performance). The Minister also mentioned many times the importance of equality, social cohesion and inclusion (especially among young people) and the need for a humanistic approach to education. See full broadcast.