Formation Continue du Supérieur

Lack of support for motherhood hurting women’s career prospects, despite gains in education and employment, says OECD.
Women pay a high price for motherhood, with steep childcare costs, availability or access to such facilities, and taxes deterring many from working more, according to a new OECD report.
Closing the Gender Gap: Act Now says that gains in female education attainment have contributed to a worldwide increase in women’s participation in the labour force, but considerable gaps remain in working hours, conditions of employment and earnings. In OECD countries men earn on average 16% more than women in similar full-time jobs. At 21%, the gender gap is even higher at the top of the pay scale, suggesting the continued presence of a glass ceiling. Even though there has been progress in narrowing the gender gap in pay, especially in employment, this is not enough and much remains to be done in many countries.
"Closing the gender gap must be a central part of any strategy to create more sustainable economies and inclusive societies,” OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría said at the launch of the report at the OECD Gender Forum in Paris. “The world’s population is ageing and this challenge can only be mastered if all the talent available is mobilised. Governments should make further progress in the access and quality of education for all, improve tax and benefits systems, and make childcare more affordable, in order to help women contribute more to economic growth and a fairer society."
Country notes are available for Austria, Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.

IMHE current and past activities
The Assessment of Higher Education Learning Outcomes (AHELO)
The OECD is carrying out a feasibility study for the assessment of higher education learning outcomes. The purpose of this feasibility study is to see if it is practically and scientifically feasible to asses what students in higher education know and can do upon graduation. Secretariat contact: ahelo@oecd.org.
Innovation, Higher Education and Research for Development (IHERD)
The IHERD Programme comprises two sub-Programmes: i) research and innovation policy; and ii) higher education governance and institutional management. The OECD Programme on Higher Education and Research for Development (IHERD) is supported by a four-year voluntary contribution from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).
Higher Education in Regional and City Development
Higher education institutions make a significant contribution to economic, social and cultural development in their regions. In 2004-07, OECD conducted a review of higher education in 14 regions in 12 countries that resulted in recommendations for HEIs, as well as for national and regions governments. In 2008-11 the OECD conducted Reviews of Higher Education in Regional and City Development in 14 regions within the OECD, as well as emerging economies. The third round is now ongoing. Secretariat contact: Jaana Puukka (jaana.puukka@oecd.org).
Managing Internationalisation
IMHE also examines how the increasingly global nature of higher education is changing the ways in which institutions view their role and mission, and how that affects the way they work. Secretariat contact: imhe@oecd.org.
Supporting Quality Teaching in Higher Education
The project on quality teaching in higher education is designed to highlight effective quality initiatives and mechanisms and to encourage reflection or practices that may help institutions to improve the quality of their teaching and thereby, the quality of their graduates. The project is composed of 2 phases: an overview based on initiatives taken by 29 institutions (completed) and an exploration of approaches to quality teaching at institutional level (completed). This project has produced two publications. The latest report is available here. Secretariat contact: imhe@oecd.org.
"What Works" in Higher Education Management
Under this heading, IMHE arranges a series of international events on different aspects of institutional management. The events are designed to assist members of the Programme by reviewing current policy and practice and by disseminating examples of successful innovation. Secretariat contact: imhe@oecd.org.
Related Documents
Nos activités - Gestion des établissements d'enseignement supérieur (IMHE).

On 13 December, the closing ceremony for the European Year 2012 in Ireland provided a forum for identifying how to keep active ageing and solidarity between generations on the national agenda, while encouraging dialogue on related issues of policy and research.
As part of proceedings, Virpi Timonen and Rose Anne Kenny, of TILDA, the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, revealed important information on caring, intergenerational solidarity and healthy ageing. Robert Anderson, of Eurofound, discussed the "Quality of life and employment of older people: Ireland in the EU", and Maureen Gaffney presented "A new paradigm on ageing. Finally, Kathleen Lynch, Minister of State for Disability, Equality, Mental Health and Older People, highlighted what has been achieved during the Year and the way forward, saying that "This European Year has consolidated a fresh perspective on ageing, which sees the later years as a time of new beginnings and of new possibilities, as a time for active citizenship, for participation, for learning new skills, developing new hobbies and interests and even finding hidden talents".
A review of some of the activities and achievements from the Year, which provided new ways of thinking about how to promote active ageing and intergenerational solidarity, concluded the ceremony held in Dublin. It is hoped that these will ensure that the ripple effects of the European Year will endure well into the future and that its legacy will move Ireland closer to being a good country in which to grow older in the years ahead.
Picture gallery of the event. Click here to browse through a selection of EY2012-related initiatives in Ireland. For more information about the European Year 2012 in Ireland you may visit this website.

The German Anti-discrimination Agency (ADS) has declared 2012 the Year Against Age Discrimination. Under this framework, an Experts Committee presided by Dr. Henning Scherf has been working in the last months to present a series of concrete actions and recommendations to reduce age discrimination in Germany.
These recommendations were presented by the committee on December 4th in Berlin. The document, entitled "Jointly against discrimination: For a fair participation of the younger and older people", has been prepared by experts from social organisations, unions and the academic world under the scientific guidance of Gerontology professor Dr.Gerhard Naegele. Among other suggestions, the Experts Committee advises German authorities, companies and organisations to reduce age limits in volunteering, as well as to reassess age-related wage limits. They also recommend eliminating individual supplementary income limits for early pensioners.
"The topic of age discrimination is still not visible to many. However, the recommendations show that this has to change" said Christine Lüders from the German Anti-discrimination Agency, who appeals stakeholders to implement the proposals.
According to a survey commissioned by the ADS, every fifth German (21 percent) has experienced age discrimination. The Experts Committee’s recommendations may be downloaded here (in German). More information about the ADS Year Against Age Discrimination available at www.im-besten-alter-immer.de.

The closing conference of the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations in France that took place on 17-18 December at the Palais des Congrès in Paris was a great success. The event brought together nearly 200 people during a day and a half.
From the opening, strong emphasis was placed on the importance of the transfer of skills and mutual benefits from experiences related to active ageing. One of the conference's recurrent themes was the generation contract (contrat de génération) commitment that the new government took during the presidential campaign, and which was presented at the opening by Emmanuelle Wargon, Delegate General for Employment and Vocational Training, This new initiative allows the hiring, under permanent contract, of young people who will be accompanied by a senior himself kept in his job until his retirement. This ambitious initiative aims at 500,000 beneficiaries: 250,000 young people and 250,000 seniors.
The role of companies was particularly in the spotlight during the event as another part of the agenda was devoted to the presentation of the Trajectoire Trophies, awards which recognise companies implementing action plans for seniors. In addition, a series of workshops led to a reflection on the central themes of the campaign:

• Ageing Well, how to improve the prevention of loss of autonomy?
• The adaptation of society with an ageing population, a necessary condition for age management.
• Associations, obligatory stakeholders in active ageing
• What are the challenges of work for all ages?
• How new technologies can improve the living conditions of the elderly?
• Coordination and partnerships, a leverage for the players in active ageing

Ralph Jacob, Head of Unit from the European Commission DG Employment, and Jean-Pierre Bultex, Vice President of AGE Plateforme Europe, contributed to the event. Finally, after the presentation of various ministers from other Member States, which allowed a comparison of practices in the EU, Michèle Delaunay, French Minister Delegate for Elderly People and Adult Care, conducted the closure of the event, recalling the importance given by the government to issues of active ageing.
Picture gallery of the event. Click here to browse through a selection of EY2012-related initiatives in France. For more information about the European Year 2012 in France you may visit this website.

Resource Pack
Europe's coming of age: Europeans are now living longer than ever before with significant implications for the sustainability of pensions, economic growth and the future labour supply. The increased lifespan, on average 8-9 years more than in 1960, is great news  - particularly if accompanied by more years in good health - but also poses many questions for individuals, their families and social systems. How long do I need to work? Can I even afford to retire? Does society recognise my contribution in providing care and volunteering?
Conditions at work - what needs to change in the workplace to keep older workers
For most people work is not only a source of income but also an important aspect of their personal identity and their social life. When workers grow older, the positive elements of work often retain their importance, but for many it becomes more difficult to do their jobs. The latest findings from the European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS 2010) provide some good news in this respect: they show that the percentage of workers in the EU27 that think they will be able to do their current job at the age of 60 has risen marginally from 57% in 2000 to 59% in 2010.
Working after retirement - a growing phenomenon
Over the past five years employment rates among workers aged 65 to 74 years increased by 15% in the EU27 (Eurostat, 2011). Most people in this age group are pensioners, demonstrating that it has become more common for pensioners to take on paid employment. There are two reasons why pensioners are increasingly involved in paid work. First, many want to work. This group sees work as a way to contribute to society, to be in contact with others, and to keep active. Improved health among pensioners has contributed to the growth of this group. Second, many pensioners need to work. For them, income after retirement from state pensions, occupational pensions, accumulated savings and other sources is just too low.
Impact of the recession - older workers are less affected
Keeping older employees in the workforce for longer has been at the heart of national and European policies since the late 1990s. These policies have had an impact. Employment rates for older workers aged 55 to 64 have increased considerably over the last ten years, from 38% to 47% (Eurostat, 2000–2010). Recessions tend to hit younger workers especially hard, and this recession has been no exception. However, Eurofound research reveals that employment of older workers in the EU has increased in all types of jobs, and especially in the health, education and social work sectors.
Demographic change - its impact on Europe
Europeans are living longer than ever before, nearly ten years more than in 1960. The increased lifespan is great news but also poses many questions for individuals, their families and social systems. Other demographic developments reinforce the challenges: fewer children are being born, which means fewer people are paying into state pension and healthcare systems, and there is a smaller pool of potential carers. Europe's population growth is still fuelled mainly by immigration. Non-EU citizens have been joining EU countries at a rate of one to two million per year and intra-EU mobility has also increased. By 2060 the proportion of migrants and their descendants will have doubled (Eurostat, 2011).

The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) held a public meeting on December 11-12, 2012 at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC. NACIQI is the advisory body that provides recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of Education on the recognition of accrediting organizations.

Accrediting organizations scheduled for review during the two-day meeting were:

Petitions for Renewal of Recognition of Accrediting Organizations

• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
• American Physical Therapy Association, Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
• American Veterinary Medical Association, Council on Education
• Liaison Committee on Medical Education
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities

Compliance Reports

• Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools
• American Board of Funeral Service Education
• Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation
• Distance Education and Training Council
• Midwifery Education Accreditation Council
• Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education
• North Central Association of Colleges and School, The Higher Learning Commission

Staff reports are available on the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) Website. Of the 13 non-governmental accrediting organizations before the committee, six were presenting petitions for renewal of recognition and seven were presenting compliance reports for renewal of recognition. The committee followed staff recommendations in most cases. A summary of the committee's deliberations will likely be posted to the NACIQI Website later this winter.

EU-DRIVERS. Universities and Regional Innovation: A Toolkit to Assist with Building Collaborative Partnerships. 2012. Brussels: European Centre for Strategic Management of Universities

IAU-ACUP. Report on the International Seminar on Innovative Approaches to Doctoral Education and Research Training in sub-Saharan Africa. 2012.
This document reports on the outcomes and recommendations that were issued at the Seminar on Doctoral Education and Research Training in Sub-Saharan Africa, co-organised by the International Association of Universities (IAU) and the Catalan Association of Public Universities (ACUP). Hosted by the Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction and City Development (EiABC) at Addis Ababa University, the seminar took place on July 12th and 13th, 2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The report summarises the suggested steps for future action to improve doctoral education in Africa. These outcomes were presented in San Juan during the IAU General Conference.
For more information, follow this link.

The charter is made up of a commitment document and two operational tools which are specific to higher education
The first Charter on Biodiversity in Higher Education and Research Institutions was presented On 17 October 2012, during the annual meeting on sustainable development of the Rectors' Conference of Universities (CPU) and the Conference of Grandes Ecoles (CGE).
The objectives of the Charter are well beyond the simple ecological management areas of the campus, and the tools allow the participating institutions to voluntarily go further by addressing all aspects relating to biodiversity.
The operational tools for the Charter come from CPU, CGE and other consultations conducted with members of Sustainable Development commissions.
Institutions have until the end of the year to amend the draft charter.
For more information, follow this link.