Lene OftedalEuropean CommissionNicosia 22.11.2010

Youth on the Move and the Social Youth on the Move and the Social Dimension of Higher EducationDimension of Higher Education

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1. Introduction: the European policy context

2. Rationale

3. Conclusions

Outline presentation

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• Europe2020 and Youth on the Move

• The Bologna Process

• Education&Training 2020

• Modernisation Agenda for Universities

European Policy Context

What is Youth on the Move?

• An EU “flagship initiative” to respond to the challenges young people face and to help them succeed in the knowledge economy – adopted 15 September 2010

• The EU’s first integrated strategy for young people, embracing both education/training and employment

• One of seven “flagships” in the Europe 2020 strategy for “smart, sustainable and inclusive growth” (launched 03/10, endorsed 06/10)

What is the social dimension?

• equality of opportunities in higher education • access, participation and successful completion of

studies• guidance and counselling • financial support• student participation in higher education governance. • Equal opportunities in mobility, portability of

financial support, removing barriers, and providing incentives.

Youth on the Move

• “Europe’s future depends on its 100 million young people”

• By 2020, 35% of all jobs will require high-level qualifications (today: 29%) = “knowledge economy”

• Too many school leavers (15% of 18-24 year olds have less than upper secondary education)

• Only 31% of EU population have an HE degree (USA: > 40%, Japan: > 50%)

• Youth unemployment is too high: 21%

Youth on the Move

4 Focus areas :

• Lifelong learning and social dimension

• Modernisation of Higher education

• Learning Mobility

• Employability

Early School Leaving

Higher Education Attainment (Age 30-34)

2008 2020

14.9%

10% at most

2008 2020

31%

40% at least

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% 30-34 year olds with HE-degree

Entry rates different groups

E&T 2010

Progress towards meeting the 5 benchmarks (EU average)

-80-70-60-50-40-30-20-10

0102030405060708090

100110120130140

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Year

2010

ben

chm

arks

= 1

00

MST graduates

Lifelong learning participation

Early school leavers

Upper secondary completion

Low achievers in reading

progress required

181

(below 0 = performance getting worse)

Support

• EU competences mean: Open Method of Coordination

• Member States in driving seat (including for funding)

• EU plays facilitating, agenda-setting and benchmarking role

• EU programmes: support mobility + joint projects in support of YoM objectives + Member State activities

• Argument for increased EU resources for 2014-2020 (…..?!)

• http://www.eqavet.eu/gns/news/latest-news/10-09-15/Public_consultation_on_EU_funding_programmes_in_education_training_and_youth.aspx

Why Social Dimension

• Widening access for untraditional students• Second chancers• Upgrade workforce• Personal growth• Active citizenship• New carrier pathways

Participating in LLL per country

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Bologna – Process to push Social Dimension

Bologna ministerial 2009

• The student body within higher education should reflect the diversity of Europe’s populations.

• Access into higher education should be widened by fostering the potential of students from underrepresented groups and by providing adequate conditions for the completion of their studies.

• Each participating country will set measurable targets for widening overall participation and increasing participation of

• underrepresented groups in higher education• Report by WG to Bologna Ministerial 2012

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Conclusion: Make RPL systemsmore efficient and transparent for users

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Conclusion : Widening acess to higher education

Concluding remarks

• EU is coordinating through Open Method of Coordination and LLP projects

• Member states responsibility to establish a sustainable social dimension strategy

• Higher Education Institutions to implement• Stakeholder involvement• Strong involvement from Bologna Experts and

Higher Education Reform Experts• Let’s move-both youth, forever youngers and

experts

Thank you for your attention!