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Adult Education in Cyprus Grundtvig 3 Conference: Quality of training activities

Elpida Keravnou-Papailiou

Vice-Rector Academic Affairs, University of Cyprus

17 November 2005

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Strategic Goal of Europe

The European Union to become, by 2010, the most competitive and

dynamic knowledge-based society in the world

(Lisbon, March 2000)

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Principal AimAchieve Social Cohesion

• Remove social inequalities and other obstacles• Provide equal opportunities to all citizens in

education• Create a more democratic society

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The Two Pillars of the Knowledge-Based Society

• European Higher Education Area

• European Research Area

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Flexible Learning Paths

• Credits for transfer and accumulation

• Learning outcomes/competencies– Knowledge and skills– Generic and domain-related

• Formal and informal types of learning

• Self-directed learning – learn how to learn

• Life Long Learning

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European Qualifications Framework(approved in Bergen in May 2005)

Overarching framework for the development of

National Qualifications Frameworks(progress expected to be shown by 2007)

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NQFs

Provide a “formal” framework for LLL

Personal and Professional Development on a continuous basis

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«any learning activity that can be undertaken throughout one’s lifetime with the purpose of improving one’s knowledge, skills and competencies, for personal, social or professional development»

Definition of LLL

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Significance of LLL

• Intrinsically coupled with Lisbon Goal

• In any discipline knowledge is not a static but a dynamic entity – continuously grows and changes (this is the purpose of research)

• Societal/technological developments call for the acquisition of new basic skills, e.g. computer-based skills

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Necessity for Professional-Life Learning

• For the Regulated/Protected Professions– Education– Health– Safety of machinery and constructions

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Participation in LLL: What is the target for Europe by 2010

• Currently the adult participation in continuous education in Europe is 7.9%

• The aim is to raise it to 12.5%

• In Cyprus the adult participation is 3.7% - 3.8% of women and 3.6% of men

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Adult Education in Cyprus

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Adult Education/Learning Provision• University of Cyprus• Open University of Cyprus• Private Schools of Tertiary Education• State Institutes of Further Education (KIE)• Adult Education Centres of the Ministry of Education &

Culture• Pedagogical Institute of Cyprus• Evening programmes of Gymnasia/Technical Schools• Apprenticeship Training Scheme• Continuing Technical and Vocational Education and Training

Institutes• The Human Resource Development Authority • Cyprus Productivity Centre• Public Administration and Personnel Service• Cyprus Academy of Public Administration

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Examples of Adult Education Programmes in Cyprus

• Education/training in languages, new technologies and other areas

• Completion of secondary level education• Training or professional-interest courses of

short or long duration• Formal university programmes at

undergraduate or graduate levels• Personal interest programmes

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Training Programmes Attendance

• Managerial and other qualified staff 9.5-9.9%

• Technical staff 3.6-5.2%

• Secretarial saff 2.2-2.8%

• Technicians and machine operators under 0.5%

(data from the Statistics Service, 2000)

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University of Cyprus

• School of Modern Greek Language - 1998• Languages Centre – 2004

– Training of language educators in new technologies

• Open lecture series in all provinces, London and Marioupole

• Scholarship scheme for administrative staff• Centre for Continuing Scientific Education,

Evaluation and Development (KEPEAA)

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KEPEAA

• Functions since 2002• In the period 2002-2005, 837 adults attended various continuing

education programmes– Foreign languages (English – French – Turkish)

• Army Corporals

– Strategy and Management• Army Corporals

– Development of New Parents– Economics and Business Administration

• Union of Bank Officers• Pancyprian Cooperative Banks

– Modern History / Classical Greek• Secondary level educators

– Fundamental People Skills• World Youth Organization

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Open University of Cyprus

• Established by law in 2002• Interim Governing Board appointed in 2003• Presently (2005) the Open University is recruiting

its first staff• Principal aims:

– LLL opportunities to all people– Distance learning opportunities at the undergraduate

and graduate levels– Opportunities for further education and for

supplementing the qualifications of people in the workforce

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Open University of Cyprus

The aims of the Open University are geared towards the enhancement of people

professional mobility and professional survival in an age of competition

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State Institutes of Further Education

• Support LLL by offering language courses and computer skills training to adults

• The whole scheme is subsidized, so fees are relatively low. Tuition is free for certain, underprivileged, groups of people:– Unemployed degree holders

– Blind telephone operators

– Soldiers whose families have limited income

– Political refugees

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Adult Education Centres • Have been operating since 1960 - there are Centres in

both the city and rural areas• Education and training courses, on a variety of subjects,

can be attended by any individual aged 15 or above• The aim of the Centres is to promote basic skills for

adults – early school leavers, older workers, people with low or no qualifications, unemployed, women, etc

• Tuition fees are low and are waved for individuals aged 65 or above

• The Centres can grant Certificates upon evaluation, that could lead to credit points in the future

• During the school year 1999-2000, 17120 adults attended various courses in 250 Centres with 470 teachers and instructors

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Pedagogical Institute of Cyprus• Has been undertaking the pedagogical, pre-service

training of secondary level educators • Offers continuing education programmes for

primary and secondary level educators• Particular emphasis given to the systematic training

of school leaders• Various reforms are currently under discussion

– Centre for Research and Evaluation in Education– University of Cyprus to undertake the pre-service training– Open University to participate in the provision of continuing

education programmes for educators, by distance

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Evening programmes of Gymnasia/Technical Schools

• Enable adults to acquire and/or complete their secondary education – the programmes offered have the same legal status as the formal programmes of the day schools

• The number of people attending the evening programmes has been steadily rising – 468 in 1997-98 and 640 in 2002-2003

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Apprenticeship Training Scheme• Organized by the Ministry of Labour and Social

Insurance in co-operation with the Ministry of Education and Culture

• Designed for persons aged 15 years and above who have completed the three years of compulsory secondary education and have a vocational outlook

• Apprentices are employed in industry and receive general education and vocational training, on a day release basis, for a period of two years – scheme combines technical training with practical experience in industry

• The annual outflow in recent years comes to 250 apprentices

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Continuing Technical and Vocational Education and Training Institutes

• Their development is under discussion• Envisaged goals:

– To offer wider educational choices integrating multifaceted knowledge and the acquisition of life-long skills

– To organize, develop and provide CTVET– To promote formal certification of vocational training– To harmonize VE & T with the educational system– To implement national and EU programmes of VE & T

• Intake: Lyceum/TS leavers, successful apprentices from the Apprenticeship Scheme, workers in various fields of economy

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The Human Resource Development Authority

• Nation’s agency for human resource development

• Since the early 80’s has pursued the development of a flexible non-formal training system, able to meet the needs of the economy in basic skills as well as in continuing learning

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The Human Resource Development Authority

• Skill shortages, over the next year or two, are forecasted on an annual basis through a human resources balance research study

• Studies that identify medium to long-term needs of the labour market are also carried out

• Skill mismatches between demand and supply addressed through initial training programmes – provide basic skills to – new entrants into the labour market– unemployed persons for meeting needs in occupations

where there are skill/labour shortages

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Cyprus Productivity Centre

• Established in 1963• Aim: to assist private and public

organizations to develop their human resources and to improve their productivity

• Offers a wide range of management development programmes

• It also offers up-grading and ab-initio vocational training programmes for technicians

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Public Administration and Personnel Service

• Promotes continuous training of civil servants in order to ensure that civil servants have the right skills, competencies and knowledge to perform to their maximum potential

• Organizes a range of seminars/training programmes for senior staff or other groups of staff in the public service

• It also organizes initiation/introductory courses for newly appointed staff

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Cyprus Academy of Public Administration

• Collaborates with the Public Administration and Personnel Service

• Provides – Professional training– Training related to technical issues– Management/administration training– Training on computer programs

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LLinE

• Lifelong Learning in Europe

• A repository of educational thinking, good practices and ideas from all over Europe

• Celebrates its 10th Anniversary

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In a Knowledge Society

• The most important resource is the human resource

• LLL to become an inborn feature of life– National policy on LLL– Calls for close synergies between

• the education system

• the vocational training system

• the labour market system