Draft joint report of the Council and the Commission on the implementation of the Strategic Framework for European Cooperation in Education and Training (ET 2020). New priorities for European cooperation in education and training.

September 02, 2015
In 2014, the Commission and Member States started a mid-term stocktaking exercise to assess progress made since 2012 and to help prepare the next priorities for cooperation in education and training at European level. The challenges and priorities identified underpin the identification of the new priority areas and concrete issues for the further work up 2020.

Context:
 A strong economic case for education and training as a growth friendly sector to play a critical role under the Agenda for Jobs, Growth, Fairness and Democratic Change
 Education and training have an important role in fostering inclusion and equality, cultivating mutual respect and embedding fundamental values in an open and democratic society (outbursts of extremism)
 Education and training make a substantial effort to several Eu strategies, including
• Europe 2020 Strategy
• Digital Single Market initiative
• European Agenda on Security
• Investment Plan for Europe

The main policy conclusions of the stocktaking exercise:
 The great value of an integrated framework covering education and training at all levels is confirmed
 The ET2020 four strategic objectives and benchmark remain valid
 The role of ET 2020 as contributor to the overall EU agenda for jobs, growth and investment needs to be further deepened

Main challenges and future priorities
These challenges and priorities underpin the identification of the new priority areas and concrete issues for the further work up 2020.
 Quality and relevance of learning outcomes is key for skills development
 Education must contribute to social cohesion, equality, non-discrimination and civic competences
 Relevant and high-quality learning requires a more active use of innovative pedagogies and digital skills and tools; strong support for educators; facilitating learning mobility; strengthened and simplified EU transparency and recognition tools; filling the investment gap.

Governance and working methods
The stocktaking indicates a consensus on the following approach for the next work cycle:
 Strong analytical evidence and progress monitoring are essential for the effectiveness of the framework (cooperation with Eurostat, Eurydice, Cedefop, OECD,…)
 Streamlining and rationalising reporting in ET 2020 remains a priority (five years cycle)
 Stronger links between education, business and research, and involvement of social partners and civil society needed to strengthen the impact of ET2020

The ET toolbox will be strengthened:

    The Commission together with the Members States will prepare an ET 2020 indicative rolling Work Plan (with overview of peer learning events, key activities of working groups, ..)
     A new generation of Working Groups will work on the ET 2020 priority areas (as of 2016)
     Strengthening of ET 2020 peer learning activities, peer reviews, tailor-made peer counselling..
     Dissemination of good practices will be enhanced
    ET Monitor will be used systematically
    Full use of the potential of Erasmus+

    Annex 1: Priority areas for European cooperation in education and training
    The four strategic objectives are confirmed:
     Making lifelong learning and mobility a reality
     Improving the quality and efficiency of education and training
     Promoting equity, social cohesion and active citizenship
     Enhancing creativity and innovation, including entrepreneurship at all levels of education and training

    Priority areas for action are reduced from 13 to 6 priority areas. The priority areas are declined into concrete issues. These areas reflect a common challenge for the Member States and show an added value in tackling them at European level.
    Priority areas:
    1. Relevant and high quality skills and competences, focusing on learning outcomes for employability, innovation and active citizenship
    2. Inclusive education, equality, non-discrimination and promotion of civic competences
    3. Open and innovative education and training, including by fully embracing the digital era
    4. Strong support for educators
    5. Transparency and recognition of skills and qualifications to facilitate learning and labour mobility
    6. Sustainable investment, performance and efficiency of education and training systems

    Annex 2 is an overview of specific VET and Adult Learning priorities up to 2020
    For VET:
     Promotion of work based learning
     Further developing quality assurance
     Enhance access to VET and qualifications for all
     Further strengthening key competences in VET curricula
     Systematic approaches to initial and continuous professional development of VET teachers, trainers and mentors

    For Adult Learning:
     Governance: ensure coherence with other policy areas
     Increase the supply and take up
     Widen access , provide second chance opportunities
     Improve quality Assurance

    A staff working document provides the analytical basis for the joint report. It aims at reviewing progress aimed at national levels towards the ET 2020 objectives. For each priority, information is provided under the headings:
     Policy context at EU level
     Reporting
     Remaining challenges
     Priorities for the future

    The staff working document has the following annexes:
     Annex 1: Synthesis of the national contributions from the EEA and Candidate Countries
     Annex 2: Interim evaluation of ET 2020 by ECORYS (main findings and 22 recommendations)
     Annex 3: Riga conclusions on a new set of medium-term deliverables in the field of VET for 2015-2020
    http://ec.europa.eu/education/documents/et-2020-draft-joint-report-408-2...