Smoothly from school to work: by opening all pathways, ensuring - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Smoothly from school to work: by opening all pathways, ensuring better permeability, y p g p y , g p y, increasing attractiveness of the post-secondary VET V L A D I M Í R A D R B A L O V Á V L A D I M Í R A D R B A L O V Á T H E V I CE - P R E S I D E N T O F T H E S E CT I O N F O R E M P L O YM E N T , S O CI A L A F F A I R S A N D CI T I Z E N S H I P , E E S C , Forum for New Milenium, 5 July 2012

A few words about the EESC A few words about the EESC � The bridge between European Citizens and � The bridge between European Citizens and European Institutions � Established in 1952 by the Rom a Treaties � Established in 1952 by the Rom a Treaties � The Role under the TFEU Art. 262 is to advice the EC, EP and EU Council EC, EP and EU Council � 344 Mem ber from 27 Mem ber States (Employers, Employees and other interest groups) ( p oye s, p oyees a d o e e es g oups) � 6 Sections � Participatory dem ocracy Participatory dem ocracy � Dynam ic consensus Forum for New Milenium, 5 July 2012

Education, Skills, Jobs high o high on the global, European and local agenda the global E o ea a d local age da � 40 % of the jobless worldwide are young people . There will be nearly 75 m illion unem ployed youth aged 15 to 24 in 20 12 an nearly 75 m illion unem ployed youth aged 15 to 24 in 20 12 , an increase of nearly 4 million since 2007 � More than 5 m illion young people in the EU are unemployed � More than 5 m illion young people in the EU are unemployed today. Between 2008 and 2010, this number increased by one million (7,5 m illion 15-24 NEET) � In the first quarter of 2011 , the unem ploym ent rate for young people (aged 15 to 24) was 17.4% in the OECD area compared with 7% for adults (aged 25 and over). � Even at the height of the crisis , m ore than 40 % of em ployers in Australia, Europe, Japan, Mexico and The United States said they couldn’t find people with the right skills they couldn t find people with the right skills . Forum for New Milenium, 5 July 2012

Europe 20 20 - Headline targets Europe 20 20 Headline targets � The em ploym ent rate of the population aged 20 64 should increase � The em ploym ent rate of the population aged 20-64 should increase from the current 69% to at least 75% , including through the greater involvement of women, older workers and the better integration of migrants in the work force. i i h k f � An educational attainment target tackling the issue of early school An educational attainment target tackling the issue of early school leavers by reducing the drop-out rate from the current 15% to 10 % � The desire to increase the proportion of the population aged 30-34 having com pleted tertiary or equivalent education from 31% to p y q g 3 at least 40 % in 20 20 Forum for New Milenium, 5 July 2012

New agenda for skills as a central flagship initiative New agenda for skills as a central flagship initiative Youth Strong on industrial industrial m ove m ove policy Skills Innovation Innovation and jobs Europe Digital agenda agenda Resource Poverty efficient platform Europe Forum for New Milenium, 5 July 2012

Need for m ore targeted education and training � Dangerous to pursue an education and training policy where the number/ proportion of students going to tertiary education / p p g g y is used as the only indicator for success � The profile of education and training is as important as the level � 50% of skills demand/ supply is related to medium level qualifications, predominantly in the vocational field, this proportion not set to change � We W can observe b serious i i imbalances b l i in some E European countries where the medium level vocational qualifications are missing; � Those countries with the strongest vocational qualifications � Those countries with the strongest vocational qualifications systems (Denmark, Germany, Austria and Netherlands those with lowest youth unemployment) Forum for New Milenium, 5 July 2012

Vocational education and training: current developm ents Copenhagen process (20 0 2) launched the European strategy Copenhagen process (20 0 2) launched the European strategy • • for enhanced cooperation in Vocational Education and Training A strategic framework for European cooperation in education and • training (VET 20 20 ) was adopted by the Council on 12 May training (VET 20 20 ) was adopted by the Council on 12 May 2009. The EC Communication (2010) A new im petus for European • cooperation in Vocational Education and Training cooperation in Vocational Education and Training (VET) to refresh the Copenhagen process. Bruges Com m uniqué adopted in December 2010 by the EU • Ministers for VET and European social partners: Ministers for VET and European social partners: � Developm ent of post-secondary VET and VET at higher EQF levels , � Perm eability and open pathways between VET and � Perm eability and open pathways between VET and HE , � Policy document on the role of vocational excellence for smart and sustainable growth and sustainable growth. Forum for New Milenium, 5 July 2012

Why the EESC decided to develop this own initiative opinion: Making post-secondary VET m ore attractive p g p y � The lack of skilled labour will be one of the main obstacles to � The lack of skilled labour will be one of the main obstacles to economic growth in coming years. � Vocational education and training can contribute to achieving the above m entioned Europe 20 20 head target: above-m entioned Europe 20 20 head target: 1) by providing opportunities to progress from vocational education and training to specialist training and higher education, 2) by developing VET at higher levels of the EQF based on sound hi h l l f h ) b d l b d d VET systems at secondary level 3) by contributing to the provision of adequate arrangements for the validation and accreditation of non-form al learning outcomes at all levels 4) by developing work-linked training which involves adults in g 4) y p g ensuring the success of young people. Quality and excellence in VET is decisive for making VET more • attractive Forum for New Milenium, 5 July 2012

What are the reasons for the lack of attractiveness of VET, and particularly post-secondary VET VET, and particularly post secondary VET � The term higher education is frequently used as a synonym for � The term higher education is frequently used as a synonym for academically-oriented, university education. � Policies to develop and expand higher education have not paid enough attention to VET VET is already an "invisible" part of higher education attention to VET. VET is already an invisible part of higher education. � VET is highly diversified across Europe . A diversity of institutional solutions creates confusion. � There is a low level of perm eability. Post-secondary education h i l l l f bili d d and training is provided by a wide variety of providers: universities, tertiary VET institutes, secondary schools, adult education institutes, social partners, private firms. i l t i t fi � The im age of industry itself is underm ined because of the current crisis. This leads to an increasing mistrust of companies in Europe. Stigm atisation and low social recognition of VET � � A low level of num erical literacy in prim ary school y p y Forum for New Milenium, 5 July 2012

How to im prove the situation I How to im prove the situation I All alternative path ways need to be identified and prom oted. p y p � � The Copenhagen process needs to be closely connected with the reform of higher education. � The reputation of industry in Europe needs to be im proved Th i f i d i E d b i d � A Europe which is facing labour shortages in many professions needs to focus more on how to balance education and training systems, and g y , on finding the right mix between general, vocational and academic education, � Qualification fram eworks can be very useful to VET system s � Qualification fram eworks can be very useful to VET system s . They have a potential to unify the VET system, increase transparency, so that the value of different qualifications can be more clearly recognised i d � A cooperation between educational institutions, business representatives and SMEs m ust be developed on the basis of p p mutual trust and understanding Forum for New Milenium, 5 July 2012

How to im prove situation II How to im prove situation II � Industrial sectors and companies themselves have to invest in in � Industrial sectors and companies themselves have to invest in in- house training, offer m ore possibilities for apprenticeship and workplace learners . � Educational providers should further develop methods of work- integrated learning. � A effective career guidance is becoming both harder and yet more A effective career guidance is becoming both harder and yet more essential and demanding. � The role of the fam ily cannot be underestimated, family often plays a decisive role in a person's choice of study plans and career. d i i l i ' h i f t d l d to balance student preferences and � VET provision needs em ployers' dem ands . Student preferences are relevant, but such p y p , preferences on their own are usually not enough. � The role of the social partners is vital in making VET more relevant and flexible relevant and flexible Forum for New Milenium, 5 July 2012