Czech EU Presideny, but where is Civil Society and Lifelong learning?

The Czech republis has taken over the EU presidency from France on January 1, 2009. But what happened to lifelong learning?

As trendy buzzwords go, lifelong learning has been a mandatory concept in recent years whenever education policy has been presented. Reading the Czech EU presidency paper you will not find the idea mentioned. Perhaps we are seeing a shift in policy focus. Recent financial turmoil can be one factor why the document is so focused on the relationship between employers and educational institutions, were it not for the fact that the document has been prepared long before recent events unfolded. Vocational training and higher education as usual gets prominent space in the declaration of intentions for the presidency period. As the spring council in May 2009 will discuss the further steps towards education beyon 2010 the timing is critical. The non-formal adult education community probably needs to intensify its lobby work in order not to disappear. Bear in mind that there are upcoming elections for the European Parliament this spring as well.

So, what does the Czech presidency have to say about education?They write:

Updated Strategic Framework for European Cooperation in Education and Training beyond 2010

The Presidency will focus on negotiating the future strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training beyond 2010, which should make a significant contribution to the active development of Europe´s human potential. In view of the Commission´s Communication, and in connection with the Education and Training 2010 Work Programme, the new strategic framework is expected to set the long-term objectives of European cooperation in the next decade. The task of the Presidency will be to prepare Key Messages in the field of education for the spring meeting of the European Council, which should provide the mandate for the approval of the new strategic framework in May 2009. Emphasis will also be put on the debate on topical themes (such as the education of migrants and support for mobility) and the implementation of common tools - in particular the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) and the European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for Vocational Education and Training (EQARF).

Partnership between the Field of Education and Employers: Openness of Schools to New Challenges

The Presidency will stress the openness of educational institutions and the significance of their cooperation with employers and regions. The Presidency deems it necessary to focus on the implementation of the knowledge triangle. The interaction of both fields is decisive for defining and ensuring the key competences and skills of all individuals, which determine their maximum professional and personal development and employability. The Presidency will closely cooperate with the European Commission on its initiative on cooperation between universities and the business sector. These issues are closely related to forecasting and the development of skills in Europe in the forthcoming period. For this reason, the Presidency pays attention to the initiative of the Commission on the issue of changes in qualification needs.

Development of Higher Education - Quality and Openness (the Bologna Process)

With regard to the development of higher education, the Czech Presidency will engage in evaluating the implementation of the priorities of the Bologna process set for 2007-2009, and in preparing the interim report on the overall development for 1999-2009 and the supporting documentation for defining the vision of higher education beyond 2010. The Czech Presidency will also coordinate the Follow-up Group of the Bologna Process preceding the Conference of Ministers in Louvain.

Cooperation in the Youth Field

Based on the Commission´s proposal that will summarise the results of cooperation in the youth field and propose its future framework after 2009, the Presidency will evaluate the implementation of existing priorities, their significance for the future, the methods used, and the impacts of the current cooperation framework. The Presidency will focus in particular on the review of the Open Method of Coordination and the implementation of the European Pact for Youth. Furthermore, the Czech Presidency will contribute to the implementation of the Council Recommendation on Mobility of Young Volunteers across Europe.