The Modernisation Agenda and the Social Dimension of Higher Education Lene Oftedal European Commission ACA seminar 14.10.2011
Overview 1. The Challenge: a Europe with increasing (and unmet) skills needs 2. A European Response: Europe 2020 3. An EU Reform Agenda for the Modernisation of Higher Education 4. The Social Dimension of Higher Education 2
The EU labour market 10 years from now? v Employment in 2020: 235 million (~ pre-crisis peak) v Jobs becoming more knowledge- and skills-intensive v Globalisation and technological advances => changes in sectoral structure and demand for new types of skills v By 2020 35% of all jobs will require high-level qualifications
EUROPE 2020 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 33% of EU population have an HE degree (USA: > 40%, Japan: > 50%) Youth unemployment is too high: 21%
EU 2020 - Widening access benchmarks Early School Leaving 2008 2020 14.9% Higher Education Attainment (Age 30-34) 10% at most 2008 2020 40% at least 33%
Progress towards the 40% target 60 60 Higher education attainment % 30-34 year olds 50 40 30 20 10 50 47 46 46 46 40 40 43 42 46 47 45 44 50 44 44 43 44 45 41 42 (*) 40 40 41 40 40 40 40 40 35 36 38 (*) 35 34 35 33 32 32 32 30 30 28 28 27 27 26 24 24 22 20 20 19 18 0 IE DK LU SE FI CY BE LT FR UK NL ES EE PL SI EU LV DE EL BG HU AT PT SK CZ IT MT RO 2010 attainment level Europe 2020 target Europe 2020 national target
Share of 30-34 year olds with tertiary attainment, 2000 and 2010 (%) Ireland Denmark 27,5 32,1 47,0 49,9 Luxembourg Sweden 21,2 31,8 46,1 45,8 Finland Cyprus 31,1 40,3 45,7 45,1 Belgium 35,2 44,4 Lithuania France United Kingdom Netherlands 27,4 29,0 26,5 42,6 43,8 43,5 43,0 41,4 Spain Estonia 29,2 30,8 40,6 40,0 Poland 12,5 35,3 Slovenia EU 27 Latvia Germany Greece Bulgaria Hungary Austria Portugal Slovakia Czech Republic Italy 14,8 15,9 11,3 10,6 13,7 11,6 18,5 22,4 18,6 25,7 29,8 25,4 28,4 19,5 27,7 25,7 23,5 23,5 22,1 20,4 19,8 34,8 33,6 32,3 Benchmark 2020 2000 2010 Malta Romania 7,4 8,9 18,6 18,1 Croatia 16.2 22,6 Iceland Turkey (:) 15.5 32,6 40,9 Norway 37,3 47,3 (%) 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Source: DG Education and Culture Data source: Eurostat (LFS) Note: Croatia: 2002 instead of 2000. Luxembourg and Malta: 2010 data is provisional
What is the social dimension : Council Recommendations from 2010 equality of opportunities in higher education access, participation and successful completion of studies guidance and counselling financial support student services student participation in higher education governance equal opportunities in mobility, portability of financial support, removing barriers, and providing incentives
An EU agenda for the modernisation of higher education Europe needs more graduates Quality, relevance and employability Higher education s contribution to economic recovery and long term growth
Higher education shields against unemployment 45 Annual unemployment rate 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 Annual unemployment rates by highest level of education attained (2010) 5 0 NL LU AT CY UK DK CZ DE RO SI SE FI BE IT FR EU PL BG HU PT EL IE SK EE LT LV ES Lower Secondary Upper Secondary Tertiary
Share of new entrants to tertiary education (2009) Source: OECD
Key policy messages in the Communication Increase attainment levels (in line with Europe 2020 agreed national targets), including among underrepresented -Progression routes and recognition of prior learning and experience -Outreach to underrepresented groups, guidance and targeted financial support -Reduce drop-out Improve quality and relevance -Graduate employability -Tailoring learning modes to a diverse student body -Motivating and rewarding excellent teachers -Programmes informed by and adapted to labour market needs
Key policy messages (2) Quality through mobility & international co-operation - Learning mobility windows and moving between programmes - Efficient recognition of studies abroad - Improving access and employment conditions for non-eu students and researchers Education, research & business for excellence and regional development - Stimulating entrepreneurial, creative and innovation skills and environments - Encouraging partnership and co-operation with business - Involvement of HE institutions in regional development plans Governance and Funding to support strategic choices - Sufficient, efficient and well-targeted funding - Empowering institutionsto play to their strengths
EU-level action (1) Improving the evidence base to support policy-making and increase transparency - U-Multirank - Better data on mobility and employment outcomes and matching skills with jobs - Analysis and peer learning on funding approaches - High level group to look at key topics for modernising HE Promoting learning mobility & international co-operation - Erasmus Masters student loan guarantee - Strengthened ECTS - Analysis of student mobility flows and franchise education
Modernisation Agenda to support the Social Dimension HE attainment 40 % Universities to enhance Lifelong Learning Flexible study pathways Social inclusion benchmark 20 % of all students mobile by 2020 Bologna benchmark
Students entering higher education through regular routes
Chances of a tertiary degree when parents have higher education 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 RO SK CZ MT BG LT EE LV HU AT PL LU FR DE IT CH EL NO TR IS BE PT ES UK CY FI NL IE SI SE DK
EU Support EU competences mean: Open Method of Coordination Member States in driving seat (including student services) EU plays facilitating, agenda-setting and benchmarking role EU programmes: support mobility + joint projects in support of EU2020 objectives + Member State activities Education Europe 2014-2020, 15.2 bn (72 % increase for Education, Training, Youth)
The new programme Provide incentives and support for the modernisation of higher education systems and of all other levels of education and training, particularly cooperation and strategic partnerships between institutions Enable young people, incl. those with less opportunities, to be better prepared for employability, particulary through learning mobility Promote exchange of good practice, foster a European Area of Mobility Cooperation with countries outside Europe
Funding new programme Suggested budget 15.3 billion euros 73 % increase To be discussed between EU Council, EU Parliament and EU Commission A suggestion for the new programme in December 2011
Conclusion : Widening acess to higher education 22
Concluding remarks Widening access for underrepresented groups Second chancers Upgrade workforce Personal growth Active citizenship New carrier pathways Good transitions between the education levels EU policy and programme to support
More balanced student body
Thank you for your attention! http://ec.europa.eu/education/higher-education/doc/com0911_en.pdf