The focus of this year’s European Education Training and Youth Forum was the New Skills Agenda for Europe. EFIL took part in workshops related to the EU tools for recognition and comparability of skills, and the ones on revision of the key competences and the contribution of non formal education to the development of transversal skills.
The first workshop was especially related to the Commission’s proposal to revise the Europass Decision . As EFIL, we are closely following the process and we aim at having a tool which is user friendly and where young people can show their transversal skills gained through the exchange programme and volunteering with AFS, also through Open Badges. With this revision, the Commission aims to simplify and modernise these tools for the digital age and to add a new feature using big data to map and anticipate labour market trends and skills needs. The new Europass Framework will build upon this successful formula with easy to use tools to help people identify and communicate their skills and qualifications in all EU languages. These include: an improved online tool for creating CVs and skills profiles; free self-assessment tools to help you evaluate your skills; tailored information on learning opportunities across Europe; information and support to help you get your qualifications recognised; labour market intelligence about what skills are most in demand and where.
The second and third workshops were centred around the key competences framework. As EFIL we aim at having intercultural competences clearly defined in the framework, preferably as a separate competence, closely linked with many others such as foreign language , digital, cultural awareness and expression, social and civic competence.
The discussions on the New skills agenda continue. On 30October, the LLL Interest Group, bringing together MEPs and civil society organisations, met to discuss the New Skills Agenda, also taking into account the recently released EU Council’s resolution on a “New Skills Agenda for an inclusive and competitive Europe,” in response to the related Commission’s communication from June. Emphasis was put on the need for a balance between labour market related expected outcomes of education and training, and those related to social inclusion, active citizenship, openness and curiosity to adapt to future needs. Discussants also called for adequate EU funding for actions under the New Skills Agenda and efficient coordination at EU level in the area of education, staring with the importance of synergies between DG EAC and DG EMPL for an effective implementation, in cooperation with civil society and trade unions and in light of the positive development that EQF and the Key Competence Framework for lifelong learning initiatives brought at European level.
Here you can read the previous article on the topic.
For more information: elisa.briga@afs.org
Sources: Lifelong Learning Platform
Photos: ETY Forum (©Teamwork)