DETAILS OF THE NEW EDUCATION FORUM`S PROGRAM (November 17th-18th, 2016):
First day of the New Education Forum 2016: Round Table I
14:30 – 14:35
OFFICIAL OPENING by Mr. Tibor NAVRACSICS, the Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, the European Commission
14:35 – 16:00
I ROUND TABLE: MATURE CAREER DECISIONS
Host: Ms. Danuta JAZŁOWIECKA, Vice-Chair, the Employment and Social Affairs Committee, Member of the European Parliament
Opening speech by Ms. Martina DLABAJOVÀ, Member, the Employment and Social Affairs Committee, Member of the European Parliament
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Best Practices – innovative methods of effectively introducing young people to the labor market:
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Learning for Sustainability – learning in the local environment (Scotland)
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Integration of refugees – career development and skills’ profiles for third countries’ citizens (Flanders)
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Development of personal competencies in vocational learning (Austria)
Ms. Joanna BOCHNIARZ, CEO, the Center for Innovative Education
Presentation of the Charter of Recommendations, referring to the particular Best Practices in Europe, in the scope of:
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labor market orientation at school level
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the secret of schools-companies collaboration success
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benefits of business being effectively engaged in education
Do EU institutions and national governments effectively stimulate cooperation between education institutions and business?
Mr. Andreas RIEPL, Head of the Federal Center of eEducation, Austria
Presenting self-organized, competency-based learning and development of personal competencies on the basis of e-learning tools in the upper secondary vocational schools in Austria. “Usage of digital media, mobile devices and proper pedagogical settings enable acquiring individual competence grids in effective and innovative way attractive to young people.”
Ms. Susan P. PETERS, Senior Vice President, GE
With 90,000 employees around Europe, GE deeply understands that 21st century employees need innovational approach. New technologies and the growing automation of manufacturing processes will require all industry workers to acquire more advanced technical skills.
Ms. Thérèse De LIEDEKERKE, Deputy Director General, BusinessEurope
The business community is very active in supporting apprenticeship programs, however skills assessment is a necessary first step in education. “BusinessEurope welcomes the New Skills Agenda for Europe and has identified basic skills, STEM skills, digital skills, enhancing VET and sectorial skills intelligence and matching as the main priority areas for employers.” Presenting the Best Practice: Learning for Sustainability in the scope of helping the youth to create individual education and career paths in relation with the local environment changes.
Ms. Ellen DOHERTY, Director of Education, Registration and PLD, the General Teaching Council, Scotland
“Incorporating of Education for Sustainable Development means using a variety of pedagogical techniques that promote participatory learning and higher-order thinking skills; promote lifelong learning and are locally relevant and culturally appropriate”.
Mr. Michał FEDEROWICZ, Head Director, Educational Research Institute, Poland
New Skills Agenda for Europe and their reference to National Qualifications Framework and its implementation. Reference to the importance of the life-long learning and building knowledge-based society.
Interactive session
Closing speech by Ms. Danuta JAZŁOWIECKA, Vice-Chair, the Employment and Social Affairs Committee, the European Parliament
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Choosing the profession, talent development: benefits of innovative methods of learning
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Vocational schools meet employers’ criteria
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Stimulating presence of school-companies collaboration. Necessary governmental and EU support.
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Evaluation of the Charter of Recommendations (part 1)
16:00 – 16:30
Coffee break
16:30 – 18:00
II ROUND TABLE: SOCIAL SKILLS
Host: Ms. Julie WARD, Member, the Committee on Culture and Education, Member of the European Parliament
Key Note speech delivered by Mr. Jyrki KATAINEN, The Vice-President and Commissioner for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, the European Commission (recorded-tbc)
Ms. Joanna BOCHNIARZ, CEO, Center for Innovative Education
Presentation of the Charter of Recommendations, referring to the particular Best Practices in Europe in the scope of:
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missing interpersonal skills of young employees and the consequences thereof
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competencies that can be addressed at the school level. Methods of their implementation
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presenting Polish program “MENTOR” addressing the above issues
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crucial tasks of the learning process in terms of social engagement and supported by the decision makers
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creativity, technical competencies and digital skills: realities versus expectations,
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presenting German solutions of “Schools on the move”
Ms. Marie-Anne PERSOONS, Coordinator of Strategic Policy Division, Flemish Department of Education and Training, Vice-Chair of the OECD Education Policy Committee, Flanders
Presenting Best Practice: Integration of refugees in education system of the Flemish Community of Belgium. “Apart from the general legislation that provides extra budget to schools based on the presence of pupils from socially disadvantaged families or with special educational needs, for the refugee children the right to access to a place at school was applied rigorously and within the given delays of max. 60 days upon arrival in Belgium”. The presentation will also address New Skills Agenda for Europe aims, especially in terms of careers’ development and tools for skill profiles of third countries’ citizens.
Prof. Alan BRUCE, Vice President, the European Distance and eLearning Network, Ireland
Analysis of complexity of aid delivered to refugees under 18 in terms of their social and educational development. Engagement of communities, especially of refugees’ parents is needed to fully address this issue effectively. Reflection on how young refugees can enter the European labor market provided with psychological and social support and with understanding of the European Community values.
Mr. Ken MUIR, Chief Executive, the General Teaching Council, Scotland
Influence of the Learning for Sustainability on gaining social skills by the youth.
“Education for Sustainable Development means referring to the local needs, perceptions and conditions and acknowledgement that fulfilling local needs often has international effects and consequences; building civil capacity for community-based decision-making, social tolerance, environmental stewardship, an adaptable workforce, and a good quality of life”.
Prof. Peter HIGGINS, Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh
„Education must fully assume its central role in helping people to forge more just, peaceful, tolerant and inclusive societies. It must give people the understanding, skills and values they need to co-operate in resolving the interconnected challenges of the 21st century” (UN Secretary General, 2014). In Scotland, one core approach has been through significant policy developments in Learning for Sustainability which have been focused on integrating all key elements of the education system and school provision.. Learning for Sustainability is now an entitlement of all pupils and a responsibility of all teachers, with the focus on building the confidence and skills of learners, including the transdisciplinary capacities necessary to address modern challenges.
Interactive session
Closing speech by Ms. Julie WARD, Member, the Committee on Culture and Education, Member of the European Parliament
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Origins of gap between generations. Its’ influence on youth employment.
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Crucial soft skills and social competences of the XXI century.
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Social awareness –importance for individuals, schools and business. Necessary governmental and EU support.
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Evaluation of the Charter of Recommendations (part II).
19:00 – 21:00
III ROUND TABLE – WORKING DINNER
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Hosted by Mr. Jerzy BUZEK, Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs, Chair of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, Member of the European Parliament
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Opening note on skills and competencies necessary to be obtained by young people. The social values and civic awareness of youth have impact on how the new generations see themselves in the adulthood: effective contributors to the European society. These are very important to strengthen sustainable development of the European Union as a whole.
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Reflection about negative impact of poor education on solving important social issues and being the origin of growing misunderstanding of vital democracy values, such as tolerance and protection of minorities by majority of citizens. Example: importance of learning social competencies when facing challenges of refugee crisis.
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Reference to the importance of the New Skills Agenda for Europe in the scope of the young people having access to career development skills. However more holistic approach is needed, in the context of active citizenship and talent-based personal development in this European Commission action.
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Short up-date on the EU policies strengthening Europe’s skill base, which in result enhance Europe’s innovations and competitiveness, crucial for the next generations.
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“Innovation cannot develop to full extent and reach its potential if industries and services, science and education don’t collaborate and find together new solutions”. The essential importance of the holistic approach to development of the European youth.
Speakers addressing particular Recommendations of the New Education Forum:
Mr. Andreas SCHLEICHER, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Active Citizenship and Inclusion
“OECD countries must step up their efforts to improve the quality and equity of their education systems as part of their commitments to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for education by 2030”. Immigrants tend to lag behind their native born peers in educational attainment at all stages”, making it harder to develop cognitive, emotional and social skills and more difficult to find a job after leaving education”. Retrospective on the September 15th OECD Report: formal education following sustainable development commitments and encountering civilizational changes.
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Mr. Michał BONI, Vice-Chair of the Delegation to the EU-Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee, Member of the LIBE Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, Member of the DEPA Delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, Member of the European Parliament
Up-to-date skills
Up-date on the EU political structures and policies enhancing introduction of innovative technologies, including EIT Digital. With Industrial Revolution 4.0, as well as artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, low-carbon emission policies, it is important that European Union’s institutions support transformative changes in formal and informal learning. Relevance of the skills acquired through education and training process requires constant enhancement of the national and EU policies.
Mr. Józef NIEMIEC, General Secretary’s Special Advisor, European Trade Union Confederation
Key stakeholders
The education systems around the world face new challenges of helping the youth with entering adulthood. These include making young people become aware and responsible citizens, but also find themselves on the labor market. As the civilization changes are introduced with even greater speed, it is not only the task of schools’ participation in students’ growing up process. What should be the role of employers and trade unions in this process?
Ms. Agnieszka KOZŁOWSKA-RAJEWICZ, Member of the Belarus Committee, Employment and Social Affairs Committee, Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee, Member of the European Parliament
Development of potential
The skills mismatch is a growing problem among the youth entering the labor market, in spite of longer learning cycle. We have to make education more adequate to the labor market and more based on student’s talents and creativity. The EU policies should develop practical and vocational education and training at all the levels of education and in all types of schools. We need „vocational mainstreaming” and strong engagement of business and social partners in the designing and evaluating educational process on the regular basis. We also require instruments to create new jobs and to avoid treating education as an escape from unemployment.
Mr. Sertac YELTEKIN, Head of UniCredit Corporate Learning, UniCredit S.p.A.
Sustainable development
As an international network that spans 50 markets, with more than 147,000 employees, UniCredit offers job opportunities around the globe. “The diversity of UniCredit’s workforce contributes to innovation by bringing together different talents, skills, experience and perspectives in our Group. Each of us has an active role to play in fostering a culture of inclusion, and we must be aware that encouraging and considering different perspectives in the workplace is the key to achieving sustainable results”. UniCredit invests in solutions having positive impact on employee engagement, performance and retention, such as flexible work strategies, including options for part-time, telework and smart-work arrangements.
Prof. Larry MIKULECKY, the School of Education, Indiana University
Summarizing the sessions
The stress is put on employers’ and other non-formal educators’ roles in the bring-up of next generations. This is especially central taking to the account that these institutions have a deep understanding of the importance of principles such as diversity, inclusion, life-long learning and sustainable development.
Interactive session with participants of all three Round Tables.
Closing of the New Education Forum Round Tables
Ms. Danuta JAZŁOWIECKA, Vice-Chair, the Employment and Social Affairs Committee, the European Parliament
Ms. Joanna BOCHNIARZ, CEO, the Center for Innovative Education
Second day of the New Education Forum 2016
12:30 – 13:00 – Closing Meeting with Ms. Marianne THYSSEN, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labor Mobility, the European Commission
Participants: Representatives of the European Parliament, BusinessEurope and the Center for Innovative Education
“The Commission aims at achieving new boost for jobs, growth and investment”. The task lies within diverse European cultures and institutions. We all have to strive to make vocational learning a first option for young people. But we also have to equip them with competencies, which they will need in the future. These include digital skills, soft skills and ability of life-long learning.