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News and Background Information on the Conference | |||
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The Private Sector in Education and Training Reforms in the Mediterranean Region – the Example of the European Learning Industry Group
Although significant progress has been made, Europe’s educational and professional training systems still do not sufficiently deliver the skills needed in the 21st century. Evidence of this has been produced by the European Commission but also by, for example, the European School Network which, in a recent Information and Communication Technology Impact Report, concluded that most schools in Europe are still at an early stage of ICT adoption and do not show profound improvements in learning and teaching. On the positive side, a report of the ICT Cluster on Infrastructure and Digital Content recently demonstrated that, with a sound understanding of how to best integrate ICT in education and training, ambitious reforms can be successfully implemented. Complementary to developments within the EU, the Barcelona Process and the European Neighbourhood Policy also stress the vital role of education and training in building up knowledge societies and in preparing for a Mediterranean free-trade zone by 2010. Also in this context, the public and private sectors are requested to propose new learning solutions to address skills needs in a global market. “Lifelong learning opportunities can only be optimised if enterprise and education work closely together to share ideas and knowledge”, says Myriel Dunbar, Director of the European Training Foundation (ETF). These joint efforts needed to include the integration of new technologies into education and training reform, she continues. “We need to be able to combine the labour market ‘know-how’ of enterprise with sound education and training expertise. This will require us to develop common concepts, language and trust between partners from very different environments as we work towards quality lifelong learning to produce skills for the knowledge society.” Issues for discussionsThe discussion at Online Educa Berlin will look into new learning solutions to address skills gaps in the MEDA region. It will also explore how public-private partnerships can shape the learning society and promote innovation in schools, universities and lifelong learning at large. It will assess country awareness of new learning solutions and discuss how relevant stakeholders can be supported when implementing new programmes. In this context innovative pedagogical approaches for quality education and training and the unique role of the learning industries will be discussed. ETF helps transition and developing countries to harness the potential of their human resources through the reform of education, training and labour market systems in the context of the European Union's external relations policy. As a Centre of Expertise, we provide policy advice to relevant ministries and social partners in countries which surround the EU. “An integral part of that effort is to promote co-operation between education and training and the world of work. Our current project with eLIG is a pilot in which we are looking together into the input which the Learning Industries can have to education and training reforms in the countries of the Middle East and northern Africa”, Dunbar lines out. The project will result in recommendations for joint measures between the public and private sector to support quality provision for lifelong learning. Another subject of the group’s investigations will be obstacles and challenges for reforms, such as cultural and language barriers. How can experience from the European Union or other parts of the world be helpful in reforming education and training systems in the countries concerned? Possible solutions and suggestions for well-targeted learning solutions in emerging markets will be shared. To initiate the discussion, some cases of good practice of the European Learning Industry Group (eLIG) and partners from the region will be presented and discussed. Participants will be invited to share their experiences and to provide recommendations for future intervention in the region. Results of discussionsFindings of the round table will contribute towards a joint publication of the European Learning Industries Group and the European Training Foundation which will support policymakers in the countries concerned in helping them to make the right decisions in their reforms. The report will identify good practices and future possible intervention areas for discussion with the partners in the countries in the region and the European Commission.
Further reading:E-skills for the 21st century: Fostering competitiveness, growth and jobs, COM (2007) A review of studies of ICT impact on schools in Europe, 2006, European School Network (ESN) A review of infrastructure and digital content, Budapest 2007; Hungarian Ministry of Education, Danish Technological Institute, Centre for Policy and Business Analysis, DG Education and Culture By Ulrike Damyanovic (ETF), Richard Straub (eLIG) and Annemie Boonen (eLIG). November 20, 2007 |
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The round-table session will be chaired by Dr Richard Straub, Chairman of the European Learning Industry Group and founding Chairman of the Career Space Consortium. The European Learning Industry Group is composed of leading e-learning industry players in Europe. Its objective is to accelerate the adoption of e-learning in Europe in co-operation with the European Commission and national governments.
