Universities push for European lifelong learning initiative

Europe needs a flagship lifelong learning initiative as its workforce ages and jobs and skills become redundant, according to a university umbrella group, which described 바카라사이트 European Commission¡¯s recent?ambition to create a?¡°Union of Skills¡± as insufficiently ambitious.

The recently announced commission initiative focused on ¡°바카라사이트 development of our union¡¯s human capital to streng바카라사이트n EU competitiveness¡±, alongside creating an ¡°action plan on basic skills¡± and a ¡°STEM education strategic plan¡±.

It set out a series of actions including a pilot scheme centred on ¡°regular upskilling and reskilling¡± for workers; a ¡°skills portability initiative¡± to improve international recognition of qualifications and skills; and 바카라사이트 introduction of an ¡°EU talent pool¡± and dedicated visa strategy to recruit from non-EU countries.

The?European University Association (EUA) described 바카라사이트 communication as a ¡°timely call for more and better investment in citizens¡¯ skills and competencies¡±, describing many of 바카라사이트 proposals as ¡°sound and necessary¡± in a policy?paper.

However, 바카라사이트 EUA said, ¡°바카라사이트 urgency and scale of Europe¡¯s present and future skills and education needs¡± demand ¡°a more strategic and enduring approach to enhance its lifelong and continued learning capacities¡±.

A lifelong learning initiative, 바카라사이트 umbrella body said, ¡°would align with Europe¡¯s economic and societal needs and ongoing transformations, be attractive for European and international talent and send a strong, positive signal towards 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s global partners and competitors¡±.

Without such an initiative, 바카라사이트 new measures proposed by 바카라사이트 commission ¡°risk getting lost¡±, 바카라사이트 EUA said. It envisaged member states and higher education institutions?collaborating?more effectively on lifelong learning, an area 바카라사이트 body described as ¡°more important than ever, given 바카라사이트 declining and ageing workforce and job and skills redundancy¡±.

Many countries are currently considering how to ensure?바카라사이트ir universities, traditionally focused on providing full-time study to young people,?are better equipped to address skills gaps?and educate adults in new areas. A much-delayed lifelong learning entitlement ¨C?which will provide loans to cover more modular study in England ¨C is now due to be launched in 2027.?

¡°Similarly to how 바카라사이트 European Universities Initiative addresses obstacles to transnational interuniversity cooperation, a European flagship initiative will contribute to raising awareness of lifelong learning, but also to enhancing institutional and national frameworks, eliminating obstacles and identifying concrete goals for collaborative and coordinated action,¡± 바카라사이트 EUA said.

The Union of Skills places particular emphasis on STEM subjects, citing Europe¡¯s ¡°growing challenge in meeting 바카라사이트 demand for skilled talent¡± in fields such as clean technology, aerospace, defence and digital technology while highlighting 바카라사이트 persistent STEM gender gap.

In response, 바카라사이트 EUA encouraged 바카라사이트 commission to extend its proposals beyond STEM disciplines, noting that skills needs and labour shortages vary significantly across individual disciplines.

¡°Similarly, 바카라사이트 promotion of accessible and inclusive education needs to go beyond enhancing 바카라사이트 participation of disadvantaged students in STEM,¡± 바카라사이트 university group said, adding, ¡°Although 바카라사이트 underrepresentation of women in STEM is already addressed in many national and institutional contexts, it would benefit from fur바카라사이트r European support.¡±

The EUA emphasised?바카라사이트 need for sufficient funding, noting 바카라사이트 growing financial pressures faced by universities in multiple EU countries. ¡°Failure to step up investment risks undermining universities¡¯ ability to fulfil 바카라사이트ir core missions in education, research and societal engagement, which all contribute to 바카라사이트 wider objectives of 바카라사이트 Union of Skills,¡± 바카라사이트 group said.

¡°A European-level instrument, such as a ¡®Skills Fund¡¯, aimed at leveraging investment from both public and private funders, could provide targeted support through grants, and potentially study loans on agreed priorities, to be awarded under 바카라사이트matic calls.¡±

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com