Overview of ULLL in Europe Michel Feutrie President of EUCEN EUCEN Conference Tallinn 7/11/2008

“In today’s world, lifelong learning is not an option, but a necessity” Malcom Webb, Oil and Gas UK

A central question now for European HEIs Will they continue to focus more on young generations? or Are they ready to become LLL organisations?

The current answer from Europe Two pillars : - The LLL perspective introduced by the Memorandum in The Lisbon strategy and « Education&Training 2010 » - And now the discussions on post-Lisbon Two operational processes: - The Bologna process developed by EHEA - The Copenhagen process for vocational education

LLL in Communiqués of Ministers Prague 2001: promising perspectives but nothing in the Action Plan Berlin 2003: underlined the potential important contribution of higher education in making LLL a reality and made some concrete propositions Bergen (2005), Londres (2007): mentioned among a number of topics Leuven (2009): BFUG has to prepare the reflection on « this important issue »

Progress reports Education & Training 2010 Few elements concerning LLL in HE in national reports

A European state of play done by EUCEN

The Beflex report from EUCEN A European survey funded with support from the Socrates programme: BeFlex The main aim of this project: to monitor the development of ULLL in the Bologna process We started from the following observations: - Although the emphasis on ULLL has been gradually increasing in the context of the Bologna reforms, this issue is rather neglected in the Bologna discussions - And few analysis of the development of policy or of the implementation of arrangements and practice have taken place until now.

Data collected 150 questionnaires 52 case studies of best practice in innovative delivery of ULLL 20 visits in universities Two conferences Seminars in 7 countries to discuss the results

Have HEIs a LLL strategy? Convergent results from Trends V of EUA and BeFlex of EUCEN: 14% : a very high priority 46 %: important along with other priorities 30% : not yet a high priority 9% : unlikely to become a high priority 1% : no answer

A key word: diversity Diversity in the definition of LLL by universities Diversity in the provision of LLL Diversity in its location and status within an institution, between separation and intégration Diversity in its organisation and management Diversity in partners involved in its development (Regions, companies,…)

New services for « learners » Advice and guidance, careers orientation Validation of non formal and informal learning Mentoring and tutoring Support programmes Flexibility in programmes and open and distance learning …

What is LLL in European universities? 4 broad approaches to ULLL A holistic approach: all aspects of university teaching and learning are seen through the filter of LLL A labour market approach: LLL an answer to the economy and labour market in general A social inclusion approach focusing on widening participation on non traditional learners LLL as a slogan

Challenges for HEIs… Four questions

How to combine different priorities? Top level research oriented university/ best professors/ best students/ Shanghai ranking University competing as a world company University contributing to European/national/regional/local development, to a knowledge based society University contributing in social inclusion University as a LLL organisation

How to combine answers to the different needs? Needs from companies asking for short term and adapted answers, linked to individual professional paths which are more and more short Needs from individuals asking from answers which could support lifelong and lifewide pathways. How to ensure continuity and progression (not only mobility)? How to offer solutions particularly at transition points?

Need for a LLL economic model Who should or will pay for ULLL? Or who is ready to pay? And to pay for what?

Need for building strategies for implementation A workplan - To clarify the model and identify the conditions to meet - To elaborate concrete actions for implementation

Will a Charter be enough ?