1. Lene Oftedal European Commission Athens, 17.October 2011 Modernisation of Higher Education

2. 2 Overview 1.The Challenge: a Europe with increasing (and unmet) skills needs 2.A European Response: Europe 2020 3.An EU Reform Agenda for the Modernisation of Higher Education 4.The Erasmus Programme – past and future

3. 3 A Europe with increasing (and unmet) skills needs 1 - The Challenge

4. The EU labour market 10 years from now?  Employment in 2020: 235 million (~ pre-crisis peak)  Jobs becoming more knowledge- and skills-intensive  Globalisation and technological advances => changes in sectoral structure and demand for new types of skills  By 2020 35% of all jobs will require high-level qualifications

5. A need for higher education attainment level in Europe Source: Cedefop, data for EU 27 + Switzerland and Norway 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 19962001200620152020 High Medium Low Past and future structure of jobs by education attainment level According to the forecasting of future skills needs up to 2020 carried out by Cedefop in February 2010, there will be: 15,6 millions new jobs in the EU for graduates from the tertiary level and 3,7 million new jobs for secondary level graduates. + 15,6 million high qualified level + 3,7 million qualified at medium level Improve education pathways Up skilling

6. A need for higher education attainment level in Europe Source: Cedefop, data for EU 27 + Switzerland and Norway 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 19962001200620152020 High Medium Low Past and future structure of jobs by education attainment level + 15,6 million high qualified level + 3,7 million qualified at medium level In contrast, those with no or low formal diplomas will have to compete for fewer jobs; almost 12 million fewer. -12 million qualified at low level

7. A need for higher education attainment level in Europe Source: Cedefop, data for EU 27 + Switzerland and Norway 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 19962001200620152020 High Medi um Low Past and future structure of jobs by education attainment level + 15,6 million high qualified level + 3,7 million qualified at medium level -12 million qualified at low level The forecasts of future skills needs show a greater demand for medium and high level qualifications up to 2020 combined with a need to replace a significant number of people leaving for retirement and to react to evolving skills requirements. In conclusion, the demand for medium- level VET qualifications will increase. Moreover, also the content of the jobs will change: The future low-carbon economy and the need to equip people with skills for "green" jobs will imply changes in every workplace, being a comparable phenomenon to the ICT boom in the past years.

8. Not enough people have high level education...

9. 9 Europe 2020 : a strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth 2- Europe´s Response

10. A new political context  Europe 2020 (adopted June 2010)  defines a strategy for recovery and “smart, sustainable and inclusive” growth in the next decade, including headline targets  Youth on the Move (adopted September 2010)  one of 7 Europe 2020 flagship initiatives  focused on education and training and youth employment – calls for an updated modernisation agenda for HE

11. 11 What can the European Commission do?  Education Policy = national competence  Open Method of Coordination with Member States  Strategic reflection and policy shaping  Specific initiatives and instruments

12. What the EU does in Higher Education 1.Modernisation agenda for higher education - part of the Lisbon strategy 2.Commission = member of the Bologna Process -(inter-governmental, 47 countries): curriculum reform, quality assurance, recognition etc. 3.EU funding programmes - Erasmus, Erasmus Mundus, Marie Curie Actions, R&D funds (FP7)

13. Europe 2020 targets Early School Leaving (Age 18-24 without upper secondary qualification) Higher Education Attainment (Age 30-34 with HE qualification) 20102020 14.1% 10% at most 20102020 33.6% 40% at least

14. More people should reap the benefits of a university education  How will Europe reach the 40% benchmark?  Make Higher Education attractive and widen participation  Reduce drop-out rates  More flexible pathways and attendance modes  National targets appropriate for own circumstances  University is not for everyone - Vocational education and training should be a valuable alternative

15. Progress towards the 40% target

16. Higher education shields against unemployment Annual unemployment rates by highest level of education attained (2010)

17. 3 - Agenda for Modernising Higher Education...how can higher education be responsive to the needs of society and the labour market but also shape the future?

18. 18 A New Communication  A Policy document  sets out key challenges, opportunities and recommending actions at EU and Member State level  guides EU spending priorities for Higher Education  Key Theme  How to raise the numbers whilst maintaining high quality provision?  Communication on Modernising Higher Education - adopted 20 September 2011

19. Key policy priorities  More graduates (including widening access + older learners)  Enhancing quality in human capital development (quality and relevance of courses and training)  International / cross-border cooperation and mobility (including within EU)  Education, research, innovation links (strengthening the knowledge triangle)  Funding and governance (how to diversify revenue, maximise efficiency, balanced autonomy)

20. Future EU contribution  Support to Member States and institutions (evidence base, exchange and policy learning to support national / regional / institutional activity)  Mobility (student and staff)  International cooperation (internationalisation agenda)  Reinforced + coordinated actions post 2013 (new Multi-annual Financial Framework - MFF)

21. 4. Mobility - The Erasmus Programme...past and future EU co-operation should encourage and support competent national authorities responsible for qualifications to use these instruments through the creation of favourable conditions without administrative barriers for stakeholders and citizens.

22. Erasmus student mobility - reaching 3 million

23. Erasmus student mobility (2008/09 => 2009/10) Student mobility 198 500 => 213 000 students (+7.4%) 23 Studies:  168 000 => 178 000 mobile students (+5.7%)  Average duration: 6.4 => 6.4 months  Average grant: 253 => 236 € /month (-6.7 %) Placements:  30 000 => 35 000 mobile students (+ 17.3%)  Average duration: 4.4 => 4.24 months  Average grant: 433 => 386 € /month (-10.9%)

24. Erasmus staff mobility - growth under LLP

25. Impact of Erasmus at the individual level - students 25  Upgrading skills (intercultural, linguistic etc.)  Stimulating adaptability & flexibility  Promoting European citizenship  Enhancing employability  Easier to find a job  More international career and higher labour market mobility

26. Impact of Erasmus at the institutional level 26  International offices & support services  Quality of teaching & learning => new teaching methods  Modernisation & internationalisation of curricula  More transparency (ECTS/DS etc.)  Research participation  University-business cooperation  Professionalization of management

27. Impact of Erasmus at the policy / system level 27  Internationalisation of higher education  Driving force behind Bologna Process  Continued impact (classification & ranking)  Worldwide interest in scheme

28. Flash Eurobarometer Student Survey Planning to study abroad vs real mobility levels

29. New Programme post-2013 Starting Points  Show EU added value – show it is better to spend a € on the European level than at home!  Relevance: link policy and programme – show systemic impact by putting our money at the service of our policies  Sustained impact at different levels:  individual, institutional, systemic/policy  Erasmus has to continue to contribute to higher education internationalisation  Simplification, rationalisation  Solid basis but adaptation and innovation

30. Youth in Action Programme International higher education Programmes (currently Erasmus Mundus, Tempus, Alfa, Edulink) Erasmus Grundtvig Leonardo Comenius Lifelong Learning Programme: A single integrated programme Existing programmes New Programme post-2013 Structure 3 Education Europe 1. Learning Mobility 3. Policy support 2. Institutional co-operation Preparatory Sport

31. Education Europe 2014-2020 One programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sports Learning Mobility for all Institutional cooperation and partnerships Support for policy reforms Support for meeting benchmarks and goals in EU 2020 and the Bologna Process

32. Three main innovations: 1. A significant budget increase The Commission proposes to allocate €15.2 billion*, for 2014- 2020, to a new, Single Programme for education, training, youth and sports (plus the funds for international cooperation programmes, see below). (nb. * Compared to €6.97 billion for the Lifelong learning programme 2007-2013) 2. A reinforced international dimension for Higher Education The new Education Europe programme will house all existing Higher Education programmes under one roof: Erasmus Global*, Tempus, Alfa, Edulink and cooperation programmes with industralised countries (nb. * Possible re-branding of « Erasmus Mundus ») 3. An “Erasmus for Masters” students Current EU instruments for student mobility do not specifically cater for Masters studies, which are increasingly long (2 years) and expensive. The Commission proposes to use the EU budget to (a) leverage funds from the private sector to provide loans to Masters students whilst (b) guaranteeing against the risk of default. The EIT and the Marie Curie Actions: The Commission proposes to reinforce and strengthen both of these initiatives under « Horizon 2020 », the future Common Strategic Framework for Research and Innovation funding.

33. Education Europe to support Europe 2020 HE attainment 40 % Universities to enhance Lifelong Learning Flexible study pathways Social inclusion benchmark 20 % of all students mobile by 2020 – Bologna benchmark

34. Thank you for your attention! http://ec.europa.eu/education/higher-education/doc/com0911_en.pdf