WRITTEN QUESTION E-0433/01

by Hans Karlsson (PSE) to the Commission

(16 February 2001)

Subject: Lifelong learning for adults

Lifelong learning has become a widespread concept with broad-based support within the Union as a method of keeping abreast of developments, enabling people to retain their jobs and equip themselves to find new jobs.

Lifelong learning is defined in a variety of ways, however. It is not sufficient, in my view, for employees to receive ongoing, in-service training; it must also be possible, for example, to embark on university studies many years into working life so as to have a genuine opportunity to acquire the same qualifications as younger employees.

What measures will the Commission, therefore, take to enable employees with many years of work experience to enjoy lifelong learning at an advanced level?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 2001)

The Commission recognises the crucial role of education and training in the economic and social development of the Community. The Employment Guidelines provide the policy framework for promoting lifelong learning related to European Employment Strategy objectives. Following the Lisbon European Council, which stressed the need to adapt the European education and training systems, greater emphasis is being placed on lifelong learning and on increasing investment in human capital.

Lifelong learning is now seen as a horizontal objective of the Employment Strategy, with more focused guidelines and more specific commitments for developing comprehensive strategies in an integrated approach framework and setting new common targets. The strategies should include the development of tertiary systems and further education and training for adults to improve their employability, adaptability and skills as well as their participation in the knowledge based society. The recognition of qualifications, acquired knowledge and skills are specifically addressed by the employment guidelines. Therefore, the changes proposed in the employment guidelines for 2001(1) have consequences for new policy measures and Member States are invited to make specific commitments to develop comprehensive lifelong learning strategies.

Moreover, this aspect is an important message of the memorandum on lifelong learning(2) and the Commission expects to come up with some proposals at European level in its Action Plan in the autumn of this year based on the conclusions of the consultation process for the memorandum on lifelong learning. In this context, the recognition of professional experience as credit or entrance qualification to higher education is an issue for policy development in the Community. Some Member States (the United Kingdom and more recently France) have already introduced recognition of prior professional experience for those who have not acquired upper secondary level or other entrance qualifications to higher education. Thus, they also can have access to higher education or even credit for one year in a study field relevant to the field of their professional experience.

Moreover, one of the joint actions to be launched in the near future deals with the credit for life where the recognition of prior experience or learning should be one of its pillars. The Leonardo and Socrates/Grundtvig networks on recognition should also be mentioned as reflection fora and action-oriented initiatives in this field.

(1) Council Decision 2001/63/EC of 19 January 2001 on Guidelines for Member States' employment policies for 2001 (OJ L 22, 24.1.2001).

(2) A Memorandum on Lifelong Learning Commission Staff Working Paper, (SEC(2000) 1832/30-10-2000).