Debate: Establishing the European Education Area by  – micro credentials, individual learning accounts and learning for a sustainable environment
Date: THURSDAY, 19 MAY 2022
Speaker: Dace Melbārde
Country: Bulgaria
Language: EN

At the European Parliament we have five priorities for these three aforementioned proposals. First, that these initiatives make learning paths more inclusive, accessible and flexible. Second, that they broaden learning opportunities for all. Third, that they foster mutual recognition of qualifications across all Member States. Fourth that they create ties between lifelong learning on the one hand and the digital and green transitions on the other hand. And fifth, that they strengthen the role played by higher education, vocational education and training institutions throughout people’s life. We believe the EU must support Member States to establish high—quality, competitive and tailored education frameworks that cater for everyone, everywhere and according to their specific needs. Micro—credentials and individual learning accounts are pieces in the puzzle that will aid these objectives. What is more, we need to ensure that educational attainments are recognised throughout the Union, as removing such barriers would help promote educational and professional mobility and, by extension, the economic growth and social development of the EU. Even though the European Parliament is not the decision—maker in the adoption of these three Council resolutions, we see it as our responsibility to support the Commission and the Council and the Member States by providing political guidance. It is essential that each building block contributes towards achieving a true and comprehensive European education area. With this in mind, I have seven questions on behalf of the Culture Committee. First, how will the Commission and the Council ensure that the relevant Council recommendations and other initiatives come together to create a clearly visible and coherent European education area, including flexible, high—quality learning paths for EU citizens? And second, do the Council and the Commission intend to promote the recognition of non—formal and informal learning experiences such as volunteering and youth work through micro—credentials? Will this pave the way for a framework for the recognition and automatic transfer of skills and competences acquired through informal and non-formal learning? Third, will the Member States include strategies in the plans they submit to make micro—credentials relevant and accessible to those who are usually left behind? We believe that lifelong learning is key to personal development and well-being, as well as upward social mobility. So we also would like to ask how will the right options be determined for everyone without eliminating alternative choices which may not seem suitable initially? Then, fifth question, will the successful pilot model used to launch the European Universities Initiative be replicated in order to encourage Member States to make significant legislative and administrative efforts to adopt micro—credentials as a European tool to certify learning outcomes? What will the Member States do with the Council and the Commission’s support to develop a coherent approach and to achieve the goals of the European Green Deal? Will there be adequate funding and support to embed sustainability in all processes and deliver a systemic change in education and training? And finally, what are the Commission, the Council and the Member States doing to develop within the European Education Area the knowledge, attitudes and skills needed to carry out ambitious plans to better protect Europe’s rich cultural heritage from the impact of climate change and make greener choices for new cultural buildings?