The Digital Agenda and the Digital Inclusion Roadmap

Our citizens need basic ICT skills as well as media and digital literacy. Our members showed a great interest in the Digital Agenda. In a knowledge-based society and in a fast changing world, individuals need not only to learn academic content but also how to keep learning and make effective and innovative use of their knowledge, skills and competences throughout their lives – the “lifelong learner”. More

 The social dimension of education and training should be a priority in Europe

To mark the release of its publication on the social dimension of education and training, EUCIS-LLL reminds European policy engagements to invest in education and training and particularly to ensure that nobody is left behind in the current economic crisis. “The austerity measures put in place by EU Member States are having an adverse effect by acting on investments in education and training. They could impede reaching of headline targets in the Europe 2020 strategy and be a burden on people that are already disadvantaged” said Gina Ebner, EUCIS-LLL President. Cuts in adult education, schools, teacher training or popular education will have far-reaching consequences that will hurt Europe in the long-term. Instead EUCIS-LLL invites the EU and its Member States to adopt sustainable, inclusive and smart strategies.

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Press Release, 18 October 2011

Publication on the Social Dimension of Education and Training, October 2011

EUCIS-LLL delegation meeting with Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou, 18 October 2011

EUCIS-LLL is a member of the European Platform Against Poverty and Social Exclusion stakeholders’ dialogue group

European Platform Against Poverty and Social Exclusion, DG EMPL

 Stop austerity measures in Education and Training in Europe!

Poor access to lifelong learning limits people’s ability to access high-quality jobs and participate fully in society. This is why in view of the ambitious goals set up by the “Europe 2020” Strategy and in the context of the current economic austerity measures, EUCIS-LLL calls on all the relevant institutions and stakeholders to reconsider austerity measures in education and training. In this position paper EUCIS-LLL proposes 6 key areas to focus on in order to ensure a broader and more equitable access to education and training.

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EUCIS-LLL position paper "Austerity measures, lifelong learning and social cohesion", February 2011

Report on the Round Table organised at the European Parliament in March 2011

EUCIS-LLL messages to the Citizens’ Agora of the European Parliament, January 2011

Education International Report on Austerity Measures

 Digital Agenda: enlarging participation by offering opportunities in schools and out-of-school

To allow individuals to understand, analyse and act upon the  world they live in, digital competences are essential. Our citizens need basic ICT skills as well as media and digital literacy. EUCIS-LLL believes that promoting digital inclusion requires a global and long-term strategy but also strong political support. It believes that more efforts should be done in education and training. In theory, ICT can make lifelong learning a reality by allowing people to access and share knowledge everywhere and by offering new forms of learning. In reality we see that not everyone benefits from these new possibilities. In 2010 only 39% of Europeans used the Internet for any training and education related activity with huge disparities across countries. We know that main barriers to access to ICT are technologic but also linked to attitudes, interests and abilities. In this context there is a huge potential of progress. We need coherent and targeted strategies in lifelong learning: developing digital competences in education and training across all ages and in all areas of life – be it in formal, non-formal and informal learning. This is a prerequisite if we want to reach the ambitious goals of the Digital Agenda and of the Europe 2020 strategy.

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Digital Agenda, DG INFSO, European Commission

Meeting with Commissioner Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the Digital Agenda

EUCIS-LLL at the Digital Agenda Assembly, June 2011

EUCIS-LLL at the EU Presidency conference on “Innovation for digital inclusion”

 EUCIS-LLL messages on migration and lifelong learning

Education and training is a fundamental human right which has the potential to empower people to exercise their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. The successful integration of populations with migrant background within our education and training systems should be at the heart of all public policies. It is about living together and equal opportunities. Furthermore there is a close correlation between poverty, social exclusion and low levels of education. Education and training is an important tool in the fight to alleviate poverty and discriminations. EUCIS-LLL organized a public hearing on this topic in December 2008.

Key messages of the public hearing, December 2008.

 EUCIS-LLL messages on access to lifelong learning for disabled people

The issue of disability should be considered in-depth in the frame of human rights as it is the case in the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. The EU is adopting legislations that are essentially focused on the labour market. Education and training are nevertheless crucial areas to foster social cohesion, employability and well-being. We need a long-term plan to fight against discriminations in the field of education and training at EU level as well as in the Member States. EUCIS-LLL organized a public hearing on this topic in July 2008.

Learn more:

Read the key messages from the public hearing, July 2008

Check the website of the European Disability Forum (EDF), EASPD or EPR

 A common position on lifelong learning

Today, the concept of “lifelong learning” (LLL) is widely used but its meaning differs according to whom is using it. According to EUCIS-LLL, lifelong learning covers education and training across all ages and in all areas of life be it formal, non-formal or informal. It shall enable citizen’s emancipation and full participation in society in its civic, social and economic dimensions. Its objective should not only be described in terms of employability or economic growth but also as a framework for personal development. A crucial issue is thus how to accompany the publics that are farther away from learning. The societal and political goals of lifelong learning are essential at local, national and European levels. What kind of living together and what Europe do we want?

EUCIS-LLL key definitions on lifelong learning