Irish Regions Office Website

November 03, 2008

Access to Higher Education

European higher education providers have committed themselves to a coordinated respond to growing demands to raise employment prospects by broadening access to their services. Although education is a Member State competence, lifelong learning (LLL) with its roles in developing people's employability, adaptability and personal fulfilment while also promoting social inclusion is considered a core element of the EU's renewed Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs. When allied with flexible working arrangements ('flexicurity') it is thought that continuous education to support and realise learner potential can contribute much towards modernising European labour markets and ensuring that people have greater access to employment throughout their working lives.

The European University Association (EUA), which represents institutions and organisations involved in higher education teaching and research, published a Charter on Lifelong Learning (25 October) to emphasise the role of its members in driving this agenda. The document pledges members to work in conjunction with partners (including development agencies, employers bodies and trade unions) at local, regional, national and international level to undertake targeted out-reach measures for diversified groups of potential students and to create tailored,
attractive and relevant programmes which promote flexible and creative learning and reflect fast-changing labour markets. The charter also calls for concerted governmental action to improve recognition of prior learning as well
as establishing the appropriate financial frameworks to effectively and equitably fund LLL.

Charter:
http://www.eua.be/fileadmin/user_upload/fi
les/Publications/EUA_Charter_Eng_LY.pdf

Posted by iroronan at November 3, 2008 10:26 AM