Page 43 - european-lifelong-guidance-policies-progress-report

Section 3: EU Policy Developments

3.4. Higher education • progressive pathways from VET to higher edu-
cation and to develop recognition of prior
3.4.1 Key developments learning and experience;
• better access for disadvantaged and under-rep-
The main objectives in this sector are: resented groups by providing more transparent
information on educational opportunities as
• Modernisation of higher education systems. well as better guidance in order to ensure the
• Increasing learning mobility in higher educa- right choice of study;
tion. • decreasing drop-outs rates, in particular by pro-
viding relevant post-entry support;
Modernisation of higher education systems • use of graduate employment data (including
tracking graduate employment outcomes) in
The Communication of 20 September 2011 from the course design, delivery and evaluation;
Commission to the European Parliament, the Coun- • tackling stereotypes still faced by women in
cil, the European Economic and Social Committee reaching the highest levels in education and
and the Committee of the Regions on Supporting research;
Growth and Jobs – an Agenda for the Modernisation of • strengthening links between higher education
Europe’s Higher Education Systems identifies the main institutions, employers and labour market
areas for reform as being: institutions, in order to improve the match
between skills and jobs;
• to increase the number of higher education • learning mobility.
graduates;
• to improve the quality and relevance of teach- On the Commission’s side, the action will aim to
ing and researcher training, in order to equip ensure better labour market intelligence by improv-
graduates with the knowledge and core trans- ing data on higher education employment outcomes
ferable competences they need to succeed in and by ‘providing specific guidance on specific and
Policy
high-skill occupations; transversal skills and overcoming skills mismatches’.
• to strengthen the ‘knowledge triangle’ linking The Bucharest Ministerial Communiqué, adopted
education, research and business; on 26–27 April 2012, seeks to develop the social
• to create effective governance and funding dimension of higher education, including provision
mechanisms in support of excellence. of adequate student support services (which implies
guidance and counselling).
The Council conclusions on the modernisation of
higher education (adopted at the Education Council Increasing learning mobility in higher education
on 28 November 2011) underline the crucial role
of higher education to boost growth and economy A benchmark for learning mobility was adopted by
through its link with research. Strengthening the the Education Council on 28–29 November 2011.
‘knowledge triangle’ between education, research and The Council conclusions note the contribution of
business is again viewed as a precondition for growth learning mobility to enhancing the employability of
and jobs. Priority areas include: young people.

42