Council Education, Youth, Culture and Sport November 2017

November 20, 2017

The Council adopted conclusions on a renewed agenda for higher education. The overall aim is to modernize higher education so that it keeps pace with the rapidly evolving environment. It also adopted conclusions on school development and excellent teaching. The conclusions highlight the importance of ensuring high-quality and inclusive education for all, empowering teachers and school leaders, and shifting towards more effective, equitable and efficient governance. The Council adopted a recommendation for tracking graduates as a way of encouraging and supporting member states in their efforts to improve the quality and availability of information on what graduates do after leaving higher education or vocational education and training. The conclusions and recommendation follow the Commission communications of 30 May 2017 on school development and excellent teaching, and on a renewed EU agenda for higher education.

The Council also reached a general approach on a draft regulation on the European Solidarity Corps. The regulation aims to strengthen cohesion, solidarity and democracy in Europe by offering young people the possibility of volunteering or working on beneficial projects across Europe.

Ministers discussed in public deliberation the future of skills and the changing role of vocational education and training (VET).
Ministers raised several points, including:
 ensuring VET is competence based and provides the key general skills needed
 incorporating new methods and digital possibilities to VET
 promoting lifelong learning and fostering the flexibility and permeability of the education system
 raising awareness among young people of the attractiveness of VET
 involving all actors in VET, including the private sector as well as research and higher education institutions
 sharing best practices and bolstering the Erasmus+ programme after 2020

The Council took note of information from the Bulgarian delegation on its Presidency main priorities in the education field. Priorities include:
 Erasmus+: mid-term evaluation and setting up orientations on the future of the programme;
 Investing in digital skills and connectivity;
 ET2020: new mandates of the working groups in the European framework for education and training 2018-2020;
 Common EU values through education: adoption of recommendation;
 Key competences for lifelong learning: revision of recommendation;