education and training policy

Structured set of principles (e.g. right to education and training, universal access, non-discrimination and inclusiveness, equal opportunities), legislative, regulatory or administrative provisions, strategies and activities which define and govern the objectives and priorities for operation and development of an education and training system at regional, national or international level, including:

  • anticipation of skill needs;
  • strategic development (planning, implementation and evaluation);
  • lifelong guidance;
  • resources (human and financial) and infrastructures;
  • capacity building of teaching and support staff;
  • definition of curricula and programmes;
  • lifelong access to education and training (inclusion of groups at risk);
  • pedagogical approaches;
  • support to learners: pedagogical, social or financial support, e.g. individualised approach to low/high achievers; additional teaching hours and tutoring; psychological and other support; material support, e.g. digital equipment for distance learning), scholarships and other support schemes.
  • quality assurance, including accreditation of programmes and providers;
  • assessment, validation and certification of learning outcomes.
Comment
  • The objective of education and training policy is to:
    • equip citizens with knowledge, skills and competences to support their personal development and their integration into the labour market, and promote active and responsible citizenship and social inclusion;
    • respond to the needs of the economy and prevent skill gaps and mismatches;
  • EU policy in the fields of education and training is designed to support action at the level of Member States – who remain responsible for this competence area (principle of subsidiarity) – and to help address common challenges, such as ageing societies, skill shortages, technological developments and competition at the global level;
  • the Strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training towards the European Education Area promotes collaboration between EU Member States and key stakeholders and allows the monitoring of progress towards the achievement of their collective vision. It defines seven objectives:
    • by 2025:
      • the share of recent graduates from VET benefiting from exposure to work-based learning during their vocational education and training should be at least 60%;
      • at least 47% of adults aged 25-64 should have participated in learning during the last 12 months;
    • by 2030:
      • the share of low-achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics and science should be less than 15%;
      • the share of low-achieving eighth-grade learners in computer and information literacy should be less than 15%;
      • at least 96% of children between 3 years old and the starting age for compulsory primary education should participate in early childhood education and care;
      • the share of early leavers from education and training should be less than 9%;
      • the share of 25-34-year-olds with tertiary educational attainment should be at least 45%.
Source

Cedefop; European Commission, 2021.

Related term(s)
disadvantaged group / vulnerable group / group at risk
education and training system
European education area
governance