NewcomersSession_November2012

44th European University Continuing Education
Network Conference
“Border-Crossing as a Viable Choice: Collaboration, Dialogue and
Access to Higher Education”
University of Malta (Valletta, Malta)
07-09 November 2012

http://www.um.edu.mt/events/eucen2012

WELCOME SESSION FOR EUCEN’S NEWCOMERS

Toril E EIDE – EUCEN Steering Committee
Carme ROYO – Executive Secretary of EUCEN

1991 | 2011 EUCEN: Twenty years committed to LLL

Overview

Part 1: EUCEN’s achievements in the field of University Lifelong
Learning (ULLL)

Part 2: EUCEN‘s current activities and EUCEN as Association

Part 3: Challenges


PART 1: EUCEN’s achievements in the field of University
Lifelong Learning (ULLL)


1. What is understood by “University Lifelong Learning
(ULLL)” in Europe today…

The European Universities’ Charter on Lifelong Learning (EUA 2008) –
www.eua.be

Universities commit to:
1. Embedding concepts of widening access and lifelong learning
in their institutional strategies.
2. Providing education and learning to a diversified student
population.
3. Adapting study programmes to ensure that they are designed
to widen participation and attract returning adult learners.
4. Providing appropriate guidance and counselling services.


5. Recognising prior learning.
6. Embracing lifelong learning in quality culture.
7. Strengthening the relationship between research,
teaching and innovation in a perspective of lifelong
learning.
8. Consolidating reforms to promote a flexible and creative
learning environment for all students.
9. Developing partnerships at local, regional, national and
international level to provide attractive and relevant
programmes.
10.Acting as role models of lifelong learning institutions.


2. How is “ULLL” defined in Europe today…

EU Project BeFlex, led by EUCEN:
“ULLL is the provision by higher education institutions of
• learning opportunities, services and research - for:
• the personal and professional development of a wide range of
individuals – lifelong and lifewide; - and:
• the social, cultural and economic development of
communities and the region.

It is at university level and research-based;
it focuses primarily on the needs of the learners; - and
it is often developed and/or provided in collaboration with stakeholders
and external actors.”
http://www.eucen.eu/BeFlexPlus/index.html


3. Thematic “Thought Leadership” at European level…

• Quality
• Recognition of Prior Learning
• Diversity
• Indicators
• Institutional development
• Management in organisations
• Curriculum development
• Intergenerational learning
• E-learning
• Guidance and counselling

and output…

and output…

• Recommendations
• Guidelines
• Tools
• Check lists
• Reports (for example national reports)
• Analysis and evaluations
• Models, case studies
• Training materials

Target: Quality


4. We attract…

institutions to become members, meaning…

diverse professionals involved in EUCEN:
• Beginners and more experienced members of staff
• Managers/Directors
• Teachers/instructors/facilitators
• Counsellors
• Administrative and technical staff
• Rectors, Vice-Rectors
• Policy Makers
• Pool of experts (freelance)


5. Knowledge about ULLL in HEI-models:
• Continuing Education/LLL as a concept “has arrived”;
implementation delegated to the Centre for Continuing Education;
(Is this “LLL”?) -
Or a variation: All we do is “LLL” (meaning: we do not need to
change as institution)
• Stronger connection between “regular university study
programmes” and continuing education, but organised separately;
opening up to new target groups, mixed groups; stronger
cooperation with external partners
• LLL as new organisational culture – real focus on learners and their
needs – link to research – accompanying learners throughout their
professional career and in post-retirement


6. The contribution of EUCEN at European level – Processes

Initiating and leading dialogue:
Practice, research and policy development in dialogue for innovation

Producing and valorising new knowledge:
Collecting professional experience and knowledge, structure it,
evaluate it, discuss it, enrich it and disseminate and valorise it –
Main instrument: European projects, mainly with our members

Contributing to European Policy development: policy and position
papers, contributions to debates, working groups, presentations at all
levels – European Commission, other Stakeholders


7. The contribution of EUCEN at European level – Instruments
• Annual European conferences:
two per year (spring “Annual conference”; autumn: more staff
development event); since 1991: 42 conferences with about 4600
participants; in 23 countries; Proceedings; Study visits: in 12 countries

• EU projects: since 2001 contractor of 15 EU projects, coordinator 3
others for third parties; supported projects of members through
experts, evaluators, dissemination expert;
EUCEN managed project funds of over 15 million Euros

• Collaboration with National ULLL Networks (NN):
exchange of information, feeding into the European debate;
EUCEN Conferences with theme not only of European but also of
specific national relevance

8. After more than 20 years: EUCEN’s impact
• Concrete support for institutional development in ULLL
e.g. strategy development, provision, specific areas of
development such as RPL/VNIL, quality, staff development.
• At European level: on-going feeding into the policy
development with units of the European Commission and
added value of European projects
– accumulation of relevant specific knowledge and also
monitoring role (projects BEFLEX
http://www.eucen.eu/beflex.html or COMPASS
http://compass.eucen.eu)
• At national level: strengthening the national networks for
ULLL for better performing their roles

9. EUCEN contribution’s at institutional level

How can an individual university benefit from engaging at
European level?

• Professional knowledge – contacts – staff development –
additional income through projects
• EU projects – supporting developmental work
at institutional level. An example:
• EU project ALLUME – A Lifelong Learning University
Model for Europe – strategy development at institutional
level; site visits, workshops | http://allume.eucen.eu/


PART 2: EUCEN‘s current activities and EUCEN as Association


1. Current EUCEN projects …

•IMPLEMENT – Implementing LLUs through training and development
(01/11-12/12) : Training materials (also online) for staff in ULLL
http://implement.eucen.eu/

•DIALOGUE – Bridges between Research and Practice in ULLL (01/11-
12/13): Case studies, barriers and enhancing factors
http://dialogue.eucen.eu/

•OBSERVAL NET (11/11-10/13): a stakeholder-centric network of
organisations looking at supporting the validation of non-formal and
informal learning (VNIL) in Europe
http://www.observal-net.eu


2. Recent publications:
•Observatory on validation of non-formal and informal learning (VNIL).
OBSERVAL (2007-2010) has collected over 100 documents on this topic.
http://www.observal-net.eu – NOTE: the original observatory has been reviewed by
OBSERVAL-Net and we recommend you to visit the new site.
•LLL Policy Implementation – Trends and recommendations. COMPASS
(2009-2010) focused on the gap between the policy making processes at
European level and the situation on the ground in their own context.
http://compass.eucen.eu
•National Reports. COMPASS also collected a number of national reports
and prepared a transversal analysis and a matrix summarizing the policy
developments against impact, success, etc.
•Pathways and Policies – Recommendations. ALLUME has produced a
detailed book explaining backgrounds that lead to the result of the project.
http://allume.eucen.eu
•Tools and Results – ALLUME also produced a set of tools for self-analysis
in terms of process and content to help universities to transform into LLL
universities.

3. Next conferences…

• Geneva (CH), 29-31 May 2013
“Transferring Knowledge in a Globalised World: A ULLL
Responsibility”

• Lisbon (PT), May 2014

And other events planned for the near future too…
In Brussels, in October 2013


4. Special EUCEN services for National ULLL Networks…

•the “National Networks Forum”, inviting all delegates of National
Networks to meet in the framework of EUCEN conferences;
•a space on the EUCEN website for the National Networks;
•providing speakers for events at national level upon request;
•supporting the creation of new National Networks by providing
information and sharing experience, and, at the invitation of a
promoting group, by holding a network development workshop at
national level.


5. EUCEN as Association…

•EUCEN, European University Continuing Education Network is an
Association (not-for-profit) based on Belgian law – founded 1991 (by
15 Universities)
•Currently more than 198 members (institutional membership) from 37
countries incl. 15 national ULLL Networks
•EUCEN’s mission: the promotion and advancement of lifelong
learning within higher education institutions in Europe and elsewhere;
to foster universities’ influence in the development of lifelong learning
knowledge and policies throughout Europe
•Membership: Full, Associate, Affiliate members. Fees.


PART 3: Challenges


At European level:

•Increasing diversity (age – demographic development, cultural
backgrounds, migration, …) – challenge for our civil societies
•Global economic competition – International competitive
environment for universities
•European Commission: focus on employability; youth
unemployment, support for poorly qualified people
•What does this mean for Higher Education Institutions? For
University Lifelong Learning? What are the specific roles of
various actors/stakeholders? The need to position ourselves,
also in ULLL


The Role of European Associations such as EUCEN
•Support our members in meeting the challenges – finding own
institutional solutions for developing a strategy in ULLL, for
developing a provision supporting learners on their individual
pathways and organisations as “learning organisations”

•Influencing European policy in our field and strengthening
National Networks to influence national policy

•In the end: assist universities in serving the people of Europe
most effectively, for a better Europe, as democratic societies
and an innovative and thus competitive economy!


Malta - A Members’ Forum:
You have the floor!
• New space during EUCEN events to exchange
practical challenges and possible solutions
based on peer exchange of experience
Speed “Problem-Solving” Session
• Open to all EUCEN event participants
• Malta first Forum: to discuss if this is a good
opportunity and to design it for future events
See you on THURSDAY at 16:00 (Auditorium)
Bring your questions along

And finally: An invitation
45th EUCEN European Conference:
“Transferring Knowledge in a Globalised World: A ULLL
Responsibility” 29-31 May 2013
Organised by the University of Geneva in beautiful Charmey!
http://www.eucen2013-unige.ch
Key words: International ULLL Policy Strategies, Partnership,
Technologies, Human Rights, Business Ethics

We hope that you become involved in our activities!
executive.office@eucen.eu

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

Questions and Answers round


NewcomersSession_November2012

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