The Council adopted conclusions on a renewed agenda for higher education. The overall aim is to modernise higher education so that it keeps pace with the rapidly evolving environment. The conclusions invite member states to focus on a series of actions around four areas: promoting excellence in skills development, addressing the needs of a diverse student body and supporting academic staff, contributing to innovation in the wider economy, and promoting efficiency and developing further quality assurance in the higher education system.
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 invites the Commission to take full account of the conclusions when preparing its proposals for the future strategic cooperation framework in the field of education and training and the Union programme on education and training after 2020.
Besides, the Ministers discussed in public deliberation the future of skills and the changing role of vocational education and training (VET).
The complete overview of outcomes is available here. Bobby Wagner Authentic Jersey
