EFEE KEY THEMES

In view of the growing influx of migrants to Europe and the follow-up of the Paris Declaration, policy makers at European and national level are increasingly seeking to strengthen the role of education in promoting citizenship and the common values of freedom, tolerance and non-discrimination, and in facilitating migrants’ integration in the host society. EFEE deems it important to strengthen the role of education employers in promoting civic education, intercultural dialogue and democratic citizenship via peer learning and policy exchange.

EFEE activities

Education has an important role to play in promoting sustainable economic growth, improving social cohesion and preparing citizens for the fast-changing needs in today’s knowledge society. However in order to reach this full potential, our education systems will have to be modern, up-to-date and efficient. This requires innovative management solutions and an excellent teaching force.

EFEE activities

There is a need to develop stronger cooperation between the world of work and the world of education and training. Apprenticeships, internships and work-based learning are effective means to improving the transition between both worlds. Moreover, fostering local and regional partnerships between schools, businesses and local/regional governments should be a priority at the national level as it may contribute to ensuring young people acquire the skills and dispositions relevant to gaining and retaining employment.

EFEE activities

Education institutions should be safe and healthy places which promote success in teaching and learning. Education institutions are the workplace of school leaders, teachers and other education staff, but foremost they are education institutions for students. The purpose therefore is to support the creation of an atmosphere where students can learn and teachers and other staff in education can carry out their work in a positive, healthy and safe setting.

EFEE activities

Strong and effective leadership is important in the European schools of the 21st century, as strong and effective leadership is a key driver for educational changes necessary for a modern European education system able to face social and economic challenges like growth, competitiveness and social cohesion. Furthermore, it is not enough for education systems to attract and educate good teaching staff; they need to be retained in the profession, and they need to be nurtured. Education systems need to identify, esteem and support those teaching staff who have powerful influences on student learning. In this context, effective appraisal and feedback systems can have a positive impact on what happens in the classroom, by encouraging staff to build upon their strengths.

EFEE is a leading partner of the European Education Policy Network on Teachers and School Leaders (EEPN). This is a Europe-wide network of several organisations (policymakers, practitioners, researchers and stakeholders) to promote co-operation, policy development and implementation at different governance levels, and to support the European Commission’s policy work on teachers and school leaders. This network is building on existing activities developed at European level, especially initiatives and projects supported through European Union programmes in the field of education. The coordinator of the 4-year project that started in January 2019 is the European School Heads Association in strong cooperation with the European Sectoral Social Partners in Education (ETUCE and EFEE)  and University of Jyvaskyla, and currently includes 27 partners from 17 countries. More info on website: www.educationpolicynetwork.eu

EFEE activities

EUROPEAN SECTORAL SOCIAL DIALOGUE IN EDUCATION

The European Sectoral Social Dialogue in Education (ESSDE) was launched in 2010, under the Articles 154-155 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. This came after four years of initiation and start-up processes carried out by the European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) and from early 2009 onwards, together with the European Federation of Education Employers (EFEE). The first meeting of the ESSDE was in June 2010.

As European social partners in Education, we deem it important to consider in our work the impact of economical, social and demographic developments on the education sector and to continue to focus our joint work on topics that have sufficient common ground for discussion and for initiatives with a clear added value for cooperation at European level. Herewith we take also in consideration the agenda of the European Commission in the field of education, employment and social affairs, in particular the work of DG Education and Culture and DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion. We wish to contribute to the improvement of the quality of education in Europe thereby focusing on the modernisation of the education sector, its managements and its teaching personnel. In all our work we keep in mind the gender equality principle.

See our social dialogue activities

EDUCATION & TRAINING 2020

Each EU country is responsible for its own education and training systems. EU policy is designed to support national action and help address common challenges, such as ageing societies, skills deficits in the workforce, technological developments and global competition. Education and training 2020 (ET 2020) is the framework for cooperation in education and training.

ET 2020 is a forum for exchanges of best practices, mutual learning, gathering and dissemination of information and evidence of what works, as well as advice and support for policy reforms.

In order to ensure the successful implementation of ET 2020, Working Groups composed of experts nominated by member countries and other key stakeholders work on common EU-level tools and policy guidance. EFEE is represented in all seven Working Groups for 2019-2020 on Schools, Modernization of Higher Education, Vocational Education and Training, Adult Learning, Digital Skills, Competences, and Promoting citizenship and the common values of freedom, tolerance and non-discrimination through education, and Early Childhood Education and Care.

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