Meeting between the ministers for vocational education and training and the ministers for higher education: results

This meeting brought together the countries participating in the cooperation process known as the Copenhagen process (the EU Member States, Norway, Croatia and Turkey), the European Commission and the European social partners. The Copenhagen process was launched in November 2002 by the ministers responsible for education and vocational training of the European Union, the European Economic Area (EEA) and the European Free Trade Area (EFTA), the European social partners and the European Commission.

During this session, the participants adopted the 'Bordeaux communiqué' - a roadmap which takes stock of the implementation of the various instruments set up in the context of the Copenhagen process and sets priorities for the future, describing the perspectives and actions for European cooperation in terms of education and professional training.

The Copenhagen process enabled the creation of important instruments which facilitate mobility for young people and adults on vocational training courses, the recognition of education and diplomas, the Europass portfolio, the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), the future European Credit system for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) and the future European framework for quality assurance in vocational education and training (VET).

This European cooperation in the area of vocational education and training has contributed to the development of national policies. The European instruments promote mobility and support modernising education systems and making qualifications more transparent. In the interests of European citizens, a European vocational education and training area is developing, based on transparency and mutual trust, in close cooperation with all the actors, particularly the social partners. The communiqué identifies the following priorities for the coming years:

• Implementing the instruments and provisions of cooperation in the area of vocational education and training;
• Enhancing the quality and attractiveness of the vocational education and training systems;
• Strengthening the links between vocational education and training and the labour market;
• Reinforcing the modalities of cooperation at European level.

These priorities are in line with the (future) strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training.

The morning session also featured the prize-giving by Commissioner Figel and the ministers to the winners of the EUROSKILLS competition.

Valérie Pécresse, the French Minister for Higher Education and Research, presided over the afternoon session.

This was devoted to the presentation by George Winckler, the President of the European University Association (EUA), of the European Universities' Charter on Lifelong Learning that the EUA adopted in Rotterdam on 25 October 2008.

This Charter was developed in response to a request made by the French Prime Minister, François Fillon, to the EUA in January last at the Sorbonne.

The Charter expresses the European universities' wish to make a greater contribution to lifelong learning and the Europe of knowledge. This means raising the level of competences to benefit the highest possible number of adults and using all talents by the genuine accreditation of prior learning, to give Europe a competitive advantage in the competition induced by globalisation.

This ambitious document puts forward a series of commitments to which universities are asked to subscribe, each as part of its established strategy. It is a call for the development of inclusive universities by broadening the range of learners, accrediting prior learning and offering innovative programmes. The Charter asks the Member States to support this key initiative, particularly in terms of guideline, information and quality assurance policies.

Valérie Pécresse then chaired a debate on the possible modalities of implementing the principles set out in the Charter, both by universities and by States.

Read the press release on the European Universities' Charter on Lifelong Learning

Read the Bordeaux communiqué

• Updated: 26.12.2008

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