The fifth European Education Summit focused on recent challenges in education

Representatives of EU institutions, ministers, teachers and students joined the discussion. And which topics resonate?

The summit was opened by Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth. In her opening speech, she took stock of the development of the European Education Area – she focused both on the successes that have already been achieved and on the areas where there is still room for improvement. In this context, she mentioned, for example, the recently approved Council Recommendation on blended learning, the Council Recommendation on learning for environmental sustainability, the European Strategy for Universities and other important initiatives such as the Erasmus+ Teacher Academies, Centres of Vocational Excellence, Pathways to School Success and the Education for Climate Coalition. A number of results can also be seen in the Education and Training Monitor, for example a decrease in early school leaving or an increase in participation in early childhood education and care.

According to the Commissioner, however, a number of challenges persist, the solution of which does not lie only in increasing funding, but there is a need for investments in education to be effective and have a strong basis in data. A new initiative called the Learning Lab will play a key role in these efforts. Gabriel also spoke about supporting Ukraine and emphasized that the newly created Ukrainian curriculum will finally be implemented in Ukrainian schools thanks to the Erasmus+ program.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, also reflected on the situation in Ukraine. In her speech, she expressed her respect and admiration for all teachers who help Ukrainian pupils and educators. After that, she addressed the topic of well-being at schools, affecting both mental and physical health. She highlighted that almost half of pupils/students in the EU state that they feel sad or uncomfortable at school, but also that there are already solutions (e.g. in Estonia, the well-being of students and teachers is continuously monitored). She emphasized that the collective well-being of future generations and the planet is also important.

Support of the young generation was the connecting line of this year's summit, and its motto - Bright young minds - refers to the European Year of Youth, which is coming to an end. The year 2023 has been declared by the Commission as the European Year of Skills, to some extent thematically following the efforts and initiatives launched in 2022. One of the goals is to equip young people with the necessary knowledge and skills required by current developments in the areas of climate change, digitalization, the labor market, etc. 

More opportunities for teachers, higher representation of girls in STEM fields and other challenges

During the first debate, the guests discussed in more depth the main milestones and challenges in education in the context of 2022. The need to make the teaching profession more attractive and to provide teachers with more opportunities for professional development was often mentioned (Gabriel highlighted, for example, the creation of 11 Erasmus+ Teacher Academies and that soon there will be 15 more). Among the successes, according to the Commissioner, are the further development of alliances of European universities, the introduction of a number of measures supporting more inclusive mobility within the framework of Erasmus+, and gradual steps towards greater involvement of women and girls in STEM fields (e.g. through the EIT GirlsGoCircular initiative).

As ongoing challenges, the panellists identified the need for greater involvement of youth in policy-making, strengthening of a cross-sectoral approach, sharing of experiences and peer-learning, ensuring access to education for all and increasing investments. Other challenges include the insufficient links between education and innovation (the Network of European Innovative Universities was created for this purpose) or post-pandemic reconstruction and the war in Ukraine - Czech Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Vladimír Balaš highlighted the role of European values, which proved to be essential in solving both crises.

How is the European Education Area progressing? Check out the first results

Young people were given the floor in the second panel. Three university students presented inspiring projects of different focus – to develop digital skills among young people, to increase their awareness of European topics, sustainability, democracy, etc. They agreed that there is a need to bridge formal and informal education more and to bring the perspective of young people into the political debate: there is interest on both sides based on their experience, but there is a need to build a "bridge" enabling greater connection and cooperation.

The third panel was dedicated to the European Education Area. Themis Christophidou (DG EAC, European Commission) said that although it is an ongoing process, we can already see that a common approach to solving current challenges is paying off (see the EEA Progress report for specific outputs). The subsequent debate touched on all horizontal priorities: digital and green education, inclusion and teacher support.

Innovation and digitalization in education: what is needed?

The afternoon panel discussions were divided into two thematic blocks. The first of them was dedicated to innovation and digitalization in education. During the second block, the guests debated the Pathways to School Success initiative, green education and future perspectives in the field of education.

In the first panel of the first block, representatives of the European Network of Innovative Universities presented their first recommendations for an even deeper connection of education and research at universities and for support of the innovation potential of higher education institutions. The need for cooperation between universities and businesses (including support for start-ups) and the development of entrepreneurial competencies was also emphasized. In the second panel, examples of initiatives and national plans and strategies to support digital skills and habits were presented (including contributions by Minister Vladimír Balaš and a graduate of Smíchov secondary technical school in Prague).

In the third panel, ministers of education and experts discussed effective investments in education. Commissioner Mariya Gabriel announced the official launch of the previously mentioned Learning Lab initiative, which aims to support member states in making decisions about evidence-based effective investments. Furthermore, it is also intended to improve the regular evaluation of education policies across the EU and the subsequent use of the results of these evaluations. Policymakers and education practitioners from all member states can participate in the Lab's activities.

Green education, school success for all and future prospects 

During the afternoon panels within the second block, the participants debated the Pathways to School Success initiative. They all agreed that a school-wide approach is needed to achieve the goals - this means intensive cooperation between schools, but also between schools and society as a whole. Panellists also talked about the lack of highly qualified teachers and the need to make the teaching profession attractive.

The topic of the second panel was green education and how education can contribute to the fight against climate change. The panellists drew attention to the fact that school curricula in almost all EU member states include teaching about climate change, especially in the context of geography, but fewer countries offer interdisciplinary green education (1 out of 3). Member States should also include green education in the lowest levels of education and create a specific competence framework to evaluate the implementation of the European GreenComp framework at the national level.

In the last panel, the guests addressed current challenges in education and future prospects. They discussed digitalization, competencies, modern schools reflecting a multicultural environment, affordable and quality care, education for the youngest children (0-3 years) and provision of extra-curricular activities for all to ensure equal opportunities.

Priorities of Swedish Presidency in the area of education

The afternoon program was closed by a plenary debate on the integration of Ukrainian students and pupils into educational institutions in the EU. During the debate, both pan-European initiatives (e.g. directive on temporary protection, practical manual for the 2022/23 school year, support under Erasmus+) and specific actions of the member states were presented.

The Swedish Minister of Education Lotta Edholm took the floor, presenting the priorities of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU in the field of education for the coming six months: the continued implementation of the European Education Area until 2025 and the automatic mutual recognition of diplomas, the implementation of the European Strategy for Universities and green and digital transformations. The summit was closed by Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, who emphasized the need to continue the cooperation and to use the full potential of grants and Recommendations of the European Commission, which are only tools to achieve the ambitious goals in the field of education.

The recording of the entire Summit separated into individual panels is available on the European Education Area platform.