EC2U: an enabler of the European Commission’s Union of Skills

  • EC2U: an enabler of the European Commission’s Union of Skills
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During the 9th EC2U Forum in Coimbra, a Higher Education Round Table on the topic “EC2U’s reflections on the European Commission’s Union of Skills” brought together a wide-range of profiles to discuss the European’s Commission Union of Skills, a new programme “to improve high quality education, training, and lifelong learning”.

Ioana Dewandeler, Policy Officer – Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture of the European Commission, introduced this EC2U Higher Education Round Table. A meaningful presentation that put forth the following key takeaway: “Alliances have an important role to play in achieving the objectives of the Union of Skills”. Indeed, Ioana Dewandeler highlighted the “reciprocal benefits” of Alliances contributing to the Union of Skills and confirmed that this new programme is a turning point for the future development of all European University Alliances.

Building upon the open dialogue with Ioana Dewandeler, members of the EC2U Alliance entered an in-depth discussion on how EC2U could contribute to the Union of Skills and vice versa, what the Union of Skills could bring to the EC2U Alliance.

Starting with a simple question: “What skills do EC2U activities bring participants?”, the session confirmed EC2U’s potential in answering the objectives of the Union of Skills.

Indeed, the discussion showed how the EC2U Alliance is improving Higher Education and contributing to the overall employability of European citizens; EC2U is up-skilling and re-skilling students, staff, and citizens by developing a wide-range of tailor-made opportunities. When questioning how the EC2U Alliance could move forward, EC2U members put forth the importance of transdisciplinary activities, of entrepreneurial skills, and of mobility opportunities (to name but a few), while highlighting the importance of fully understanding not only the needs of students, staff, and citizens, but also those of the rapidly-changing labour market.

EC2U’s mission to “empower its community to become actors of change” will guide future conversations. Indeed, the Higher Education Round Table on “EC2U’s reflections on the European Commission’s Union of Skills” is merely a starting point in an engaging discussion that will question the role of the EC2U Alliance and how its activities can align with the Union of Skills. By involving citizens, Associated Partners, and other key stakeholders, the EC2U Alliance will ensure it continues to contribute to the wider goal of improving education, for all.