ETUCE: Participates in the implementation process of the EU 2020 and Education and Training 2020 flagship initiatives, among others, via active representation in Open Method of Coordination Working Groups of the European Commission; Monitors EU initiatives on linking education and employment, skills and jobs, learning and job forecasting and on youth employment. Participates in setting up and monitoring the implementation of EU policy on all prioritised areas of education, for instance learning mobility, teaching languages, entrepreneurship education, maths and science education, education for sustainable development, etc. Advocates the provision of quality education and monitors the set-up of quality assurance mechanisms at European and national levels; Carries forward and seeks new opportunities for cooperation with other unions and professional organisations working on education, such as the EFEE; ETUC, EPSU, ESU, ATEE, etc  

Study mobility

Students should be supported and encouraged to participate in exchanges across countries and regions by school policies and school heads. The ETUCE supports to make learning mobility the rule rather than the exception for more young people in Europe. Learning mobility can potentially contribute to strengthening the education opportunities at all levels and sectors of the system. Moreover, increased mobility fosters a better understanding of cultural diversity across Europe and thus enables a sense of belonging for the individual citizen. In order to turn this potential into reality, the ETUCE considers two main challenges to have a significant impact on the promotion of learning mobility: a renewed focus on opportunities for financing and more opportunities and facilities for teacher mobility.

Policy

ETUCE Statement on the European Commission's Green Paper "Promoting the learning mobility of young people" (2009) highlighted that by enriching the individual teacher's knowledge and skills via a learning period spent abroad, it is the students who benefit from both the input in the teaching practices of their teacher and the positive example he/she represents. This goes not only for students' learning but also for the development of youngsters' personal attitudes towards others. Children are extremely sensitive to the existence of racism and discrimination and they are largely vulnerable to the effects of them. They need to grow accustomed to manoeuvring in international environments where acknowledgment of cultural diversity is allowed to flourish. It is only if teachers and student teachers have more opportunities to participate in learning mobility schemes and programmes that the full potential of their responsibility as role models will be reached.

ETUCE Statement on the Draft Council Conclusions on a benchmark for learning mobility (2011)  urges the Education Council to enhance learning mobility for all students, starting with minors until adults and welcomes that learning mobility is defined as physical and not online mobility. Equal access to learning mobility is not provided:  individual mobility support schemes have not been efficient to support the lower income students

ETUCE Statement on the new Flagship Initiative of the European Commission on Youth on the Move and on the Proposal for a Council Recommendation on Youth on the Move – Promoting the Learning Mobility of Young People (2010) highlights ETUCE's criticism, the target group of the youth mobility proposed by the Europea Commission was still among the age cohort of 16-35 year. ETUCE believes that the Proposal still does not solve the difficulties in relation to teacher mobility on providing qualified teacher replacement, ensuring a sound financial basis and portability of pension and security rights, recognising the experience periods abroad, maintaining a balanced teacher force, and proper support from the employers in the sending and hosting countries.

More information
ETUCE Circular 2/2014: Quality assurance and mobility in higher education
ETUCE Circular 1/2014: Conditions for learning abroad
ETUCE Circular 3/2011: Mobility as a state of mind
ETUCE Newsletter 2/2011: Learning mobility of teachers

Recognition of studies

On recognition of studies, ETUCE has been involved on work of description of learning outcomes.

ETUCE has been advising ETUC on representing the trade unions' education and training policies in bodies and events of the EU institutions and agencies related to transparency of diplomas and description of learning outcomes in EQF, Europass, and ECVET.

ETUCE was involved in the revision of the Directive on Recognition of Professional Qualifications (2005/36/EC) to ensure free movement of teachers in the EU via facilitating the recognition of their qualifications.