Minister Kalliomäki at the European Parliament Committee on Culture and Education

Mr Chairman, Vice-Chairmen and Committee members,

1. Introduction

I am delighted to meet this Committee in its entirety for the first time.

I took up my post as Minister responsible for education and science issues in September 2005. Before that, I was Minister of Finance and Minister of Trade and Industry in the Finnish Government. My present position as Minister of Education covers all education issues, from pre-school to universities. I am also responsible for research and scientific issues, inasmuch as they are related to basic research carried out by universities. I now have the honour of taking the Chair of the Education, Youth and Culture Council, which is perhaps the Council assembly most important and closest to the everyday lives of European citizens.

The long drawn-out debate on the Constitution may have created an impression that the EU has reached some kind of a plateau in its development. But right now Europe is living through a critical period. Globalisation, the ageing population, climate change, changes affecting production structures and world trade, concerns related to security and ambitious goals regarding improving our competitive edge impact on the operational environment in all Member States of the European Union. The citizens expect of the European Union results in matters where cooperation is more fruitful than action by individual Member States. Combining our resources in order to improve economic growth and employment is a basic precondition of political activity with the objective of developing well-being of citizens, the European social model, and equality and democracy.

Education is crucial for the future of the EU. Today’s educational investments will repay them-selves and have a long-term influence on the prosperity and well-being of European societies many decades from now. The policies chosen by the European Council mean that building of the future of the European Union will be founded on education and competence.

Finland now holds the Presidency for the second time. Educational cooperation of the EU has taken many steps forward since to our previous term. In our last Presidency in the latter half of 1999, our goal was to reinforce educational cooperation within the EU, as well as to improve continuity, coherence and efficacy of the activity.

Change has been rapid, even surprisingly so. The main reason, naturally, is the Lisbon Strategy, which has brought to the fore policies associated with knowledge and competence. Heads of nations and governments regularly discuss education. One of the ways the input of the education sector in the Lisbon Strategy is mediated is through the Education and Training 2010 pro-gramme. It has increased reciprocal learning of Member States and created continuity and predictability transcending terms of presidency. One of the results of this closer cooperation is evidenced by the recommendations we are preparing together with Parliament.

Finland, too, will use her Presidency to continue the work begun by our predecessors. We will do our utmost in order to further the issues on the common agenda of the European Union. These topics will also be addressed by the expert conferences to be organised during our Presidency, with the common theme of European educational cooperation after the year 2010.

2. Lifelong Learning programme

As we were preparing for our term of Presidency, the main goal we set ourselves is to achieve a decision on the Lifelong Learning programme during our Presidency, and to ensure that implementation of the programme can begin in good time. Thanks to the efficient work of the European Parliament and preceding holders of the Presidency, the decision is all but ready, awaiting the final seal. I want to extend my sincere thanks to the European Parliament, but also to my predecessor, the Austrian Minister Gehrer, for their remarkable contribution in finalising this decision. I am pleased that the important suggestions of the Parliament were included in the final text of the Decision. I also want to extend my warmest thanks to Mr Sifunakis, Chairman of the Committee, and the Rapporteur, Mrs Pack.

The Lifelong Learning programme is the most important funding tool of educational cooperation of the European Union. An increasing number of students, schoolchildren, teachers, researchers, trainers and trainees are able to benefit from the programme. The programme reinforces development of the EU as an information society and increases social cohesion. The young people and adults participating in projects under the programme are able to improve their knowledge of European languages and cultures, and to learn modes of thinking and action important in terms of sustainable development. I am convinced that the new programme and its various forms of cooperation will have a very positive impact on quality of education and help to reinforce the European dimension of education.

With reference to developing the quality of mobility, an important tool is also the proposal on the European Quality Charter for Mobility. I would like to thank the Parliament and Rapporteur Mrs Prets for their excellent collaboration in drafting the Quality Charter, and hope that agreement will be reached on this recommendation at first reading.

3. Education and innovations

During her Presidency, Finland is keen to further wide-ranging innovation policy. It covers in equal measure both education and basic research, and product development and innovative activity. Innovations are founded on interaction. Development and adoption of new inventions are increasingly linked to networks, with close interplay of education, research and practical production and service activity a salient feature. A balanced and dynamic innovation system also includes social innovations, changing of customary practices. For example, the occupations of nurse, bank clerk and librarian can be just as creative and important in an innovation system as engineer and inventor.

An innovative society cannot become a reality without an education system that encourages creativity, risk-taking and an open mind. An education system based on equality and high standards is also a basic precondition of adoption of technology. Without it, the results of new technology and innovations cannot be fully utilised. In this respect, the teacher is one of the most important components of an innovation society.

Europe needs top universities, more efficient utilisation of knowledge and competence, as well as better cooperation between universities and the business world. Many EU Member States have positive experiences in developing national innovation systems to promote employment, productivity and growth. Europe must combine forces, in order to make its universities and higher education institutions attractive also outside the continent. During Finland’s Presidency, we will discuss the Commission’s initiative on the creation of a European Institute of Technology and the Commission Communication on modernisation of European universities. These projects aim at strengthening of innovation policy and improving competitiveness and prosperity. In my view, it is important that we assign education experts a central role in debating these issues.

4. Equity and efficiency

Emphasis on equality and fairness is the most important conclusion in terms of educational policy in international comparisons on school achievement. Research shows that it is possible simultaneously to attain good learning outcomes, educational equality and efficiency. We need to improve in-depth EU cooperation in order to develop efficiency of education investments and learning outcomes that are of a high standard and equal. To obtain optimal results with the resources at our disposal, we need more and better cooperation between education policy and educational research, also in the field of economics of education, and both on national and European levels.

During Finland’s Presidency, the Council will examine the Commission Communication on efficiency and equity in education, which will also be addressed at one of the education conferences during Finland’s Presidency in Helsinki in September. Finland’s aim is that the Education Council should approve conclusions or a resolution on the issue in November.

It is important that all European citizens, regardless of social status, place of residence, gender and ethnic background, have equal opportunities of learning the basic skills required in information society. The Lisbon European Council initiated the debate on basic skills, which led to the Commission’s proposal on the Recommendation on key competences for lifelong learning. The Council and Parliament have examined the proposed Recommendation in a good spirit of mutual understanding, and for this I want to thank the Rapporteur, Mrs Trüpel. There is a chance we may finalise a decision during Finland's Presidency.

Maintaining and developing the skills levels of adults is perhaps the greatest challenge to implementation of the policy of lifelong learning in Europe. Research shows that a considerable proportion of the adult population have significant gaps in key competences in an information society, which hinder their participation in the world of work and in society. What we need are new ways of augmenting educational opportunities suitable for adults, of targeting those who have received the least education, and pf recognisign of competences gained outside the education system. In addition, we need close cooperation between the public education system, employers and private sources of funding, in order to finance and increase learning opportunities for adults. This theme is linked to the Commission Communication on Adult Learning, to be completed during Finland’s Presidency, which will be discussed at one of the education conferences of Finland’s Presidency in Helsinki in October.

5. Vocational training

The main education sector event during Finland’s Presidency will be the informal conference of education ministers, to be held in early December in Helsinki. The purpose of the meeting is to examine the present status of European cooperation in vocational education, the so-called Copenhagen Process. The Helsinki meeting will evaluate progress of the process in relation to the objectives set at the previous follow-up meeting in Maastricht. The intention is to approve the Helsinki Communiqué, agreeing on the key points in continuing the process for the next few years.

I think that development of the Copenhagen Process is promising. Vocational training plays an important part in attaining the Lisbon goals. It provides opportunities for developing the competence of Europeans, attaining the goals in terms of growth and employment, as well as for adopting innovations. The Copenhagen Process has clearly increased the visibility of vocational education.

Progress has been especially marked in the areas of quality assurance and the recognition of non-formal and everyday learning. Similarly, the new Euro-pass document resulting from the decision of the European Parliament and the Council and now in active use has proved itself to be a functional tool for promoting the mobility of students and manpower.

The most important of currently ongoing projects is the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), which was one of the key priorities agreed at Maastricht. Similarly, development work of the second Maastricht key priority, the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training or ECVET, is making good progress. Our goal is that the new European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) and European Qualifications Framework (EQF) should be compatible and mutually supportive.

Continuity of the work is very important. Consequently, the message of the Helsinki informal ministerial meeting should be to spur on the participants to continue the work that has begun, bring it to conclusion, and to adopt common tools. For this work, we need the contribution of all actors in the vocational education sector, including partners in the social sector. It is also vital to secure links to other education sectors, especially the Bologna Process of Higher Education.

6. European Qualifications Framework

The Commission intends to publish its proposal for a Recommendation for a European Qualifications Framework in the early autumn. The Commission’s initiative may prove to be an important tool for cooperation in many ways. The European Qualifications Framework (EQF) would cover the whole education system. It would allow national qualification frameworks and systems to communicate with each other. The frame of reference that has undergone an extensive consultation process would move the focus from educational structures to examination of knowledge, skills and competences produced by education and training. For the citizens, it is most important that the framework should facilitate the recognition of competences acquired outside formal education, and simplify the accreditation of studies. The European Qualifications Framework may become an important tool in furthering international comparison and mobility. Finland intends to start examining the recommendation, and to move the matter forward in the Council as far as possible.

7. Other issues

Other issues which may arise on the agenda are the Commission’s future proposal for a Recommendation on the quality of teacher training, and also the development of education sector cooperation between the EU and Russia. Initiatives in both areas may have many positive effects on the quality of European education systems.

8. Expert conferences

The main expert conferences of Finland’s term of Presidency are on Lifelong Learning, Efficiency and Equality in Helsinki in September, and the October Conferences on Adult Education in Helsinki and on Educational Guidance in Jyväskylä.

9. Finally

Mr Chairman, Vice-Chairmen and Committee members,

Finland has many good memories and experiences from her first Presidency on cooperation with the European Parliament, the Commission and Member States. I venture to consider this a good point of departure for our new Presidency. I believe that together we will achieve good results, even if the number of issues and challenges is greater than before.

Finally, I would like to remind you that my colleague, Minister of Culture Tanja Saarela, will visit the Parliament tomorrow, when the Committee will have the opportunity of asking questions on culture, youth and the audio-visual sector.

Thank you