EU Education, Youth, and Sport Policy Overview

EU education, youth and sport policy overview and future perspectives Dr Conor O Carroll Scientific Advisory Board Member, Higher education expert 03/10/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) 1

Structure of the Presentation Structure of the Presentation 1. Main legislation in EU E&T, youth and sport policy 2. Main findings: E&T policy 3. Main findings: youth policy 4. Main findings: sport policy 5. Overarching recommendations 03/10/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) 2

Main legislation in EU E&T, youth and sport policy Under the EU treaties, MS are primarily responsible for E&T, youth and sport policy EU can support their cooperation on challenges affecting all or most of them Regulations Evaluation, legislative proposals and adoption Regulation establishing the Erasmus+ 2021-2027 programme EC s interim evaluation of the Programmes - no later than 31 December 2024. Where appropriate, and on the basis of the interim evaluation, the EC shall put forward a legislative proposal Regulations. EC s legislative proposals for 2028 - 2034 are expected in 2025 and their adoption by the EP and the Council of the EU in 2027. Regulation establishing the European Solidarity Corps 2021-2027 Programme to amend the Regulation establishing the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values 2021-2027 programme 03/10/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) 3

Main findings: E&T policy Main findings: E&T policy Strategic framework Council resolution on European cooperation in E&T towards the European Education Area and beyond (2021-2030) Focus topics: Quality and equity Teachers, trainers and school leaders Digital education Green education Citizenship education Cross-border mobility 03/10/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) 4

Main findings: E&T policy Main findings: E&T policy Key challenges Key recommendations Shortage of teachers and other education staff Launch a strategic dialogue on the lack of competent teachers and other education staff and develop a plan to tackle the issue Develop practical guidelines for implementing the AI Act into E&T systems. Collect more data and launch discussions on the impact of EdTech sector in E&T Digitalisation (incl. AI and EdTech): digital divide; data security risks; challenges to teacher autonomy; effects on well-being 03/10/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) 5

Main findings: E&T policy Main findings: E&T policy Key challenges Limited adoption of whole- school approach sustainability Lack of guidance on the shift to learning and its impact on assessment Insufficient education and threats to academic freedom Key recommendations Further support schools and education staff to develop sustainability and citizenship education and innovative forms of learning assessment Continue strengthening freedom and limiting foreign interference through more guidance) to introduce personalised work on academic citizenship (incl. in HE practical 03/10/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) 6

Main findings: youth policy Main findings: youth policy Strategic framework Resolution of the Council on European cooperation in the youth field: The European Union Youth Strategy (EUYS) 2019-2027 Focus topics: Engage: democratic participation; digitalisation; green transition Connect: mobility and volunteering Empower: youth mainstreaming; traineeships, housing, and education; (mental) health conditions and well-being; social inclusion; critical thinking employment, 03/10/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) 7

Main findings: youth policy Main findings: youth policy Key challenges Low democratic participation Key recommendations Strengthen democratic participation, incl. ensuring inclusion of the most vulnerable youth and continuing youth mainstreaming efforts Increase young access to services to meet the existing demand levels of youth young people s Unmet youth mental health needs people s health mental 03/10/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) 8

Main findings: youth policy Main findings: youth policy Key challenges Barriers to volunteering (e.g. lack recognition, approval, impact of digital and green transitions) Key recommendations Introduce Volunteering Status, establish dialogue formats to discuss the impact of digitalisation and climate volunteering Encourage the EC to take further actions affordable housing for young people a European of skills visa lengthy on change Lack of affordable housing to ensure 03/10/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) 9

Main findings: sport policy Main findings: sport policy Strategic framework Resolution of the Council on the EU Work Plan for Sport (1 July 2024 31 December 2027) Focus topics: Grassroots and self-organised sport Professional sport Social inclusion and gender equality Governance and funding Resilience 03/10/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) 10

Main findings: sport policy Main findings: sport policy Key challenges Increasing adapting to digital and green transitions Decreasing volunteers for sporting events and in sports organisations Key recommendations Revise the 2008 EU physical activity guidelines and resilience Collect data on the reasons for decreasing volunteering rates and promote volunteering in sport number of Untapped potential of sports diplomacy Revise and strengthen the EP s sport diplomacy strategy 03/10/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) 11

Overarching recommendations Overarching recommendations Strengthen formats for regular dialogue with relevant stakeholders and civil society organisations Engage more actively in interinstitutional cooperation formats, especially on youth and sport policies Continue advocating for increased funding for E&T, youth and sport policies 03/10/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) 12

Thank you for your attention Thank you for your attention Q&A 03/10/2024 Presentation for the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) 13