9/22/2020 European policy cooperation (ET 2020 framework) | Education and Training

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European policy cooperation (ET

2020 framework)
The strategic framework for European cooperation in education
and training (ET 2020) is a forum which allows Member States to
exchange best practices and to learn from each other.


The ET 2020 framework provides opportunities to build best practices in education policy, gather
and disseminate knowledge, and advance educational policy reforms at the national and regional
levels.

The framework is based on the lifelong learning approach. It therefore addresses outcomes from
early childhood to adult vocational and higher education, and is designed to cover learning in all
contexts: formal, non-formal and informal.

ET 2020 pursues the following four common EU objectives:

Make lifelong learning and mobility a reality 

Improve the quality and efficiency of education and training
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Promote equity, social cohesion, and active citizenship

Enhance creativity and innovation, including entrepreneurship, at all levels of education
and training

It also supports the achievement of the following benchmarks at European level by 2020:

At least 95% of children should participate in early childhood education

fewer than 15% of 15-year-olds should be under-skilled in reading, mathematics and
science
the rate of early leavers from education and training aged 18-24 should be below 10%
at least 40% of people aged 30-34 should have completed some form of higher
education
at least 15% of adults should participate in learning
at least 20% of higher education graduates and 6% of 18-34 year-olds with an initial
vocational qualification should have spent some time studying or training abroad
the share of employed graduates (aged 20-34 with at least upper secondary education
attainment and having left education 1-3 years ago) should be at least 82%

The framework is implemented through a variety of tools and instruments, including:


Working Groups, composed of experts nominated by Member States and key
stakeholders
Peer Learning Activities (PLAs), hosted by a Member State to showcase existing good
practice at the national level or to explore a particular issue with other Member States
Peer Reviews involve a group of Member States providing guidance to another Member
State on a specific national challenge
Peer counselling brings together experienced peers from a small number of national
administrations to provide advice (at the request of a Member State) on designing or
implementing a policy as a response to a specific national challenge
The annual Education and Training Monitor reports on Member States' progress towards
achieving the ET 2020 objectives and benchmarks. This analysis feeds into the evaluation
of broader socio-economic progress by Member States within the framework of
the European Semester
Common reference tools and approaches have been produced as a result of work carried
out by the Working Groups or as part of mutual learning activities
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Consultation and cooperation activities with stakeholders, including civil society and
business and social partner organisations, such as the European Education Summit and
the Education, Training and Youth Forum
Funding for policy support activities and innovative projects through the Erasmus+
programme

Related content

Links
 Council Conclusions on a strategic framework for European cooperation in education and
training (ET 2020)

 European Education and Training Expert Panel’s recommendations for the post-2020
framework

 Communication on Rethinking Education: Investing in skills for better socio-economic 

outcomes, European Commission

 Staff Working Document on Rethinking Education: Country Analysis, European Commission

 Joint Report on the implementation of the Strategic Framework for European cooperation in
education and training (ET 2020)

 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union - XII, Articles 165 and 166

 Interim Evaluation of the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and
training (ET 2020), final report

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