Europe needs a flagship lifelong learning initiative as its workforce ages and jobs and skills become redundant, according to a university umbrella group, who described the European Commission¡¯s recent?ambition to create a?¡°Union of Skills¡± as insufficiently ambitious.

The recently announced commission initiative focused on ¡°the development of our union¡¯s human capital to strengthen EU competitiveness¡±, alongside creating an ¡°action plan on basic skills¡± and a ¡°STEM education strategic plan¡±.

It set out a series of actions including a pilot scheme centred on ¡°regular upskilling and reskilling¡± for workers; a ¡°skills portability initiative¡± to improve international recognition of qualifications and skills; and the introduction of an ¡°EU talent pool¡± and dedicated visa strategy to recruit from non-EU countries.

The?European University Association (EUA) described the communication as a ¡°timely call for more and better investment in citizens¡¯ skills and competencies¡±, describing many of the proposals as ¡°sound and necessary¡± in a policy?paper.

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However, the EUA said, ¡°the urgency and scale of Europe¡¯s present and future skills and education needs¡± demand ¡°a more strategic and enduring approach to enhance its lifelong and continued learning capacities¡±.

A lifelong learning initiative, the umbrella body said, ¡°would align with Europe¡¯s economic and societal needs and ongoing transformations, be attractive for European and international talent and send a strong, positive signal towards the EU¡¯s global partners and competitors¡±.

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Without such an initiative, the new measures proposed by the commission ¡°risk getting lost¡±, the EUA said. It envisaged member states and higher education institutions?collaborating?more effectively on lifelong learning, an area the body described as ¡°more important than ever, given the declining and ageing workforce and job and skills redundancy¡±.

Many countries are currently considering how to ensure?their universities, traditionally focused on providing full time study to young people,?are better equipped to address skills gaps?and educate adults in new areas. A much delayed lifelong learning entitlement - that will provide loans to cover more modular study in England - is now due to be launched in 2027.?

¡°Similarly to how the European Universities Initiative addresses obstacles to transnational interuniversity cooperation, a European flagship initiative will contribute to raising awareness of lifelong learning, but also to enhancing institutional and national frameworks, eliminating obstacles and identifying concrete goals for collaborative and coordinated action,¡± the EUA said.

The Union of Skills places particular emphasis on STEM subjects, citing Europe¡¯s ¡°growing challenge in meeting the demand for skilled talent¡± in fields such as clean technology, aerospace, defence and digital technology while highlighting the persistent STEM gender gap.

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In response, the EUA encouraged the commission to extend its proposals beyond STEM disciplines, noting that skills needs and labour shortages vary significantly across individual disciplines.

¡°Similarly, the promotion of accessible and inclusive education needs to go beyond enhancing the participation of disadvantaged students in STEM,¡± the university group said, adding, ¡°Although the underrepresentation of women in STEM is already addressed in many national and institutional contexts, it would benefit from further European support.¡±

The EUA emphasised?the need for sufficient funding, noting the growing financial pressures faced by universities in multiple EU countries. ¡°Failure to step up investment risks undermining universities¡¯ ability to fulfil their core missions in education, research and societal engagement, which all contribute to the wider objectives of the Union of Skills,¡± the group said.

¡°A European-level instrument, such as a ¡®Skills Fund¡¯, aimed at leveraging investment from both public and private funders, could provide targeted support through grants, and potentially study loans on agreed priorities, to be awarded under thematic calls.¡±

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emily.dixon@timeshighereducation.com