Europe of knowledge" enters second generation

Citation

(2001), "Europe of knowledge" enters second generation", Journal of European Industrial Training, Vol. 25 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/jeit.2001.00325aab.012

"Europe of knowledge" enters second generation

"Europe of knowledge" enters second generation

Keywords: Knowledge workers, Europe

Since 1995, financial support from the Socrates, Leonardo da Vinci or Youth for Europe programmes has enabled over 1,000,000 young people to take advantage of mobility schemes within the EU and experience new ways of learning. These programmes have entered a new phase, covering the period 2000-2006, with a new design, more funds and easier administrative procedures.

In the field of education, Socrates covers all types of learning, formal and informal, and all levels, from nursery school to university, offering grants to study, teach, undertake a placement or follow a training course in another country. The new phase of the programme attaches much greater importance to lifelong learning, and Erasmus (higher education) will continue to play a very important role.

Leonardo da Vinci promotes transnational projects based on co-operation between the various players in vocational training. Emphasis is placed on lifelong learning as well as on the use of new information technologies. The programme's second phase includes a new measure (transnational networks) as well as measures to support language skills and to facilitate Europe-wide comparative analyses and studies of vocational education and training.

The Youth EU Action Programme is open to young people aged between 15 and 25 and promotes co-operation projects of youth organizations and groups, such as youth exchanges, based on informal education and training. The European Voluntary Service gives young Europeans the chance to spend six to 12 months abroad taking part in a local project. The new youth programme will open these possibilities also to third countries.

Finally, the Tempus Programme, set up in 1990, underpins the moves to restructure the higher education systems in central and eastern Europe and in the former Soviet Union. Under Tempus III, institution-building projects in the non-candidate countries, formerly restricted to university reform, will be possible for non-academic institutions, such as ministries, chambers of commerce, firms and non-government organizations.

Taking Stock of the Programmes – Education, Training Youth; Gateway to Education – Socrates; A New Beginning – Leonardo da Vinci; and Education and Active Citizenship in the EU are available free from the EC, Education and Culture DG, Unit C.2, rue de la Loi 200, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium. Fax: (32-2) 29 94158; E-mail: eac-info@cec.eu.int; Web: http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/index_en.html