| Thursday, 29 November | |
| Presentation: “The German education system”
Before the main Conference begins there will be a session from 14:00 to 17:00 with short presentations on the current situation of the German education system from Prof. Klaus Ruetters (Institute for technical, vocational and further education) and Prof. P. v. Mitschke-Collande (WA) both Leibniz Universität Hannover. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion. Download: Presentation |
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| Friday 30 November 2007 | |
| Partnerships for Professional Development
Keynote Paper: |
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Prof. (em) Hans G. Schuetze: |
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| Panel discussion: „Needs of regional development – Demand for UCE?“ |
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| The panel will discuss the key question: Which knowledge ought to be developed and transferred by the university for the benefit of the region? Lower Saxony will serve as a paradigm. Regional representatives from unions and industry will address the needs for competences and demand for UCE in different employment sectors of the region. UCE experts will contribute their international experience in successful modes of continuing education. The panel will jointly reflect upon future oriented models of regional UCE networks and their feasible implementation. |
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| Parallel Workshop sessions: „Elements of Change“ | |
| There will be 8 Workshops in parallel which are supposed to deepen the European dimension of Professional Development. Understanding the changes and hot topics in different regions of Europe helps to define and to compare current and future needs for regional partnerships and institutional development. The workshops are open for representatives from higher education and from employ-ment sectors. They will be participative and are intended to provide platforms for open discussions and for critical debates of UCE strategies and practices according to the following topics: |
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| 1. University Lifelong Learning in European universities: the Bologna process from London to Leuven in 2009 (Chairs: Pat Davies, Daniele Pouliquen - BeFlex Project) Download: Presentation |
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| This workshop will focus on the changes and developments that are going on in university lifelong learning. What impact is the Bologna process having on ULLL? What are the trends, the innovations, the potential future developments? Where are the changes, the continuities and the challenges? What are the current issues and debates that are taking place? How are the regional actors involved in these debates? A presentation drawing on the BeFlex project results will be presented to launch the workshop discussions on these questions. The outcomes of the workshop will include recommendations for future action. |
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| 2. Promoting research in Lifelong Learning for the development of regions (Chairs: Jyri Manninen, Palmenia Centre for Continuing Education and Rob Mark, EUCEN research group) Download: Presentation #1 |
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| This workshop will begin by examining the potential role for research in the development of lifelong learning at regional and local level. It will look at a range of issues including the role of the university in meeting regional needs and demands for new knowledge, the role of lifelong learning in the promotion of research, formats for knowledge transfer and evaluating effectiveness and efficiency. The workshop will look at the importance of developing training for engagement in research at local or regional level. It will also provide a case study of how research in lifelong learning has been used to promote the inclusion of excluded adult groups in a region of Europe. The workshop will provide time for participants to exchange ideas and learn from the experience of others. It should be of interest to those seeking to develop research on university lifelong learning for regional or local development. |
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| 3. Part-time Masters - a major new development opportunity for ULLL. (Chair: Charo Romano, Centre for Continuing Education, University of Rovira and Virgili, Co-Chairs: Jean-Marie Filloque, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Peter Lassey, University of Bradford, Esko Paakkola, University of Joensuu) Download: Presentation #1 |
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| There are various European countries and universities which had no Bachelor/ Master System before. They are intending to establish two types of Masters: a research based full-time and an employment based part-time Master course. It is very likely that the latter one may become a most attractive opportunity of learning. However, it needs new didactical and organisational arrangements by the university in order to find out how the necessary standards of e.g. 2 years, 120 credits and 3600 hours workload may be adjusted to a feasible part-time course. The workshop will allow for presentation and comparison of different cases of good practice. |
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| 4. Work based and experiential learning: best practices, new approaches, what next? (Chair: Alison Hughes, University of Liverpool and Reinhard Schmidt, E-form s.c.r.l.) Download: Presentation #1 |
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| Many European countries currently do not have a legally recognised systematic approach for university Accreditation of Prior Learning, (APL) including experiential learning (APEL). And for many countries the adoption of work based learning (WBL) at university level is still a fairly new approach to establishing productive links between the work environment and higher education institutions and to meeting the needs of Lifelong Learners in work. On the other hand the European Commission is encouraging us to consider the harmonisation of both vocational and university-level academic qualifications through the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), the National Qualifications Frameworks and ECVET. The workshop will explore some new approaches and practice examples across Europe that are trying to forward the debate, to promote innovation in higher education and to encourage those in work to pursue Lifelong Learning as a meaningful opportunity. It will also discuss initiatives and strategies to enforce progress, wherever necessary, towards more advanced legal frameworks in the field of acknowledgement of prior learning and work based learning in higher education and training. |
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| 5. TENCompetence: integrated CE applications for learners, universities and employers. (Chair: Christopher Kew, TENCompetence) Link: www.TENCompetence.org |
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| The European Network for Lifelong Competence Development is an Integrated Project funded by the EU. Its goal is to establish an innovative technical and organizational infrastructure using open-source, standards-based technology to support lifelong competence development. This workshop will provide a detailed overview of the TENCompetence approach to competence development in lifelong learning and will focus in particular on the provision of a service oriented architecture enabling users to integrate and carry out their competence development activities. Users interact with the system using the Personal Competence Manager which supports them in managing their competence development described. The workshop will involve a hands-on element and is open to all parties interested in Lifelong Competence Development solutions. |
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| 6. Quality in ULLL and Companies – learning from each other. (Chair: Carol Stewart, Equipe Plus) |
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| Many University members are facing the introduction of evaluation, accreditation and quality management systems as a new experience. Very often however there is lack of acceptance of this - even resistance. Accreditation agencies are seen as external inspectors who are implanting bureaucratic procedures into the academic system. Despite this, the perceived transparency and accountability that external quality systems bring about, means that University Lifelong Learning systems will have to accommodate these new challenges. Can the University Lifelong Learning sector learn from approaches in enterprises where the concepts of customers and products are perhaps more clearly defined? The workshop will focus upon quality models in both the university lifelong learning and the commercial sectors and will explore trends in the development of their approaches to quality management. It will aim to identify common issues and processes as well as any key differences between the 2 sectors. The workshop will provide the opportunity for participants from both environments to come together and to exchange views and experiences with the aim of learning from each other. |
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| 7. University as a regional partner – Expectations of employers and employees (Chair: P. v. Mitschke-Collande, Centre for Work Science, LUH) |
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| There are many companies who have cooperation experience with universities in degree courses as well as in research and development. However, for some regional partners it may be a challenge, if universities are introducing their “Third Mission” – extending knowledge transfer via UCE and consultancy. On the other hand will this university policy suit the outsourcing strategies of different employment sectors: There is a trend to close down central development functions such as technology, organisation, personnel development etc. In turn these organisations are inviting regional institutions of higher learning for respective services for which the demand is increasing significantly. This workshop will approach regional partnership from the viewpoint of the economic sectors. Employers and employees will have the opportunity to identify needs and demands for specific areas of knowledge and to discuss solutions for relevant and efficient modes of cooperation in UCE and consultancy. |
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| 8. Staff Development: Key multipliers for university change and regional cooperation? (Chair: Geneviève Auroi-Jaggi, University of Geneva) |
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| The ongoing Bologna process is the biggest change for European universities affecting structures, processes and staff competences. Hence, staff members have to become the multipliers of change. Staff development is the core function of CE and the same time key for successful university change! The workshop will look into the question whether this is sufficiently reflected in university staff development strategies and capacities? What are the specific competences, portfolios and programmes for UCE staff? |
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| Saturday 01 December 2007 | |
| Parallel Workshop Sessions: „Present actions and future proposals“ |
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| 1. University Lifelong Learning and the Bologna tools in regional development, current practice, new approaches, future possibilities (Chair: Daniele Pouliquen, Pat Davies - BeFlex Plus - new project) |
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| This workshop will focus on collaboration between the stakeholders for the development of ULLL in support of the social, cultural and economic development of the region. How are the Bologna tools being used to promote regional development? How are the different stakeholders – employers, social partners, local government, NGOs, students associations, community groups - involved in the development of ULLL? What kinds of collaboration, courses and services do they need? Are these needs being met? A presentation drawing on case studies of best practice and different modules of collaboration, collected in the BeFlex project, will be presented to launch the workshop discussion of these questions. The outcomes of the workshop will include the definition of different models of regional collaboration. |
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| 2. Knowledge intensive Competence Development Centres as regional innovation accelerators (Chair: Kauko Hämäläinen, EUCEN Research group) Download: Presentation |
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| University Continuing Education Centres are organised in many different ways in different countries, and their activities vary as well. However, a common feature is that they all are (or should be) centres which provide an outlet for University level expertise, innovations and competencies which can promote the regional development in the nearby society and geographical area. These units can be treated in best cases as regional innovation accelerators, which can provide a huge asset for the regional development. University extramural units and activities play therefore the key role in Learning Regions. The aim of this workshop is to analyse and compare how the continuing education centres in Europe are organised and how they promote regional development in their neighbourhood. Examples of the questions to be discussed are – what kinds of networks the units have created in their area? – what kind of role the unit has in the Learning Region? – what kind of regional impact the unit have had during the past few years (3 best practices) – analysis and description of best practices – recommendations for the future cooperation and comparative research in this topic |
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| 3. Part-time Masters – a major new development opportunity for ULLL. (9.00 – 10.30) (Chair: Charo Romano, Centre for Continuing Education, Universitiy of Rovira and Virgili, Co-Chairs: Jean-Marie Filloque, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Peter Lassey, University of Bradford, Esko Paakkola, University of Joensuu) Presentations: see workshop on Friday |
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| 4. The regional impact of University-Industry cooperation: RUISNET (9.00 – 10.00 h, repeated at 11.00 – 12.00 h) (Chair: Antonio ARACIL, Fundacio Universitat Empresa - University of Valencia, Spain) The Lisbon Summit, led by The European Union member states threw down the challenge to convert Europe into the most advanced knowledge-based economy in the world by 2010. For this reason, the creation of a unique space for innovation, education and research has been committed, and an ambitious entrepreneurial promotion programme has been launched. All these challenges include a major effort for universities and university-industry collaboration, particularly in the regional area. The objectives of RUISNET are defined in the following aspects: – Improve, value and promote the recognition of the importance of university-company relations within the European regional framework. – Take advantage of accumulated knowledge (RIS/RITTS projects developed by the DG of Regional Policy of the European Commission) within the regional framework – Identify the good practices that have an impact on regional development in the 3 sectors selected for development: Innovation, SMEs and Territory; Training and the Labour Market; Entrepreneurship and technology-based companies. – Create a forum in which to share a common outlook within the European scope, with a strong participation and generalised dissemination of models andsystems, in order to exploit the potential of university-company relations in regional development, and create the Association required to ensure the project’s continuity with a large number of associates. Link: www.ruisnet.net |
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| 5. The TENCompetence project (Chair: Christopher Kew, TENCompetence) Link: www.TENCompetence.org |
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| Abstract, see above. | |
| 6. Equipe Plus: Peer to Peer Quality Review (open for Equipe Plus project partners) (Chair: Carol Stewart, Equipe Plus coordinator) |
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| 7. National networks meeting (open for national network representatives) (10.30 –12.00) (Chair: Alison Hughes, EUCEN) Download: Poster |
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| Excursion to Wolfsburg: „The German dual education System in practice“ | |
| On Saturday afternoon 01 December, starting at 14:00 and including dinner, there will be an opportunity to see the German dual education system in practice with a visit to Wolfsburg. This excursion will show a specific variety of examples of how industry is involved in life long learning (LLL) activities within a region. The key question to be discussed may be: Why do industries contribute to LLL in cooperation with or outside of the public education system? At this evening Autostadt will be the hosting organization offering a guided tour, presentations and discussion on three different institutions: “Autostadt” „Volkswagen Coaching“: Studium im Praxisverbund (Stip) StiP is a combined vocational training and academic undergraduate program offered by Volkswagen Coaching in close cooperation between the Volkswagen corporation and universities in the regions of Volkswagen production sites Germany-wide. Download: Presentation #1 |
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| Contact |
| Weiterbildungsstudium Arbeitswissenschaft Leibniz University Hannover Schloßwender Str. 5 D-30159 Hannover Tel. +049 511 762 19797 Fax +049 511 762 5686 E-Mail: eucen@wa.uni-hannover.de |
| EUCEN Executive Office Balmes 132 ES-08008 Barcelona Tel. +34 93 542 1825 Fax +34 93 542 2975 E-Mail: executive.office@eucen.org www.eucen.org |
