Recent Developments in Selected Education Indicators and their Relation to Europe 2020 Targets

Abstract

This study looks at the recent development (1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009) in the number of years of schooling that a 6-year old can expect to attend until their 30th birthday for the EU-27 countries. All countries have seen an increase in the number of expected years of schooling, which is driven mainly by increased tertiary enrolment rates. At the same time the education gap visà-vis the US has been closed. The dispersion of expected length of education among EU countries has also decreased. Thus, by this measure, education among countries has become more equal. In spite of this progress, some countries will find it difficult to meet their national targets for tertiary educational attainments for 30-34 year-olds in 2020. This is largely because the tertiary education participation rates of young males have been falling behind those of females in many countries. Focussing on the tertiary educational attainments of 30-34 year-olds leaves governments with little time to pursue policies with substantial impact. It would be preferable to supplement the educational attainment target for 30-34 year-olds with an enrolment target for 20-24 year-olds.

New Measures of Workforce Skills in the EU

“…This shows that in the EU24 about 25 per cent of the workforce had high level qualifications, with the proportion in the EU15 group of countries a little higher (27 per cent) than the new member states (21 per cent). Over the same time period the comparable figures for the US were 49 per cent, so the EU appears to be a long way behind the US in terms of the high skill proportion of the workforce, despite the convergence among young age cohorts outlined in the paper by Barslund in this issue (Barslund, 2012). Workers with medium qualifications make up about 50 per cent of the workforce in the EU24, a little higher than in the US (47 per cent).…”

“…The methodology used to include measures of human (Barslund, 2012). Workers with medium qualifications make up about 50 per cent of the workforce in the EU24, a little higher than in the US (47 per cent).…”

EU countries’ progress towards ‘Europe 2020 strategy targets’

“…In the literature, there is some skepticism as to whether or not the European Union will succeed in the educational goals set by the Europe 2020 Strategy. Whereas Dragomirescu-Gaina et al (2015) and recent Eurostat reports (e.g., Eurostat, 2015) are more optimistic, Barslund (2012) believes that countries like Portugal, Spain and France will have difficulties meeting their target levels, mostly due to the ambitiousness of their national target levels (particularly given these countries' starting points and insufficient educational spending).…”

“…The added value of this paper lies mostly in its scope. Most researchers focus only on one or two domains of the Europe 2020 Strategy (Barslund, 2012;Dragomirescu-Gaina, Elia, & Weber, 2015). By considering all eight sub-indicators and sub-targets of the Europe 2020 Strategy simultaneously in a performance evaluation of Member States, this paper hopes to give a broader overview of the dynamics in the performances of the EU Member States with respect to their targets.…”

Chinese Whispers? The Congruence Between Maltese FE Organizations’ Missions and Government Policy For the Sector

“…The Bologna and Copenhagen processes reflect a model that is eclectic, borrowing from different aspects of VET policy from 'highly influential countries' (Powell et al, 2012:255) including the USA, UK and Germany. These policies indicate that Maltese FE policies are partly dictated by EU as well as local needs based on the acquisition of skills, knowledge, competences, and qualifications and located within a curriculum (Barslund, 2012). Yet small states such as Malta may 'identify and prioritize more pressing national objectives' than those of their European counterparts (Crossley et al, 2011:11) which may lead to 'a complex process of negotiation and compromise' (Hantrais, 2003:237).…”