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Document 32024H01115
Council Recommendation of 23 November 2023 on the key enabling factors for successful digital education and training
Council Recommendation of 23 November 2023 on the key enabling factors for successful digital education and training
Council Recommendation of 23 November 2023 on the key enabling factors for successful digital education and training
ST/15741/2023/INIT
OJ C, C/2024/1115, 24.1.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/1115/oj (BG, ES, CS, DA, DE, ET, EL, EN, FR, GA, HR, IT, LV, LT, HU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SL, FI, SV)
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Official Journal |
EN Series C |
C/2024/1115 |
24.1.2024 |
COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION
of 23 November 2023
on the key enabling factors for successful digital education and training
(C/2024/1115)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 165 and 166 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
WHEREAS:
1. |
The European Council conclusions of 9 February 2023 (1) emphasised the need for bolder, more ambitious action to further develop the skills that are required for the green and digital transitions through education, training, upskilling and reskilling to meet the challenges of labour shortages and the transformation of jobs, including in the context of demographic challenges. |
2. |
Education and training are key for a more cohesive, equal, inclusive, digital, sustainable, competitive, innovative, green and resilient Europe, and for citizens’ personal development, well-being, and ability to adapt to and perform in a changing labour market and to engage in active and responsible citizenship. In this context, the Council Resolution on a strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training towards the European Education Area and beyond (2021-2030) (2) promotes European cooperation to further support the development of education and training systems in Member States. The purpose of these systems is to ensure the personal, social and professional fulfilment of all citizens, while promoting democratic values, equality, social cohesion, active citizenship and intercultural dialogue, as well as sustainable economic prosperity, the green and digital transitions, and employability. |
3. |
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need to improve the digital readiness of education and training systems in terms of resilience, justice, equality, quality, inclusiveness, accessibility, and security. Rapidly advancing technological change calls for a people-centred digital transformation and education and training systems which are fit for the digital age. To tackle these challenges, the Commission adopted the Digital Education Action Plan 2021-2027 (3). The action plan seeks to address the digital divide and inequities in education and training, and highlights the potential of technology to facilitate more accessible, safe, flexible, personalised and learner-centred teaching and learning. |
4. |
The first strategic priority of the action plan – fostering the development of a high-performing digital education ecosystem – stresses the need to strengthen digital capacity and resilience in education and training systems in a coherent and sustainable way. For this purpose, enabling factors such as relevant infrastructure, connectivity and digital capacity have been identified in the action plan and expanded upon in the Council conclusions on digital education in Europe’s knowledge societies (4). |
5. |
The effective implementation of these enabling factors requires action that goes beyond education and training ministries alone. In this respect, in 2022 the Commission conducted a structured dialogue with Member States on digital education and skills. After the ministerial debate which took place during the November 2021 Education, Youth, Culture and Sport (EYCS) Council, and reflecting the need for a whole-of-government approach, Member States nominated their representatives for the high level group of national coordinators with the mandate to represent the relevant departments in their countries responsible for different aspects of digital education, training and skills (including education, labour, digital, culture, industry and finance). The outcomes of the structured dialogue (5) highlighted a number of common challenges faced by Member States in the digital transformation of their education and training systems, demonstrating the need to share best practices at Union level. |
6. |
The first principle of the European Pillar of Social Rights (6) states that ‘everyone has the right to quality and inclusive education, training and lifelong learning in order to maintain and acquire skills that enable them to participate fully in society and manage successfully transitions in the labour market’. The right to education, as set out in and protected by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, should be guaranteed at all times. Likewise, the Council Recommendation establishing a European Child Guarantee (7) invites Member States to guarantee effective and free access to education and school-based activities for children in need, namely those at risk of poverty and social exclusion. |
7. |
The European Skills Agenda (8) sets out actions to help individuals and businesses develop more and better skills and put them to use by strengthening sustainable competitiveness and by building resilience to react to crises, based on the lessons learnt during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Council Resolution on a new European agenda for adult learning 2021-2030 (9) includes a focus on formal, non-formal and informal learning opportunities for adults, in a lifelong learning perspective. |
8. |
Every European citizen should have access to digital education which enables them to develop the knowledge, skills and competences needed for active participation in today’s increasingly digital societies. The Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030 (10) puts forward a plan to achieve an inclusive, human-centred digital transformation of the EU’s society and economy by 2030. This includes setting up a governance and reporting framework with the Member States in order to reach the relevant Union-level targets for the Digital Decade, such as achieving universal connectivity (gigabit broadband for everyone and 5G everywhere, even in rural and remote areas). These initiatives seek to address existing digital divides in terms of connectivity and skills by promoting action and putting in place necessary mitigating measures. In this respect, the 2022 European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles for the Digital Decade (11) emphasises the need to promote and support efforts to equip all education and training institutions with digital connectivity, infrastructure and tools. |
9. |
Those initiatives highlight that successful digital education and training is about creating more and better opportunities for learning and teaching for everyone in the digital age. Digital solutions have made education and training systems in the Union more accessible over the last few years. Digital resources have the potential to bridge geographical divisions. Digital commons (12), in particular, can bring substantial benefits such as strategic autonomy, reduced costs and increased transparency. However, in a fast-developing world, it is vital to continuously improve the effectiveness and efficiency of education and training and support new teaching and learning approaches, including through existing and emerging digital solutions. Moreover, it is vital that learners understand the functioning of underlying technologies, and develop skills and competences for a creative, safe, ethical and responsible use of digital technologies. |
10. |
The Council conclusions on digital education in Europe’s knowledge societies (13) highlight that the widespread distribution of digital technologies and access to the internet create new possibilities for high-quality and inclusive education and training in Europe. Digital education, as an integral part of high-quality and inclusive education and training, can complement face-to-face teaching and contribute to enhancing the accessibility of educational content and pedagogies, social inclusion and the effective acquisition of competences, promoting educational success for all. |
11. |
At the same time, new and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) quickly enter learner environments, which brings potential opportunities as well as risks, such as cybersecurity threats. It is therefore crucial to support education and training institutions and non-formal learning institutions, as well as teachers, trainers and other education staff, in developing a better understanding of such tools and how to use them in a confident and safe manner to the benefit of teaching and learning. This includes an awareness of the implications that relevant Union legislation in the digital domain, such as the upcoming Artificial Intelligence Act (14) and the Digital Services Act (15), and initiatives such as the European strategy for data (16), may have on teaching and learning practices. Concurrently, the Commission’s Digital Education Action Plan is raising cybersecurity awareness among individuals, especially children and young people, and organisations, especially SMEs. Education and training, as well as awareness-raising, will not only protect against cyber threats but will also contribute to developing and diversifying the cybersecurity workforce, complementing the efforts of the Cybersecurity Skills Academy initiative. |
12. |
In a lifelong perspective, using digital technologies to improve the accessibility and quality of teaching and learning is essential for all levels and types of education and training, from early childhood education and care, throughout primary and secondary education, to vocational education and training, higher education and adult learning. |
13. |
A range of Council Recommendations have highlighted the importance of all levels and types of education and training for recovery and a fair transition to digital and green economies. Thus, the Council Recommendation on vocational education and training (VET) for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience (17) proposes a modernised Union policy vision of VET, including its digitalisation and the use of blended learning, and the Council Recommendation on building bridges for effective European higher education cooperation (18) recognises that strong, inter-connected higher education institutions are an important instrument for tackling the challenges related to the green and digital transitions. |
14. |
Furthermore, the Council Recommendation on Upskilling Pathways: New Opportunities for Adults (19) aims to provide low-qualified adults with flexible opportunities to improve their basic and further skills, including digital competences relevant for the labour market and active participation in society. This is being put into practice by delivering education and training in appropriate learning settings in which qualified teachers and trainers apply adult-specific teaching methods and exploit the potential of digital learning. |
15. |
Teachers and trainers are also especially relevant actors in the process, and should be treated as key and trusted partners in the successful digital transformation since they are the driving force behind education and training (20). As such, they need to be closely involved and consulted in the adoption of digital technologies, as well as equipped and empowered with the necessary skills and competences for their effective use. They need the support of a comprehensive approach to initial education, induction and continuous professional development. Embedding blended learning approaches is also recommended, including how to operate safely and ethically in digital environments (21). Furthermore, educators’ digital competence and digital infrastructure, tools and resources are key to strengthening teaching and learning for sustainability (22). |
16. |
Responding to the need for accessible, high-quality and inclusive digital education and training, this Recommendation should address the following key enabling factors: (i) a strategic approach to digital education and skills; (ii) whole-of-government coordination and multi-stakeholder engagement; (iii) capacity building for education and training institutions, leaders and teaching and support staff; and (iv) impact-focused investment. |
17. |
This Recommendation fully respects the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality. Member States will decide, according to national circumstances, how to implement the Recommendation, |
RECOMMENDS THAT MEMBER STATES:
1. |
Agree, preferably through a whole-of-government approach, and involving key stakeholders, on coherent and consistent national, and where appropriate regional, strategies or strategic approaches for digital education and skills and competences, developed, further strengthened or updated taking inspiration from the principles of this Recommendation, and monitor their effectiveness and impact. In pursuit of their strategies or strategic approaches, Member States are recommended to:
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2. |
Increase the efficiency, effectiveness and resilience of digital education and training policy by promoting synergies and coordination at all levels of public administration and aspiring to a whole-of-government and multi-stakeholder approach. In particular, Member States are recommended to:
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3. |
Encourage digital training for leaders and teaching and support staff of education and training institutions, and promote their capacity building. In particular, Member States are recommended to:
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4. |
Promote equitable and impact-focused investment in high-quality, resilient and inclusive digital education and training. In particular, Member States are recommended to:
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5. |
Entrust the High Level Group on Education and Training with the task of providing steering on the key strategic topics addressed in this Recommendation. This will take place mainly through discussions, a regular exchange of information and the provision of guidance on strategic issues (27) related to the key enabling factors for successful digital education and training. The High Level Group should receive support and draw on expertise as it requires, including from the Working Group on Digital Education: Learning, Teaching and Assessment (DELTA) and other expert groups in other sectors, such as the Digital Decade Board, in order to build on a horizontal, cross-departmental approach. The topics to be covered could be announced in the successive 18-month policy agendas. |
WELCOMES THE COMMISSION’S INTENTION TO:
1. |
Promote the exchange of best practice, peer learning and cooperation with stakeholders with regard to digital education and training. In particular, the Commission intends to:
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2. |
Support the digital training of the leaders and teaching and support staff of education and training institutions. In particular, the Commission intends to:
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3. |
Support impact-focused investment in digital education and training infrastructure and services through national and Union funding and strengthen the evidence base on the effectiveness and efficiency of digital education policies and tools. In particular, the Commission intends to:
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4. |
Improve transparency and evaluate progress in implementing digital education and training. In particular, the Commission intends to:
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Done at Brussels, 23 November 2023.
For the Council
The President
P. ALEGRÍA CONTINENTE
(1) EUCO 1/23.
(3) COM(2020) 624 final.
(4) OJ C 415, 1.12.2020, p. 22.
(5) Annex 3 to staff working document SWD(2023) 205 final.
(6) OJ C 428, 13.12.2017, p. 10.
(7) Council Recommendation (EU) 2021/1004 of 14 June 2021 establishing a European Child Guarantee (OJ L 223, 22.6.2021, p. 14).
(8) COM(2020) 274 final.
(9) OJ C 504, 14.12.2021, p. 9.
(10) Decision (EU) 2022/2481 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2022 establishing the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030 (OJ L 323, 19.12.2022, p. 4).
(11) OJ C 23, 23.1.2023, p. 1.
(12) ‘Digital commons’ is an evolving concept, which can broadly be defined as non-rivalrous and non-exclusive digital resources characterised by shared production, maintenance and governance. These include, among other things, open-source software, open data, open standards, open AI libraries and open content.
(13) OJ C 415, 1.12.2020, p. 22.
(14) COM(2021) 206 final.
(15) Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market For Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act) (OJ L 277, 27.10.2022, p. 1).
(16) COM(2020) 66 final.
(17) Council Recommendation of 24 November 2020 on vocational education and training (VET) for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience (OJ C 417, 2.12.2020, p. 1).
(18) Council Recommendation of 5 April 2022 on building bridges for effective European higher education cooperation (OJ C 160, 13.4.2022, p. 1).
(19) Council Recommendation of 19 December 2016 on Upskilling Pathways: New Opportunities for Adults (OJ C 484, 24.12.2016, p. 1).
(20) Council conclusions on European teachers and trainers for the future (OJ C 193, 9.6.2020, p. 11).
(21) Council Recommendation of 29 November 2021 on blended learning approaches for high-quality and inclusive primary and secondary education (OJ C 504, 14.12.2021, p. 21).
(22) Council Recommendation of 16 June 2022 on learning for the green transition and sustainable development (OJ C 243, 27.6.2022, p. 1).
(23) Council conclusions on supporting well-being in digital education (OJ C 469, 9.12.2022, p. 19).
(24) For instance, those living in rural and remote areas or the outermost regions, those from socioeconomically disadvantaged or marginalised groups, and persons with disabilities.
(25) Directive (EU) 2016/2102 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 October 2016 on the accessibility of the websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies (OJ L 327, 2.12.2016, p. 1).
(26) Directive (EU) 2019/882 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the accessibility requirements for products and services (OJ L 151, 7.6.2019, p. 70).
(27) Such issues could include, among others, the assessment and certification of digital skills and competences, quality requirements for digital education tools and content or the integration of artificial intelligence into education and training, including through informatics and computational thinking.
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/1115/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)