EU and Turkey together to address the future of work

On 25-26 February Ankara hosted a conference on a vision for the future of education, where both Turkey and the EU have exchanged knowledge and best practices. The event, “Turkey's Education Vision 2023 in the context of the EU Education and Training Framework”, was jointly organised by the Turkish Ministry of National Education, the EU Delegation to Turkey, the European Training Foundation and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

More than 150 participants – both national, EU Member States and international from relevant public/private institutions, academia and civil society with expertise in the education and training sector – attended the event, with the purpose of producing recommendations for follow-up cooperation.

“As a new industrial revolution unfolds globally, education and training systems face a common challenge: how to equip citizens with the skills needed to be resilient and fulfil their potential. This shared challenge is also at the heart of EU and Turkey cooperation. This cooperation is getting closer by working together and sharing experience between the EU education and training policies and programmes, and the vision for the future of Turkish education”, said Cesare Onestini, ETF director

In October 2018 the Turkish government presented its Education Vision 2023, providing for a comprehensive roadmap that covers the whole Turkish education system. The document aims to guide a holistic reform process that responds to the changes Turkey and the world are undergoing. It should bring the education system in line with international standards so that learners can be equipped with the skills they need in the 21st century.

The EU's Member States are also working on reforming their education systems, following a set of common objectives and benchmarks. The _{EU framework}, which is based on the lifelong learning approach, provides opportunities to gather and share knowledge, and seeks to implement and advance educational policy reforms at national level. It addresses outcomes from early childhood to adult vocational and higher education, and is designed to cover learning in all contexts: formal, non-formal and informal.

Background

The ETF has been supporting Turkey in developing education and training to boost employability, increase access to opportunity and promote social cohesion since 2005. Complementing the work of the EU’s External Action Service, the ETF brings together ministries and social partners to develop scalable projects.