Stakeholder consultation on Rethinking Education: Investing in skills for better socio-economic outcomes COM(2012) 699

This PASCAL Policy Insight paper has been submitted in response to a stakeholder consultation by the EU Committee of the Regions  on an EU policy paper on Rethinking Education:

Abstract: Whilst there are unresolved debates about the best way of calculating levels of youth unemployment, there is general consensus that rates are rising, and particularly so in those countries seriously affected by the current financial crisis, to the point where a ‘lost generation’ is at risk of being denied access to employment  and to other aspects of adulthood and citizenship .   There is no clear policy response from national governments beyond the extension of the repertoire of measures which have been tried with little success to date.  Nor is there a clear perspective from research about ‘what works’ among the approaches currently on offer.In this paper, PASCAL offers new insights to the basis on which policy should address youth unemployment.  Going beyond the current model of seeking better alignment of education and vocational training to the current labour market,  PASCAL proposes an approach based on a reappraisal of the concepts of the knowledge economy and the knowledge society, which emphasises policies to facilitate adaptation to social and technological change,  to encourage educational innovation, to support emerging work futures and assist young people find their role within fast evolving work practices and structures.

Many of the responsibilities for the successful development and delivery of these policies lie with regional and local government.  The globalised knowledge economy is not working out as expected: regions need to be agile and flexible to secure their place and identity in the worldwide knowledge society.  Regions have a key role in establishing a ‘new bargain’ with young people to secure opportunity in a flourishing society.  This paper offers some suggestions for making the new bargain a reality.

The full paper is featured below and attached for download...