Lord David Puttnam and OECD’s Andreas Schleicher to debate Education and Skills for Jobs, Stability & Growth
The Irish Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., will chair the EU Council of Education Ministers in Brussels tomorrow, Friday 15th February 2013.
This will be the first of two Education Council meetings to be held under the Irish Presidency – the second will be in May.
In advance of the meeting, Minister Quinn said, "Ireland’s core aim during our Presidency is to seek ways of supporting sustainable jobs and growth in Europe and of restoring economic stability to the European economy. Education and training have a key role to play in this endeavour and in tackling and resolving the current unemployment crisis across Europe."
Ministers will debate "Education and Skills for Jobs, Stability & Growth". The Presidency has invited also two guest speakers to participate in the Council meeting, Lord David Puttnam, the noted filmmaker and chancellor of the Open University; and the Deputy Director for Education at the OECD, Andreas Schleicher.
Lord Puttnam, whose film credits include Chariots of Fire and The Killing Fields, recently took on the new role of Digital Champion for Ireland to advise the Irish Government on how digital technologies can transform education, the economy and public service. He and Andreas Schleicher will give presentations on how education and skills can contribute to the Presidency theme of Jobs, Stability and Growth.
The Education Ministers are also expected to adopt Conclusions on ‘"Rethinking Education: Investing in skills for better socio-economic outcomes" and the 2013 Annual Growth Survey’ at the Council.
Minister Quinn said, "Ministers’ time is precious so it is important for us to get the greatest benefit from our interactions. Previous Presidencies have worked hard to make the Education Council a more interactive and meaningful experience for Ministers. We want to build upon this good work. I am aiming to have a discussion which is politically focused on big issues, which is meaningful, and of practical use to all of us. I would like each Minister to take at least one big idea, or one new way of approaching a challenge, back to their capital."
Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the EU until 30th June.
A number of legislative priorities in education have been identified for the course of the Presidency. These are:
·Regulation establishing "Erasmus for All"
·New Directive to amend Directive 2005/36 on the recognition of professional qualifications
·Regulation on the European Social Fund (ESF) and the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF)
·Decision on the Strategic Innovation Agenda of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) & Regulation amending 2008 Regulation which established the EIT
Further information on the Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the EU can be found on the Department’s website at:
http://www.education.ie/en/Press-Events/Events/Ireland-s-Presidency-of-the-Council-of-the-EU/Irish-Presidency-2013.html
or
http://www.eu2013.ie/events/event-items/meetingofeducationyouthcultureandsporteycs-20130215/
The debate on Education & Skills for Jobs, Stability & Growth can be viewed live at:
http://video.consilium.europa.eu/ at approx 11:05am local time in Brussels (10:05 Irish time), including the contributions from Lord Puttnam & Andreas Schleicher.
The Press Conference following the Council meeting can also be viewed live at: http://video.consilium.europa.eu/ at approximately 2:30pm Brussels time (1:30 Irish Time).