Brussels, 11/05/2010 (Agence Europe) - Aware that education and training systems have to be improved given the difficult and ever-changing economic conditions, and have to be open to the world in a context of globalisation, education ministers unanimously adopted three series of conclusions on Tuesday: - on skills required for education and life-long learning and the “new skills for new jobs” initiative; - on the social dimension of education and training; - and on the internationalisation of higher education. “Education is of the greatest importance in tackling the crisis and coming to a sustainable model in the face of current challenges, while satisfying the demands of the labour market,” said Spanish Education Minister Ángel Gabilondo Pujol. Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou pointed out that, by 2020, 35% of all jobs will require very high qualifications (compared with 29% currently). Ways of tackling social exclusion are needed and universities have to be competitive in the face of increasing international competition, she said. (I.L./transl.rt)