European ministers of education are meeting on Friday, 8 November, to discuss early childhood care, lifelong learning, and artificial intelligence. They will also hold—for the first time—a joint debate with their counterparts in charge of finance to discuss “ways to achieve effectiveness, efficiency, and quality of education and training for a stronger [...] economy”.
However, no legislative act is on the agenda. The only major issues in the field of education are those relating to EU programmes (Erasmus, Creative Europe, and the European Solidarity Corps) that are in the middle of negotiations with the European Parliament.
A debate on education and the economy
The session will open with a joint public debate by ministers of finance and education on the importance of effective, high-quality education and training for the economy (see EUROPE 12363/19). In a preparatory document, the Finnish Presidency of the Council notes that this meeting has two objectives: to exchange views on the role of education in achieving long-term sustainable growth and to share experiences. The presidency intends to question delegations on challenges, promising policies, and the role of European cooperation. In its note, it points out that “reinforcing human capital formation is not necessarily about spending more but about spending more cost-efficiently and effectively”.
Artificial intelligence, training, and early childhood
After a working lunch on early childhood care and education, ministers will hold a public debate on artificial intelligence (AI) in education and training, at which time they will highlight the role of AI in “solving big educational challenges”. They will then adopt conclusions on the role of lifelong learning policies in a context of technological and ecological transitions, while emphasising flexible, personalised, and learner-centred learning pathways that can be supported by AI.
The ministers will also adopt a resolution on the European Education Area that notably includes the creation of European universities. The latter—dear to French President Emmanuel Macron—were launched in June 2019 via 17 institutions (see EUROPE 12283/19). The resolution invites the Commission and Member States to seek ways to raise better awareness of these universities and to encourage different types of higher education institutions to participate in them. This should be done “by facilitating the exchange of relevant information and ensuring an adequate operational environment by making the best use of available resources and taking appropriate steps to remove possible legislative and non-legislative obstacles at national level when necessary”.
In ‘other business’, the Slovenian delegation will brief ministers on its proposal to establish the International Research Centre on AI under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the incoming Croatian Presidency of the Council will present its priorities. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)