EUROPEAN SHORT LEARNING PROGRAMMES addressed the implementation of short learning programmes as a main part of continuing education/continuous professional development and lifelong learning policies.
It concerned all European Qualification Framework (EFQ) qualification levels (from foundation to postgraduate levels), since longer and changing careers increase the needs of learners and stakeholders. SLP qualifications corresponded with the EFQ. The project had an input in discussions on the renewed EQF (New Skills Agenda). Online/blended SLPs are flexible and scalable to serve large numbers of learners, which is necessary to close the knowledge and skills gap in Europe (Modernisation Agenda).
The project objectives were:
– Defining the concept and position of short learning programmes as part of higher education systems and of policies for continuous education/continuous professional development (CPD) and lifelong learning, responding to needs of the economy and personal development.
– Developing institutional policies, strategies and frameworks for the development and delivery of flexible and scalable SLPs in Europe, keeping pace with the size and diversity of needs of employers and employees and as an opportunity for learners to fit study programmes to their time horizon.
– Empowering university leadership and staff for curriculum and course design, quality assurance and recognition for SLPs complying with the EQF.
– Developing guidelines for collaborative SLPs and related mobility, enriching the content anD quality of SLPs and raising their European outreach, scale and cost-effectiveness.
– Designing next steps for change towards systemic and sustainable institutional, governmental and EU policies and strategies for continuous education, mainstreaming SLPs as a specific area of university provision, next to degree education and open education.
E-SLP was about forward looking, forward thinking and forward acting with regard to the integration of SLPs in higher education systems. It started with identifying the concept and position of SLPs in higher education systems, analysing European, national and institutional policies and looking for a consensus on SLPs as a structure responding to the needs in the economy and society at large. In this concept, SLPs responded to mismatches and gaps in knowledge/skills and needs for personal development. Online/blended SLPs are flexible and scalable and enable universities to serve large numbers of learners. It connects with the Modernisation Agenda as SLPs will increase the potential of European higher education institutions to fulfil their role in society and contribute to Europe’s prosperity.
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ERASMUS+ Project Card
