A. Programme for Lifelong Learning 2007-2013

The European Commission has integrated its various educational and training initiatives under a single umbrella, the Lifelong Learning Programme. Provided with a a seven years' total budget of 6,970 billion € the Lifelong Learning Programme has been running since 2007 and will last till the end of 2013. It represents the second generation of programmes initialized by the European Union to enhance the quality of its national systems of education and vocational training by means of closer transnational cooperation. Thus the Lifelong Learning Programme replaces its forerunner programmes in the field of general and vocational education (ARION, LINGUA, LEONARDO DA VINCI, SOKRATES, E-Learning). Constitutionally the programme is based on Decision No 1720/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 November 2006 'establishing an action programme in the field of lifelong learning'.

Besides the 27 EU-Member States Turkey, Norway, Island and Liechtenstein are taking part in the programme. As for the term the programme is running non-EU-Member States are provided participation on the basis of bilateral agreements.

The programme's main objectives are:

advancement of European cooperation in the field of education policies

implementation of the education policies' ends enacted in the Copenhagen declaration and the Bologna-process

 

B. Sectoral Programmes and Transversal Programme

The Lifelong Learning Programme as an umbrella for several initiatives in the field of general and vocational education is made up of four Sectoral Programmes and one Transversal Programme. In charge of implementing the separate parts of the programme are the so called National Agencies of each Member State in cooperation with the European Commission:

COMENIUS: is the sectoral programme for school education, from primary up to secondary school;

National Agency in charge of implementation: Pedagogical Exchange Service (PAD)

ERASMUS: is the sectoral programme for higher education;

National Agency in charge of implementation: German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

LEONARDO DA VINCI: is the sectoral programme for vocational education and advanced vocational training;

National Agency in charge of implementation: National Agency Education for Europe at the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (NA at BIBB)

GRUNDTVIG: is the sectoral programme for adult education;

National Agency in charge of implementation: National Agency Education for Europe at the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (NA at BIBB)

CEDEFOP: is part of the transversal programme for conducting study visits in the Member States. It enables multipliers and decision makers in the field of education policy to take an active part in study visits addressed to certain issues of vocational education and training;

National Agency in charge of implementation: National Agency Education for Europe at the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (NA at BIBB)

JEAN MONNET: is part of the transversal programme for advancing the range of course offerings, research projects and studies concerning the field of scientific research on European integration;

National Agency in charge of implementation: Executive Agency Education, Audiovisual and Culture (EACEA)

Focusing on the separate segments of the European educational systems the Sectoral Programmes address itself to the individual needs of participants in general, higher and vocational education as well as to national institutions of education. In contrast the activities of the Transversal Programme are supposed to the advancement of mutual integration of the Sectoral Programmes as well as the implementation of European education policies' ends on a transnational level. 

For more detailed information on the EU-Programme for Lifelong Learning please consult also the following websites:

European Commission: http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-programme/doc78_en.htm

European Executive Agency: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/index_en.php

European Union: http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/education_training_youth/lifelong_learning/c11082_en.htm.

See also:

CEDEFOP study visits, COMENIUS, ERASMUS, ERASMUS Mundus, European Commission, Free Mover, GRUNDTVIG, LEONARDO DA VINCI