Education & Training
Student living costs reach ‘historic’ highs in France
Est. 3minStudent living costs are reaching new highs in France, with up to 10% increases year-on-year in rent, utility bills, and food, according to student unions’ new data.
Behind shiny new semiconductor investments, the EU Chips Act needs more work
Est. 7minWhile Thierry Breton hailed chip manufacturers' recent investment pledges in Europe as a ‘culmination’ of the EU's industrial strategy and its newly-adopted Chips Act, a lot more work is needed.
‘Skills-first’ hiring could widen Europe’s labour pool
Est. 6minTo close the skills gap, businesses and policymakers have recently backed a 'skills-first' hiring approach, which evaluates job applicants based on their abilities instead of traditional education or certification.
Let’s build a fairer Erasmus now
Est. 5minGrants for the Erasmus student exchange programme are not keeping pace with inflation, pricing out many poorer students - that needs to change, write Nicu Stefanuta and Juan Rayon Gonzalez.
Labour shortages: We are hard at work, France tells Commission
Est. 3minFrench Labour Minister Olivier Dussopt rejected on Monday (12 June) the European Commission's criticism that his government was not doing enough to reduce labour shortages, replying instead that "we're hard at work".
ANALYSIS: Macron’s uphill battle to get the French to like their jobs
Est. 7minA number of structural reforms introduced by French President Emmanuel Macron in 2017 have brought employment back to pre-2008 levels. However, the French are growing more and more disenfranchised with their jobs. After months of political fights over a widely-rejected pensions …
Germany tackles gender clichés in bid to reduce skills shortages
Est. 5minGermany’s skills shortage is particularly high in professions typically prone to gender clichés, participants of a conference on vocational orientation said on Thursday (4 May), stressing the need to reduce gender bias in career choices.
EU Commission warns of slow progress in digital skills development
Est. 4minThe European Commission is looking to step up efforts to help member states accelerate digital skills development in order to achieve the EU goals set for 2030.
The hidden costs of unpaid internships
Est. 5minUnpaid internships cost young Europeans over €1,000/month, deepen social inequalities, and exclude vulnerable youth; the EU needs to implement binding laws to ban unpaid internships and provide quality internships for everyone, writes Mark McNulty.
Europe lagging behind on digital skills development, says EU official
Est. 4minBarriers to lifelong learning and limited investment in training are slowing down the European Union’s efforts to fill the digital skills gap by 2030, according to EU representatives and experts, who pointed to the need for increased upskilling and reskilling support.
Missing: Teachers for Europe
Est. 10minWelcome to EURACTIV’s weekly Economy Brief. You can subscribe to the newsletter here. Teaching has become unattractive as a career in Europe. Many education graduates seek jobs in other professions, while those who teach tend to retire early, EU …
EU Commissioner calls for better pay for essential professions
Est. 4minIn an interview with EURACTIV, the European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights Nicolas Schmit said member states should provide better recognition, pay and working conditions to make certain professions, such as care jobs, more attractive to Europeans.
Denmark presents controversial plan to shorten Master’s programmes
Est. 3minThe length of many Master’s degrees is to be halved, according to the education reform plan presented by the government on Thursday – a move experts and the opposition believe will greatly harm the Danish education system. With its new education …
Former UK education secretary says teaching unions ‘hate work’
Est. 2minTeaching unions ‘just hate work’ and complain about a lack of protective equipment in order to ‘have an excuse not to teach’ during the COVID-19 pandemic, Former Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said in a leaked WhatsApp exchange to Matt Hancock, …
Workers for Future: Germany’s dual vocational training under stress
Est. 5minGermany’s dual vocational training system, often praised as a model to follow, is in crisis, workers' representatives and employers say, while more and more skilled workers are needed to realise the country's green transition.
Europe’s quest for skills
Est. 2minAs Europe grapples with both skills and labour shortages, EU institutions and national governments are trying to find ways to fill the gaps in Europe’s labour market. This EURACTIV Special Report looks at Europe's challenges in training, attracting and retaining …
Teachers face bureaucracy, extra training when relocating within EU
Est. 6minEducation professionals face considerable bureaucratic hurdles and mandatory additional training to get their domestic qualifications recognised if they want to work in another member state, barriers that are worsening the EU's skills shortage.
Roma segregated in schools, Supreme Court finds
Est. 2minRoma children are segregated in Roma-only primary schools in the eastern city of Stará Ľubovňa, according to the first-of-its-kind Supreme Court ruling that holds the Education Ministry and city institutions responsible. The city of Stará Ľubovňa, where the school is located, …
German education minister announces cooperation with Ukraine
Est. 2minGermany has promised to reinforce cooperation with Ukraine on education, research and vocational training, Education and Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger promised during a visit to Kyiv on Monday. Stark-Watzinger of the liberal FDP held talks on strengthening research cooperation between the …
Hungary will amend university law to secure EU funding, minister says
Est. 2minHungary will amend legislation in March to address Brussels' concerns about government-linked politicians holding seats on university boards in order to restore European Union funding for students and teachers, a Hungarian minister said on Thursday (26 January).
Catalonia hit by cross-sector protests
Est. 2minThousands of doctors, nurses, teachers and taxi drivers took to the streets of Barcelona and other major Catalan cities on Wednesday, pointing out their poor working conditions and low wages. Barcelona saw the protests of more than 15,000 doctors and nurses, …
Teachers demands are fair, says Portuguese president
Est. 2minPortugal’s teachers have several understandable and fair demands, said Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who called on the government and unions to establish a constructive dialogue and avoid a prolonged strike period. “Tomorrow [Wednesday], a new round of talks …
Portuguese teachers strike after failed negotiations
Est. 2minEight unions led a teachers’ strike on Monday that will last 18 days after the Education Ministry pushed back negotiation dates on the deadline to withdraw some proposals presented in previous negotiations. A teachers’ strike that will last 18 days …
Finnish education system fails to improve performance
Est. 2minThe once internationally applauded Finnish education system has failed to evolve and has deteriorated, found a new report published by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture on Thursday. While other countries have improved their performance, Finland has been stranded, according …