20-21 February, 2017 HERC hosted Forward Planning Meeting of HELLIN
On the 20th and 21st of February, 2017, HERC hosted a forward planning meeting of the Higher Education Lifelong Learning Ireland Network (HELLIN), featuring guest speakers from several important organisations and bodies. These included Dr Nora Condon of the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit; and Claire McGee, Senior Innovation and Education Policy Executive at IBEC (the business and employer association for organisations based in Ireland). There were also two key speakers from the education sector: Kathleen Gavin, Head of Skills Planning and Enterprise Engagement Unit, Department of Education and Skills; and Dr Vivienne Patterson, Head of Statistics Section at the Higher Education Authority.
John Field, Adjunct Professor with HERC, provided an overview on Lifelong Learning in Europe: Policy and Trends. Prof. Field spoke of the turbulent cultural and political context of the current time, and identified an increasing emphasis on employability and activation in EU policy for third-level education. He described the European Commission’s New Skills Agenda for Europe (2016) as both a challenge and an opportunity for Lifelong Learning. Discussions focused on future policy and planning in the broad field of lifelong learning and continuing professional development.
Photo:
Standing l-r: Dr Rob Mark, DCU; Kathleen Gavin, Department of Education and Skills; Dr Vivienne Patterson, HEA; Dr Anne Walsh, NUIG; Dr Derek Barter, NUIM.