Some of the challenges facing neighbouring countries in terms of human capital development are also to be found in EU countries. However Mr Truszczyński identifies three key differences: a weak capacity to design and implement policy change; a lower level of economic development; and a bigger and more complex mismatch between skills and the needs of the labour market. “We need to use the financial instruments at our disposal to help neighbouring countries to modernise their VET systems and improve their ability to forecast and plan ahead,” he says, “this will allow them to better prepare their education systems to respond to the needs of their economies.”
“How you get on with your neighbours matters to every country or regional grouping; what makes the EU stand out is the sheer volume of grants and assistance that we offer our partners,” he says, “we see this as an investment.”
ETF work is unrivalled
In his new role, Mr Truszczyński is looking forward to learning much more about the work of the ETF. Nevertheless his provisional verdict is positive. “The ETF addresses what needs to be addressed in terms of changing how educational systems are organised, analysing and assessing labour markets and promoting cooperation between the world of education and business as well as reducing the skills gap. I think its priorities are well chosen, the ability to draw on expertise is manifestly present, there is a good working relationship with CEDEFOP and the work of the ETF in neighbouring countries is unrivalled in Europe,” he says.
One area that Mr Truszczyński is keen to examine when he becomes chair of the ETF’s governing board is how well it measures its own effectiveness. “With every assistance mechanism you want to make sure it really delivers and this is best done through monitoring and evaluation,” he says.
When asked whether the ETF could contribute to promoting entrepreneurial learning within the framework of the EU’s 2020 strategy, Mr Truszczyński’s reply is a resounding yes.
“Where neighbouring countries seek to achieve similar goals to the EU, the ETF, with its remit on business and education, labour markets and VET, can probably do a lot of good,” he says.
Mr Truszczyński adds that he is “not convinced that the EU is such a paragon of virtue that we can automatically act as a role model for others. Neighbouring countries will not stand idly by as we try to modernise, but will draw their own lessons and implement change at a more decisive and faster pace. It is here that the ETF – with its expertise gained in Europe, its network of contacts and its good relations with the governments of neighbouring countries – can step in and do more.”
Promoting democracy
“You have to be realistic about the extent to which education and training can bring stability and democracy; I know of no country where the mere provision of assistance has resulted in the further anchoring of the values that prevail in Europe. This depends to a large extent on whether beneficiaries are willing to invest their political capital and energy in making sure the assistance really benefits their society and economy.
In the desert, money alone will not make lush greenery appear,” he says.
Moving on to the theme of future cooperation between education and business, Mr Truszczyński says that “there is a huge untapped potential here. The entrepreneurial culture in higher education has to be developed more and there should be more dialogue between business and universities on the future needs of the economy.”
Mr Truszczyński is looking forward to preparing a new generation of projects, one of the largest being ‘Youth on the Move’, a programme targeting education, youth policy and international mobility. He would like above all to see the new programmes “smoothly launched and implemented” and to see them gain acceptance from both beneficiaries and Member States.
“My job is not the easiest in the European Commission but it is not so difficult either… education is a fascinating field,” he concludes.
USER COMMENTS:
Currently no comments