Lifelong skills upgrading for all

The constant changes in the labour market and in society continuously make new demands on the skills and adaptability of individuals. Participation in adult education and continuing training help individuals participate actively in the labour market throughout their lives. The competitiveness of Danish enterprises and the quality of services is largely dependent on investment in continuing training and competence development. An increased effort in adult education and continuing training at all levels, promoting lifelong skills upgrading for all, is therefore necessary for the development of Denmark as a leading knowledge society and plays an important role in the national strategy for lifelong learning.

Denmark is among the countries with the highest level of participation in adult education and continuing training, competence development at work and liberal adult educational activities during leisure time. Both public and private investment in the development of new qualifications and competences are among the highest in Europe. A very substantial part of the overall learning and competence development takes place in connection with work. It is a well-established practice that the social partners, through collective bargaining, enter into agreements concerning the competence development of employees and human resource planning in the enterprises.

The public efforts in adult education and continuing training play an important role in the development of the qualifications and competences of the labour force and provide opportunities for all groups in the labour market and in the population - from the low-skilled to those with higher education.

Publicly funded adult education and continuing training include general adult education, vocational adult education and continuing training up to and including vocational education and training level (labour market training, basic adult education etc.) as well as a further education system for adults at three tertiary levels. In addition, a number of educational programmes are provided for marginalised target groups.

Goals and actions for adult education and continuing training

It is crucial that more adults in the labour market participate in adult education and continuing training, and that competence development in enterprises is strengthened. This applies regardless of what job a person does. Many, especially the low-skilled, older workers, people with literacy problems and bilinguals either do not participate in adult education and continuing training at all or do so far less than other groups in the labour market. In addition, many enterprises do not invest enough in systematic competence development of their employees. This applies in particular to small and medium-sized enterprises.

Demand for adult education and continuing training among workers and enterprises must therefore be strengthened. Those with the lowest level of formal education and training, who have the greatest need for and barriers to education, must be motivated. Public and private enterprises must be encouraged to become learning and developing workplaces to a greater degree and to help strengthen the development of human resources.

The Government and the social partners agree that an enhanced effort in adult education and continuing training is a shared responsibility:

• Individuals are responsible for continuously developing their competences and adaptability in the labour market.
• The task of enterprises is to ensure the development of the competences of employees in line with the needs of the enterprise and the requirements of the labour market.
• The role of the social partners is to contribute to the development of the competences of the labour force and of enterprises as places of learning at work.
• The role of the authorities is to provide a good framework, relevant education programmes of high quality and the necessary incentives to ensure that everyone in the labour market has good opportunities to participate in adult education and continuing training.

Based on a close dialogue with the social partners, the Government has laid down the following goals to be promoted in adult education and continuing training:

• Everyone shall engage in lifelong learning.
• Adult education and continuing training efforts must be effective and flexible. They shall support good job opportunities for individuals, good competitiveness in enterprises and high employment and prosperity in society.
• Adult education and continuing training must provide everyone with opportunities to improve competences - not least those with the lowest level of formal education.
• Adult education and continuing training must reflect changes in the qualification requirements and needs of the labour market.

The following actions are to be prioritised:

• Efforts are to be strengthened for all groups in the labour market, from the low-skilled to highly qualified specialists. The aim is an increase in the overall competences of the labour force.
• Greater emphasis must be placed on those with the greatest need - the low-skilled and those with literacy and numeracy problems. The aim is that more people with the lowest level of formal education shall participate in vocational adult education and continuing training.
• Fundamental general skills in the labour force must be strengthened. The aim is that more people, especially those with the lowest level of formal education and marginalised groups, including bilinguals, shall participate in general qualifying education.
• New forms of governance and funding are to be developed. The aim is better utilisation of resources and increased investment in adult education and continuing training.

The fulfilment of the goals for an enhanced effort in adult education and continuing training is based on a close dialogue with the social partners and the development of partnerships between all relevant players at all levels in society.

Key initiatives

The Government's strategy for the promotion of lifelong learning in adult education and continuing training, which is based on the agreement on future wealth and welfare and investments in the future, as well as the agreement on implementation of the globalisation fund, comprises the following key initiatives:

• Guidance and counselling for employees and enterprises is to be strengthened.
• Better and easier access to recognition of prior learning is to be ensured in all publicly financed adult education and continuing training programmes from basic adult education to diploma (bachelor) level.
• A significant effort to increase participation in literacy and numeracy courses for adults. Provision is to be made more flexible, and the possibilities of combining literacy and numeracy courses with adult vocational training are to be utilised better.
• Better provision for bilinguals who have problems with the Danish language will be developed in Danish language education programmes for foreign adults and in other general and vocational adult education to ensure that they can cope in the labour market and as citizens.
• Adult education and continuing training provision in, for example, labour market training will be made more attractive, targeted and flexible in relation to the needs of individuals and enterprises.
• A better and broader range of qualifying adult education programmes at higher education levels shall be developed in the adult further education system.
• The number of adult apprentices who can obtain a vocational education and training qualification shall be increased through increased State grants.
• Ensuring institutions' conditions of provision, more flexible tuition fees and a new model for financing special allowances in vocational adult education and continuing training are to be discussed with the social partners and the political parties behind the welfare agreement.
• Systematic competence development in small and medium-sized enterprises will be promoted in public as well as private enterprises through, among other things, the development of methods and tools.
• Increased public and private investment in adult education and continuing training will be promoted.
• The progress of efforts in the area of adult education and continuing training will be monitored through the development of an indicator system.

In order to fulfil the goals and key initiatives the Government has set aside an extra DKK 2 billion over a six year period for the area of adult education and continuing training within the context of a broad political agreement. Of these, DKK 1 billion has been set aside to strengthening vocational adult education and continuing training, subject to the condition that in forthcoming collective bargaining the social partners accept greater financial co-responsibility for an increased effort in the area of adult education and continuing training.

In 2007 the Government will discuss with the social partners as well as with the political parties behind the Welfare Agreement how extra public investment can be used in the light of agreements between the social partners and how adult education and continuing training and competence development in enterprises can be strengthened.

This page is part of the publication " Denmark's strategy for lifelong learning "
© The Ministry of Education 2007