European symposium on the socio-economic dimension of education and training within the Lisbon agenda

At a time of major societal changes and challenges within Europe and internationally, education and training do not only contribute to current social, political, economic and cultural development processes, but also build the intellectual foundations, skills and resources for dealing with future challenges, foreseen as well as unexpected.

Generating in-depth, shared understanding of such complex challenges and providing an improved knowledge base for decisions on relevant strategies and policies, requires an improved scientific understanding of education and training structures and processes and of the powerful interconnections of learning with other policy fields.

In this context, the European Network of Experts on Economics of Education (EENEE) and the Network of Experts on Social Sciences of Education and Training (NESSE) are currently supporting the Commission in the analysis of education and training policies and reforms and of their implications at national, regional and European level.

In close cooperation with DG-EAC, these two networks of independent experts will participate in a first joint symposium in Brussels on 19 and 20 June 2007.

Ms. Eleonora Waltraud Schmid, from Cedefop will be participating