What happened?
The 6th European Education Summit was held on 30 November 2023 in Brussels. Its ambition was to discuss and outline paths towards a more inclusive and impactful European Education Area (EEA) under the theme "The European Education Area: A reality for all."
This flagship event of the EEA convened policymakers, education stakeholders, and experts to deliberate on transformative approaches for a sustainable and holistic education system.
How did it happen?
The EducationForClimate Coalition had the pleasure to invite 3 of its awardees of the call for inspiring green education actions to participate in and enjoy the whole Summit.
Mascha van Zijverden Lurdes Ferreira Ewa Duda (in the middle, left to right)
together with Susanne Szkola (DG JRC, left) and Cristina Galache-Matabuena (DG EAC, right) from the community's Secretariat.
The sustainability focal point of the summit was the panel hosted by the EducationForClimate Coalition, titled "Driving change, aiming for impact: Transforming green education for a sustainable future."
The discussion delved into the urgency of restructuring and rethinking educational spaces to cultivate green competences essential for sustainability. By emphasizing collaboration among policymakers, experts, and practitioners, the panel highlighted initiatives such as our co-hosted community around the European sustainability competence framework, GreenComp.
For this, it brought together practitioners and policy-makers to exchange on and combine their expertise.
Niall Collins ‐ Minister of State for Skills and Further Education, Ireland
Bogdan Cristescu ‐ State Secretary, Ministry of Education, Romania
Aurel Laurenţiu Plosceanu ‐ Vice‑President of the European Economic and Social Committee
Silvia Gomez Recio ‐ Secretary General YERUN (Young European Research Universities Network)
Jöran Mandik ‐ “Floating University Berlin", New European Bauhaus Prize winner 2023 (Strand C: “Education Champions”)
It also highlighted still existing challenges to overcome and suggested inspiring practices, both from policy and applied learning practice perspectives.This spotlight on actionable strategies resonated strongly with participants, like interdisciplinarity and shared deliberation.
The many education panels and themes & approaches mentioned in them lead to quite engaged discussions!
Mascha van Zijverden Lurdes Ferreira Ewa Duda Cristina Galache-Matabuena (left to right)
What happens now?
Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, encapsulated the following key takeaways:
- emphasize evidence-based policymaking,
- underline the importance of cross-sectoral and lifelong learning, and
- support the necessity for enhanced dialogue and citizen engagement via communities.
To the latter point, we would like to dive into discussions around our community participants' perspectives to continue the summit's conversations.
To extract what is important for as as a green education community to take note of, to act upon, to adjust to, to provide inspiration, to ...
Dear Ewa DUDA , Lurdes Ferreira , Mascha van Zijverden : it was SUCH a pleasure meeting you and being with you at the Summit together with Cristina GALACHE MATABUENA . Thank you for the insights already during the event.
To make them accessible also here, let's share our insights: What are your take-aways? What did you like, what was surprising, what could be done differently?
Thank you and let's continue here.
The organisation of the event was excellent. Congratulations to all those involved in the process! The opportunity to listen to interesting speeches by panellists and take part in numerous discussions are the best take-aways. I would not have done anything differently : ) I hope this is a promising beginning to joint action on climate change.
It was an excellent opportunity to share and learn about the experiences of European countries in education, in essence, a sharing of European values. The event's organization went very well. I enjoyed the debates, they were dynamic and effective in moderation, on topics, and time available.
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