From Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
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Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris has today welcomed 2 key decisions by the European Council on skills development.
Today the Commission agreed proposals on Individual Learning Accounts and microcredentials. Both recommendations are directly linked to the European Skills Agenda, which is a 5-year plan to help individuals, businesses and EU governments, to develop more and better skills and ensure that they are put to use across the economy, including in the growth areas of the green and digital transitions.
Speaking today, Minister Harris said:
"In Ireland, and across Europe and the world, we are facing unprecedented change.
"Changes in the way we work and in the skills that we will require for our working lives. Life-long learning and the development of new skills throughout our lives is imperative for everyone. People can no longer depend on the skills that they acquire in school or college, or those skills that they develop in the early phases of their careers – they need to continually add to their skill sets and develop new ones.
"My department is working on flexible and innovative ways to encourage and incentivise people to take up learning and training opportunities at all stages of life. These 2 recommendations from the European Council provide important food for thought in this regard."
The recommendation on individual learning accounts outlines a framework for how more adults can be supported to engage in more learning.
Microcredentials are short focused qualifications,that enable adult learners to develop new skills and to achieve specific learning outcomes. They allow adults to engage in training and study opportunities throughout their careers in flexible ways.