Our work programme

On the 23^rd of March 2010, the 2010 work programme was approved at the EFEE Annual General Meeting (this is an updated version of the 2009/2010 work programme approved by the EFEE General Assembly on September 28th 2009). Our work programme focuses on strengthening EFEE’s role as a partner in the European Social Dialogue and on policy research in the area of leadership and governance in educational institutions.

SOCIAL DIALOGUE

THE EFEE 3 POINT-PLAN
The education sector is one of the most important sectors in the European social dialogue system. EFEE has established the following priorities in order to ensure its members’ interests are promoted at every level of the European policy making process.

To achieve further recognition by the European Commission of EFEE as the social partner for employers in education. The Education Sector Social Dialogue Committee (ESSDC) is the official forum for engaging with our trade union social partners and is an excellent opportunity for EFEE to represent its members at EU level (the inaugural meeting took place on June 11th 2010).
To implement the EFEE working programme for the period 2009-2011, focusing on in particular on the joint working groups covering the themes of quality in education, demographic changes, higher education and education and training after 2010. EFEE will also actively follow current issues such as the contribution of the education sector in helping to face the economic crisis.
To increase EFEE participation in social partner projects and events. Significant progress has already been made in this area and work is set to continue throughout 2010. In achieving this goal, EFEE has established the following working programme for the period 2009-2011:

EFEE will respond constructively to social partner consultations by the Commission and other European institutions, either alone or working jointly with ETUCE, depending on the subject matter.
EFEE will participate in European conferences and seminars to which European social partners are invited. For further information, please see our calendar of events.
EFEE will work to maximize its interests within the European Commission’s strategic aims for the next 10 years, which include building a “citizens’ agenda” to put people at the heart of EU action.

- Through our relationship with the European Centre for Employers and Enterprises (CEEP), we will promote EFEE representation on occasions when representatives of the EU institutions meet with the cross-sector social partners.

POLICY RESEARCH

An ‘employers-only’ working group will be established to research questions of leadership and governance in educational institutions. This working group will report back to the General Assembly by the end of 2010 with a comprehensive analysis of the situation in the various member states. This analysis will also include an assessment of the key policy changes being implemented in Europe to improve the standards of leadership and governance. A bid for financial support of this project will be put to the European Commission.

Research activities examining education systems in various EU member states will also continue, with a view to developing a comparative on-line database.