The vision of Council of Europe
The term 'Learning mobility in the field of youth' refers to the mobility of young people across countries, inside and outside Europe, in formal and non-formal learning settings. Learning mobility takes place in the frame of exchange programmes with the aim of promoting and developing personal and professional competences, communication, interpersonal and intercultural skills, and active citizenship among others. Learning mobility also contributes to the recognition of youth work and non-formal learning, and to increase opportunities towards employment. At European level, learning mobility is also linked to the wider policy for the mobility of European citizens within the common market and the development of the skills needed to successfully live and work in this European environment. |
This policy framework focuses only on the mobility opportunities aimed at the development of attitudes, skills and knowledge of young people. The EU has established mobility programmes which address also the specific aim of fostering European citizenship and employability of young people. Today, learning mobility in the youth field is high on the Agenda of both, the Council of Europe and the EU and is also one of the themes on which the two institutions based their partnership in the field of youth established in 1998.
Historical background
Learning mobility across Europe has been promoted by civil society organisations and political institutions since the end of the Second World War as a means to foster intercultural dialogue and peace. In particular, mobility of young people consisted in international workcamps, voluntary activities, schools and university exchanges, mobility of young workers. In the last 40 years the Council of Europe and the European Union have contributed to the transformation of these cross-border mobility experiences into true learning mobility experiences, both supporting the organisations already promoting them, and providing policies and programmes for their further development in outreach and quality.
Learning mobility across Europe has been promoted by civil society organisations and political institutions since the end of the Second World War as a means to foster intercultural dialogue and peace. In particular, mobility of young people consisted in international workcamps, voluntary activities, schools and university exchanges, mobility of young workers. In the last 40 years the Council of Europe and the European Union have contributed to the transformation of these cross-border mobility experiences into true learning mobility experiences, both supporting the organisations already promoting them, and providing policies and programmes for their further development in outreach and quality.
The Learning Mobility nowadays...
The youth policy sector of both the Council of Europe and the EU were born with the creation of frameworks to encourage the mobility of young people. The EU is investing considerable funds and making significant political commitments to encourage youth mobility.
In 2012, two important documents have been published on topics closely related to learning mobility: the Communication from the Commission ‘Rethinking Education', including the Commission staff working document Language competences for employability, mobility and growth; and the proposal for a Council recommendation on the validation of non-formal and informal learning: in fact both the language competences and the recognition of skills gained outside formal education, would facilitate mobility.
The latest policy developments, the constant attention of the two institutions towards youth mobility and the strong interest of youth organisations on the topic led to the creation of the European Platform on Learning Mobility in the youth field as an initiative of practitioners, researchers and policy makers.
The youth policy sector of both the Council of Europe and the EU were born with the creation of frameworks to encourage the mobility of young people. The EU is investing considerable funds and making significant political commitments to encourage youth mobility.
In 2012, two important documents have been published on topics closely related to learning mobility: the Communication from the Commission ‘Rethinking Education', including the Commission staff working document Language competences for employability, mobility and growth; and the proposal for a Council recommendation on the validation of non-formal and informal learning: in fact both the language competences and the recognition of skills gained outside formal education, would facilitate mobility.
The latest policy developments, the constant attention of the two institutions towards youth mobility and the strong interest of youth organisations on the topic led to the creation of the European Platform on Learning Mobility in the youth field as an initiative of practitioners, researchers and policy makers.