Presentation by Helle Glen Petersen at the NVL seminar in Lund, September 2017

1. Future perspectives on
Nordic collaboration on
competence development
and adult learning
Helle Glen Petersen
27 - 28 September 2017

2. Outline
― Transnational Nordic competence development?
― About the Nordic Council of Ministers
― Facts about the Nordic Region and Nordic co-operation (excerpt)
― Political priorities and efforts (excerpt)
• In general
• The Nordic Council of Ministers for Education and Research (MR-U)
― Competences enhancing the work with adult learning processes
― The Nordic Network for Adult Learning (NVL)
― Nordplus
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3. Transnational Nordic competence development?
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• 88 per cent - A good starting point!
• But what is Nordic co-operation
– and what does it do?

4. About the Nordic Council of Ministers
• The Nordic Council of Ministers is the official body for Nordic
intergovernmental co-operation
• Founded in 1971
• Total budget for 2017: 935.091TDKK
• Rotating presidencies
o 2017 – Norway
o 2018 – Sweden
http://www.norden.org/da/nordisk-ministerraad/regeringssamarbejdet
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5. About the Nordic Council of Ministers
Despite the name, it actually consists of several councils:
➢ The Council of Ministers forCo-operation (MR-SAM)
➢10 constellations of councils of ministers for specific policy
areas
o The Council of Ministers for Education and Research (MR-U)
o Served by the Nordic Committee of Senior Officials for
Education & Research (EK-U)
➢ InformalCouncil of Ministers for Integration
➢ Nordic Council of Ministers for Digitalisation (MR-DIGITAL)
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6. Facts about the Nordic Region
and Nordic co-operation (excerpt)
• We have one of the oldest and most wide-ranging forms of regional
political collaboration, and we aspire to be the most integrated region
in the world
• We are the 11th largest economy in the world.We have successfully
adapted our welfare model to operate in an increasingly uncertain
global economy
• We share our knowledge and experiences to overcome challenges that
we can better solve together than on our own
• We top many international rankings.We lead the world in transparency,
trust, the environment, gender equality and happiness
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http://www.norden.org/da/fakta-om-norden/10-fakta-om-norden-og-det-nordiske-samarbejde

7. Political priorities and efforts
(excerpt)
• Vision –The Nordic Region -Together we are stronger
• Democracy, Inclusion and Security (DIS)
• Integration of refugees and immigrants
• Review of the Nordic labour market – The Poul Nielson
report
• Digitalisation
• Nordic programme for implementation of the 2030 Agenda
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8. The Nordic Region -Together we are
stronger
• Visions and objectives for Nordic co-operation
‒ Joint statement issued by the Council of Ministers for Co-operation
(MR-SAM) in 2014
• The visions
‒ Freedom of movement
‒ Innovation
‒ Visibility
‒ International engagement
http://www.norden.org/da/nordisk-ministerraad/samarbejdsministrene-mr-sam/deklarationer/norden-2013-sammen-er-vi-staerkere
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9. Innovation
The Nordic Region is innovative, particularly in welfare,
education, creativity, entrepreneurship, sustainability and
research
We will continue to work closely together to enhance quality and
to improve efficiency by tackling specific challenges faced by the
people of the Region
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10. Democracy, Integration and Security (DIS)
• The Programme for co-operation on democracy, integration and security (DIS) is
initiated by the Council of Ministers for Co-operation (MR-SAM) in 2016
‒ Programme period 2016-2018
• Background:Violent attacks and terrorist incidents that recently have been targeted at
our open Nordic societies
• Aim:To ensure resilient, tolerant and trusting societies by improving safety strategies
and practices on how to prevent radicalisation and violent extremism
o Nordic Safe Cities
‒ This programme joins forces with politicians, practitioners and experts in building communities
with trust, tolerance and resilience through networking, knowledge sharing and communication
http://www.norden.org/da/tema/nordic-safe-cities/om-nordic-safe-cities-programmet
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11. Integration of refugees and immigrants
• The Nordic Council of Ministers' co-operation programme for
integration of refugees and immigrants
‒ Decided by the Nordic Ministers for Co-operation in 2016
• Aim
This co-operation programme is designed to support the Nordic
countries’ integration efforts by bolstering Nordic co-operation on
the integration of refugees and immigrants through the sharing
experiences and development of new knowledge
oApplications for project funding are welcome
http://www.norden.org/da/nordisk-ministerraad/samarbejdsministrene-mr-sam/ansoeg-om-bidrag/ansoegning-om-midler-til-projekter-om-integration/
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12. The Poul Nielson report
• Former Danish minister and EU Commissioner
Poul Nielson was asked by the Nordic Council of
Ministers to conduct a review of the Nordic labour
market
• The report and 14 recommendations were
submitted in June 2016
• Proposal 7:The Nordic governments should
commit to the principle of introducing mandatory
adult and continuing training for everybody in the
labour markets
http://norden.diva-
portal.org/smash/resultList.jsf?aq=%5B%5B%5D%5D&aq2=%5B%5B%5D%5D&sf=all&aqe=%5B%5D&af=%5B%5D&searchType
=SIMPLE&query=poul+nielson&sortOrder=author_sort_asc&onlyFullText=false&noOfRows=50&language=en&dswid=-4245
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13. Digitalisation
• Council of Ministers for Digitalisation (MR-DIGITAL)
‒ On 22 June 2017 the Nordic Ministers for Co-operation (MR-SAM)
decided to establish an ad hoc council for digitalisation for the period
2017 - 2020
• Joint Nordic and Baltic Declaration
Strengthening the ability for digital transformation of our
governments and societies, especially by creating a common area for
cross-border digital services in the public sector. Strengthening the
competitiveness of our enterprises through digitalisation. Enhancing
the digital single market in the Nordic-Baltic region.
http://www.norden.org/da/nordisk-ministerraad/ministerraad/nordisk-ministerraad-for-digitalisering-mr-digital/
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14. Nordic programme to support the
implementation of the 2030 Agenda
• Agenda 2030 – a global agenda for sustainable development
• The Ministers for Co-operation (MR-SAM) have adopted a
Nordic programme to support the Nordic countries in the
implementation of the 17 goals of the 2030 Agenda, 5
September 2017
• Programme period 2017 – 2020
- Budget: Approximately 13 MDKK
http://www.norden.org/da/nordisk-ministerraad/samarbejdsministrene-mr-sam/baeredygtig-udvikling/nordisk-program-for-agenda-2030/
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15. Voksenlæreren og innovation, 27. – 28. september 2017, Lund 15

16. Council of Ministers for
Education and Research (MR-U)
- Political priorities and efforts (excerpt)
• MR-U’s co-operation programme
• MR-U’s DIS activities and focus
• Strategic work on the future Nordic co-operation on education
• Nordic Agenda for future competences
• Education forTomorrow research programme
• The policy area of adult learning within MR-U
o The Nordic Network for Adult Learning (NVL)
o Nordplus Adult
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17. MR-U’s co-operation programme
• Co-operation programme for the Nordic Council
of Ministers for Education and Research (MR-U),
effective from 2015 - Quality and Relevance in
Education and Research
• Nordic co-operation on education and research
focuses on strengthening the quality of teaching
and education
http://norden.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A851811&dswid=5460
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18. Activities include the following topical themes:
1. Strengthening the basic skill set and knowledge of children, young people and adults, boys and
girls/women and men, by
o Promoting cooperation in knowledge and analysis around the central challenges in the education
area for ages 0-18 and within adult education courses.
o Contributing to the development of Nordic education courses through greater focus on guidance,
management and implementation of reforms.
o Promoting the development and use of new teaching and learning methods, e.g. through
greater focus on entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation and digitalisation.
2. Contributing to a smooth transition between education courses and between education and
working life.
3. Strengthening possibilities for young people and adults to complete an educational pathway,
including by getting more young people to complete a vocational training course.
4. Promoting the status of vocational training courses and contributing to a better environment for
learning at the workplace for young people and adults.
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MR-U’s co-operation programme

19. • MR-U has established a Nordic Network to handle the sector’s activities in connection with DIS.The
Network was established for 2015-2017
• The current challenges call for long term efforts
• Therefore, MR-U decided to continue the DIS Network in 2018 – 2020 in May 2017
• The Network consists of representatives from the Nordic ministries and departments.The overarching
objective is to promote shared Nordic values and to strengthen the educational system to face the
challenges in our societies with an democratic approach and to prevent development of extremism
through relevant educational efforts
• This will also contribute to the follow up on the UN 2030 Agenda – Goal 4 (4.7 Global Citizenship
Education)
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MR-U’s DIS activities and focus

20. Strategic work on the future Nordic co-
operation on education
• The Nordic Committee of Senior Officials for Education and Research (EK-U) decided in
February 2017 to launch a strategic work in order to renew and strengthen Nordic co-
operation in order to face present and future challenges and make results more visible
• A High Level group was appointed
o Former minister for Upper Secondary School and Adult Education andTraining Aida
Hadzialic, Sweden
o Chancellor at the University of HelsingforsThomas Wilhelmsson, Finland
o Secretary General at the Ministry of Education and Research Petter Skarheim, Norway
A report will be submitted to MR-U on 1 November 2017
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21. Nordic Agenda for future competences
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• Inspired by EU’s A New Skills Agenda EK-U has decided to establish a
Nordic Agenda on future competences
• Aim: Show the connection between important national and
international educational political agendas and to spread the
knowledge of Nordic education efforts
• Decided by EK-U in February 2017 and a communication plan will be
made
• NVL will be a relevant stakeholder in the process

22. 10 focus areas
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1. Collect Nordic research on education, utilize research results and support research-based education
2. Promote “Lifelong Learning” and the development of formal and informal competences
3. Promote entrepreneurship and the link between education, research and innovation at all levels of the educational
system
4. Promote children’s, young people’s and adults’ competences in regard to extremism and how to handle controversial
issues
5. Promote the digital skills of children, young people and adults
6. Promote children’s, young people’s and adults’ competences in regard to climate and sustainable development
7. Promote the comprehension of inter Scandinavian languages among children and young people as well as knowledge
about the languages essential to societies in the Nordic Region
8. Promote student mobility and student’s international competences
9. Promote labour mobility in the Nordic region
10. Support successful integration of refugees and immigrants in day-care and education

23. Competences enhancing the work with
adult learning processes
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The report shows that these competences are considered to be important
to the adult educator:
• Knowledge about adults’ learning and learning processes
• Updated subject specific knowledge
• Updated practice experiences

24. Research
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• NordForsk is an organisation under MR-U that provides funding for and facilitates Nordic
cooperation on research and research infrastructure, for example via NordForsk’s
programme Education forTomorrow -2013-2016
• Project:
o Skill acquisition, skill loss, and age. A comparative study of cognitive foundation skills
(SASLA)
- This study is about Cognitive Foundation Skills (CFS) in the adult populations aged 16-65 in Denmark,
Finland, Norway, and Sweden. CFS is here defined as literacy, numeracy and ICT (Information and
CommunicationsTechnology) problem solving skills.
- Are there differences between categories of adults defined by e.g. educational level, gender, immigrant
status, educational and employment/unemployment background?
- What are the similarities and differences among the Nordic countries with respect to CFS and age?
- https://www.nordforsk.org/no/programmer-og-prosjekter/prosjekter/skill-acquisition-skill-loss-and-age.-a-comparative-study-of-cognitive-foundation-skills-cfs

25. The Nordic Network for Adult Learning (NVL)
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• Nordic co-operation is based on shared values, culture and history, and in particular, on a shared
view of democracy and education.Adult learning is one of the priority areas for Nordic co-
operation. NVL seeks to generate greater Nordic synergy by sharing skills and experiences from
the five nations, the Faroe Islands,Greenland and Åland, and by publicising this work, in the first
instance on a Nordic and European level
NVL’s remit is to:
• act as a meeting place for everybody involved in adult learning
• generate greater Nordic synergy via information, networking and projects
• publicise the results of its work, share experiences and innovation
• raise the profile of Nordic specialities – what are we best at?
• draw up policy proposals based on experiences, developed and tested in practice via projects and
networks
http://nvl.org/

26. Nordplus
• Nordplus is the Nordic Council of Ministers largest mobility and networking
programme for education
• Annual budget: Approximately 74.8 MDKK
• NordplusAdult provides support for mobility and project cooperation between
Nordic and Baltic countries in all areas of adult learning and education
• The purpose is to create development and innovation in adult learning.The
programme works from a bottom-up perspective and it is open to all kind of initiatives
and ideas
• There is a wide range of activities supported by the programme - ranging from
teacher-to-teacher exchange, internship and study stays for networking and major
development co-operation
http://www.nordplusonline.org/Who-can-apply/Nordplus-Adult
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27. Nordplus Adult
• The conference theme - competence development for adult educators - is an area that is
naturally supported by Nordplus Adult
• Nordplus Adult supports study and teaching stays in partner institutions, preparatory
visits, networking activities and projects aiming at developing joint teaching, materials
or methods or mapping knowledge within adult learning with a view to defining
development needs and make recommendations for future initiatives in general and
vocational adult learning, formal, non-formal and informal adult learning
• If you have met relevant partners at this conference or in any other context, it is
advisable to consider the possibility of developing cooperation under the auspices of
Nordplus Adult
• Application deadline for preparatory visits is Monday 2 October 2017.The main goal of a
preparatory visit is to make concrete plans for a collaboration project in order to submit
a full application before the deadline 1 February 2018.
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28. Helle Glen Petersen
Senior Adviser
helpet@norden.org
+45 29 69 29 78
Nordic Council of Ministers
Ved Stranden 18, DK-1061 København K
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norden.org

29. Thank you.
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