This document summarizes a European policy network called KeyCoNet that is focused on identifying and analyzing strategies for implementing key competences in education reforms. It lists the partner organizations involved in KeyCoNet which represent policy, research, and practice in several European countries. The network's goals are to increase its influence on education policies through disseminating its studies, videos, and newsletters. It will identify and analyze emerging strategies for teaching key competences, which are interdependent skills like critical thinking, initiative, problem solving, and cultural awareness. KeyCoNet will engage in literature reviews, case studies, and peer visits to schools to understand how key competences can be effectively implemented and will produce recommendations to share its findings.

1. www.europeanschoolnet.org - www.eun.org

2. KeyCoNet partners
Policy Research Practice
• BMUKK (AT) • Uni. Helsinki (FI) • INSP.GEN (FR)
• AKOV (BE) • Uni. Jyväskylä (FI) • REKTORS
• TIGER LEAP (EE) • EIESP (FR) AKADEMIEN (SE)
• DGESCO (FR) • IFE (FR) • JA-YE (BE)
• NCCA (IE) • Uni. Oslo (NO)
• DGE (PT) • Uni. Lisbon (PT)
• Uni. Minho (PT)
• SPU (SK)
Experts from
UK, PL and AU
www.europeanschoolnet.org - www.eun.org 2

3. An operational definition of Key Competences for
the purpose of our network’s activities
‘A competence refers to a complex combination of
knowledge, skills, understanding, values, attitudes
and desire which lead to effective, embodied
human action in the world in a particular domain.’
Hoskins B., Deakin Crick R., (2010) Competences for learning to learn and active
citizenship: different currencies or two sides of the same coin?, European Journal of
Education Vol. 45, No. 1, 2010, Part II

4. Scope
European policy network IMPACT ON POLICIES (recommendations)
These key competences are all interdependent, and the emphasis in
on the implementation
each case is on: KNOW HOW
• critical thinking EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK OF 8 KEY COMPETENCES:
• creativity
Subject/knowledge based 1. COMMUNICATION IN MOTHER TONGUE
• initiative 2. COMMUNICATION IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES
3. MATHS, SCIENCES & TECHNOLOGY COMPETENCES
• problem solving
of key competences 4. DIGITAL COMPETENCE
• risk assessment 5. LEARNING TO LEARN
• decision taking 6. SOCIAL AND CIVIC COMPETENCES
Cross-curricular areas of feelings
• constructive management 7. SENSE OF INITIATIVE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
8. CULTURAL AWARENESS AND EXPRESSION
in school education PRIMARY & SECONDARY
GENERAL EDUCATION

5. 2 main working areas
Identifying
analysing Website, case
Public
Increasing notes and studies,
debate, legislation, c mapping
network videos, newsletter,
hange in
etc.
curriculum, pilot influence
KCD INITIATIVES
project, experiment,
&
strategy, etc.
through Spread of
IMPLEMENTATION
stakeholders in
STRATEGIES dissemination
Phases, role of countries covered
various and membership Other EU countries
stakeholders,
evaluation, etc.
Core remit: identifying and analysing emergent
strategies in implementing key competences into education
reforms, and producing recommendations.

6. Major focus
Teacher Student
training assessment
How to implement a holistic approach for an effective
change in the student curriculum?
Learning School
resources organisation
Enablers?
Obstacles?

7. Our methodology
Literature review
1st version : Sept. 2012
Case notes Case studies Peer study Videos Mapping & country
April-June 2012 Feb-April 2013 visits Dec.2012 sheets
May-Sept. 2013 Jan.-March 2014 Nov. 2012 Oct.2013 Dec.2012
Sept. 2013 Sept. 2014 Dec. 2013
Initiatives June 2014 Dec. 2014
March /April 2012
Jan.- May 2013 RECOMMENDATIONS
Nov. 2014
IDENTIFY ANALYSE DISCUSS ILLUSTRATE DISSEMINATE
KeyCoNet website/learning
community
Operational from April 2012
Identifying National Increasing
existing networking membership
networks events
April 2012 March-May 2012
Nov. 2013
Sept. 2014

8. A permanent dialogue
Research
Policy
making
Practice

9. How can YOU get involved?
I. Share your key competence development initiative/s
with us by drafting case notes on the basis of guidelines
that your national coordinator will provide you with.
II. Apply to become an associate or full member of the
network by indicating your interest to your national
coordinator.
III. Engage with the project’s outcomes which will be
provided on our website as they become available during
the network’s 3 year lifetime.

10. Contribution from existing/potential partners
• Identifying KCD initiatives & existing networks
• Participating to 5 European face to-face meetings and study
visits over the 3 year period
• Organising a National Networking Event yearly (x3)
• Coordinating the drafting of case notes by the coordinators of
KCD initiatives
• Selecting case notes to be analysed through case studies
• For those interested: proposing and organising peer study visits
• Commenting on draft deliverables & outputs (case studies,
mapping report, country sheets, recommendations report, etc.)
• Increasing the network’s influence at national level and possibly
proposing new members

11. Visit our website!