The European Institute of Romania (EIR), in partnership with the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), organized on October 26, 2021, the debate “An educated Romania for an Europe of the future” (online format – Zoom platform).
The event is part of the series dedicated to the Conference on the Future of Europe. The main goal was to identify methods through which education could contribute to the development of an economic model that would meet future challenges.
Among the aspects discussed during the debate were underlined the main resources for training skills useful for the economy of the future through the national education system and adult education system, as well as the support methods and the role of teachers in facilitating the assimilation of these competencies, the national project Educated Romania where the education system gives the student a fundamental role and which demonstrates the importance of education within the Romanian society, the development of digital skills, facilitating the green transition, the need for lifelong learning.
Also, the participants in this debate highlighted a series of aspects that may contribute to the exchange of ideas at the level of society regarding the role of education in shaping the future of Europe and, implicitly, of Romania:
- Education aims to prepare citizens for the future transformations of society with the aid of specific skills. Among the sectors where major changes are needed we can mention the digital transition and a greener economy.
- Young people are encouraged to express their expectations for their future.
- We can think about the education as an investment in the future, if we understand that educated citizens are also best prepared to deal with misinformation and manipulation. At the same time, they are more creative, more inclined to innovate and to have more initiative.
- In addition to this, education develops critical thinking, and facilitates civism, both features being essential to the right functioning of democratic societies.
- Romanian young people have similar concerns to other young people within the European Union regarding the role of education in the society of the future. That is why a better coordination at European level is needed towards public policies in the field of education, this being currently an area where the EU has only coordination skills.
- The whole educational process must be reshaped from the perspective of digitalization.
- The European continent has begun to feel the gaps towards other actors in the education system.
- In order to reduce the major differences between the urban and the rural environment, differences that represent rather a particularity of Romania, the European funds must be used.
- The private sector must be involved, as a partner, in the relationship with the educational system.
- Support measures are needed so that in Romania all children/adults/citizens may be able to develop to their full potential. Also, if the school goes online, it is necessary to support students to have internet access as well as the necessary technical equipment.
- The school curriculum in the Romanian system is relatively well defined, its application being necessary.
Presentation “SELFIE WBL in Romania” _Felicia Săndulescu