Public consultation on Individual learning accounts launched. Have your say!
Individual learning accounts give people of working age a budget to spend on training to improve their skills and employability. As part of the European Skills Agenda, the Commission will assess how a possible European initiative in this area could help close existing gaps in access to training and help adults successfully manage labour market transitions. The assessment will include broad consultations with Member States, social partners and other stakeholders.
Within this framework, the European Commission has launched a public consultation on Individual learning accounts. The consultation is open until 16 July 2021.
All EU and non-EU citizens and other stakeholders are welcome to contribute to this consultation. Contributions are sought from citizens and the public, national public authorities, organisations representing regional, local and municipal authorities, education and training providers, social partners, industry/businesses, non-governmental organisations, consultancies, international organisations and researchers. This consultation seeks to collect the views of individuals and relevant stakeholders on the problem definition, as well as the objectives, content and impacts of the proposed initiative.
How to participate?
You can contribute to this consultation by filling in the online questionnaire. If you are unable to use the online questionnaire, please use the email address below: EMPL-ILA@ec.europa.eu
Questionnaires are available in some or all official EU languages. You can submit your responses in any official EU language. For reasons of transparency, organisations and businesses taking part in public consultations are asked to register in the EU’s Transparency Register.
Background Information
The digital and green transitions and the disruptions induced by COVID-19 bring about significant structural changes on labour markets and will fundamentally change the skills requirements of many jobs. This increases the importance of building skills throughout life to bridge skills gaps, support labour market transitions and foster social inclusion. At the same time, a high and increasing share of workers are in atypical forms of work, including part-time work, temporary work, fixed-term work, casual and seasonal work, platform work and self-employment. Coupled with an increasing number of labour market transitions throughout one’s working life, this means that an increasing share of individuals are at risk of not receiving sufficient support for training from an employer. Could Individual learning accounts be part of the solution?
What are Individual learning accounts?
Individual learning accounts are personal accounts in which training entitlements can be accumulated and spent on quality-assured training, guidance or validation services. As mentioned above, they are one way of providing individuals with training entitlements. Related schemes that provide individuals with training entitlements without involving personal accounts also exist. This includes training voucher schemes (often for specific target groups and run by Public Employment Services), and individual learning or personal development budgets, which are sometimes also provided by companies for their employees or negotiated by social partners in the context of collective bargaining agreements.
Can individual learning accounts help ensure that adults keep building the skills they need, regardless of their employment status?
Take part and share your perspective! Visit the page: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12876-Individual-Learning-Accounts-A-possibility-to-empower-individuals-to-undertake-training/public-consultation
Moreover, did you already read EPALE's blog post on Individual Learning Accounts to increase accessibility in adult education?
