WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3329/98 by Gerardo FERNÁNDEZ-ALBOR to the Commission. Community programme to give university teachers practical experience of business
C 207/52 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 21. 7. 1999 (1999/C 207/068) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3329/98 by Gerardo Fernández-Albor (PPE) to the Commission (10 November 1998) Subject: Community programme to give university teachers practical experience of business The shortcomings of university graduates during their training period in companies have led large firms in various Community countries to negotiate with the relevant universities in order to try to ensure that students meet the firms’ training requirements. They therefore propose that this process should start with the teachers, by enabling them to acquire practical business experience so that they may be better qualified to tackle their training duties, i. e. that they should practice what they preach. Does the Commission agree that it ought to promote a programme of exchanges to give university teachers practical experience in firms in the various Member States, in order to enable them to improve the training of students and hence remedy the shortcomings attributed to graduates by firms when they start work there after a period of training? Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (17 February 1999) The Leonardo da Vinci programme for the implementation of a European Community vocational training policy (Council Decision 94/819/EC of 6 December 1994 (1)) offers the possibility of transnational exchange programmes for instructors (measures I. 1. 2. c and II. 1. 2. b). To this end, the Commission provides financial support for transnational exchange programmes between undertakings and training bodies or universities with the focus on the preparation of transnational training programmes. As indicated in its proposal ‘Towards a Europe of knowledge’ (2), which sets out the guidelines for a European educational area with the objective of lifelong learning, the Commission agrees with the Honourable Member on the need to develop these measures. The Commission’s proposal for the second phase of the Leonardo da Vinci programme (3) does in fact seek to strengthen physical mobility programmes, including transnational exchange programmes between companies and training organisations or universities, in order to bring the world of education and training even closer to the world of work. Under the current rules of the European Social Fund, various programmes in all Objective 1 Member States and in a number of other regions provide for the upgrading of the output from universities to enable them to reach higher standards. The same provision is made for organisations involved with technical and vocational education throughout the Community, and for teacher training colleges where these are not part of the university system. In all these areas, training periods in enterprises are included if appropriate. Under the reformed Structural Funds, Objective 3 provides for ‘supporting the adaptation and modernisation of policies and systems of education, training and employment’, which will further support the possibility of training periods in companies for university teachers. (1) OJ L 340, 29. 12. 1994. (2) COM(97) 563 final. (3) OJ C 309, 9. 10. 1998. (1999/C 207/069) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3330/98 by Gerardo Fernández-Albor (PPE) to the Commission Subject: EU assistance for the democratization of Morocco (10 November 1998) In response to the expectations aroused by his government, the new Prime Minister of Morocco said that the government’s success will benefit not only the country’s international partners but also Moroccan and foreign investors, since the objective is to create a new political climate, consolidate the rule of law and promote democracy