Canberra, 13 April 2007

European Commissioner's visit to boost EU-Australia relations in education and training

Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, Ján Figel', will visit Australia from 16 to 19 April as a guest of the Australian Government to mark a new era in EU-Australia cooperation in higher education and training.

During his visit, Commissioner Figel' will participate in celebrations marking a decade of official cooperation between Australia and the EU as well as the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome.

Commissioner Figel' will meet with Minister for Education, Science & Training, The Hon Julie Bishop, and Minister for Vocational and Further Education, The Hon Andrew Robb. In these meetings, the Commissioner will discuss bilateral cooperation, the Bologna and Copenhagen processes (European initiatives to create a European Higher Education Area and promote European higher education and training worldwide) and the proposed European Institute of Technology.

For the past decade, EU-Australia cooperation in education and training has led to a series of bilateral pilot projects promoting mutual understanding between the peoples of the EU and Australia. Now more than 50 institutions on both sides are involved and under these projects more than 500 student exchanges have taken place.

In the wake of the positive results of these successful bilateral pilot projects, Minister Bishop and Commissioner Figel' will sign a joint declaration in Sydney on 18 April to strengthen education cooperation. The declaration provides for joint consortia projects and policy–oriented dialogue covering issues such as the Bologna process, quality assurance, indicators and benchmarking, efficiency and equity, and qualification frameworks.

In Melbourne, Commissioner Figel' will join Australian Government representatives, business leaders, and members of Melbourne's education community to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Rome, the cornerstone of the EU we know today. He will make a key note speech at the Immigration Museum where the Victorian Minister for Skills, Education Services and Employment and Women's Affairs, the Hon Jacinta Allan, will respond.

Commissioner Figel' will also address Sydney's business community on Innovation issues at a reception hosted by the European Australian Business Council (EABC).

On 19 April, Commissioner Figel' will address the University of Sydney's International Forum speaking on the Bologna process and the internationalisation of education.

Commissioner Figel's CV is available online at:
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/figel/profile/profile_en.htm

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