Introduction and project aims
The conclusions of the Lisbon Summit (2000) set the ambitious strategic goal for Europe of becoming “the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion” by 2010 and put education and training policies at the centre of the European policy. This requires not only a “radical transformation of the European economy”, but also a “challenging programme for the modernisation of social welfare and education systems”, including the provision of access to education for all. In December 2004 ECOTEC Research and Consulting was commissioned by the European Commission to undertake a study on access to education and training in Europe and to take stock of the progress since Lisbon. The overall objective of the contract is to: “contribute to the programme Education & Training 2010 via supporting the statistical and analytical work linked to it as regards the theme of access to education and training.” The specific objective is to get an insight into access to pre-school, higher education and adult education and training in Europe. http://ec.europa.eu/education/doc/reports/doc/access.pdf
