European reference framework of key competences for lifelong learning: an updated 2018 version

The author noted the importance for the European education of the European reference framework of key competencies for lifelong learning (2006) and its impact on the development of education in Ukraine. The synchronization of the vision of the competency education in the Law of Ukraine “On Education” (2017) with the European one is emphasized – a list of key competences necessary for every modern person to succeed, as defined by the Law, is in fact identical to the Reference Framework of Key Competencies for Lifelong Learning (2006). The goal of the European Reference Framework of Key Competencies for Lifelong Learning and the essence of the transformations that took place in the education of the EU member states at the implementation stage are described. The factors that influenced the decision of Brussels on the modernization of the competence idea in education are revealed. Based on a comparison of the European Reference Framework of Key Competencies for Lifelong Learning of 2006 and 2018, the innovations of the updated version of the Framework are characterized both at the level of the conceptual vision of the competencies, their list and essential characteristics. It is noted that the updated Framework confirms the right, according to the “The European Pillar of Social Rights” (2017), to every citizen of the EU for quality education and vocational training; the EU’s position on understanding a competence as a combination of knowledge, skills and attitudes; equal importance of all eight key competencies, as well as their interconnectivity. It is emphasized that the EU proclaimed the integrity of the educational space for acquiring competences through a combination of formal, nonformal and informal learning in all contexts, including family, school, workplace, neighborhood and other communities. The author underlines the attention in the document to the importance of the use of a variety of learning approaches and contexts; support for teachers and other educational staff; and assessment and validation of competence development.