Education and Pedagogy Education

UNITA Strategic Roadmap: This page outlines the Lifelong Learning Strategy for 2028–2034. Its primary goal is to establish UNITA as a leading LLL provider in its member regions by 2034.

Title of the Strategy: UNITA Lifelong Learning 2028–2034

By 2034, UNITA must be recognized as a leading provider of lifelong learning (LLL) in the regions covered by its member universities. This strategy focuses on diverse training possibilities, specifically micro-credentials, tailored to territorial specificities and the needs of socio-economic partners.

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1. State of the Art

Summary of Actions to Date

UNITA adopted its first LLL Strategy (2024–2027) focused on flexibility and collaboration. Key milestones include:

• Micro-credentials: Launch of 50 UNITA-labelled micro-credentials with common quality standards.
• Recognition Tools: Establishment of the Hub of Success (tailored curricula support) and UNITA à la Carte.
• Alliances: Active commitment in the FOREU4ALL community of practice, specifically the ALLIES (Alliances for Lifelong Learning) group.
• Policy Alignment: Contribution to the European Commission’s Union of Skills agenda.

Difficulties Encountered

• Governance: Current tasks are limited to micro-credential implementation; broader LLL dimensions lack coordination.
• Departmental Silos: LLL departments within individual universities are often disconnected from alliance-level discussions.
• Financial Sustainability: Current activities rely on EU funds; future LLL initiatives must move toward a self-financing model.
• Regulatory Gaps: Unharmonized national regulations regarding the definition and recognition of micro-credentials.

Current Resource Analysis

Resource	Current State	Gaps Identified
TT3.2 team & university LLL departments. | No alliance-level LLL coordinator; limited cross-university liaison.
EU funding for micro-credentials (until 2027). | No budget for broader LLL; lack of diversified revenue streams.
Individual platforms; catalogue planned for 2025. | No integrated digital ecosystem; no unified digital credential tech.
Research hubs; territorial partnerships. | Fragmented partnership management; limited employer engagement.

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2. Context & Analysis

PESTEL Analysis

Factor	Key Aspects & Trends	Relevance / Impact
Union of Skills 2025; Increased Erasmus+ funding (~50%). | Enabling: Strong EU policy support for high-quality training.
Skills shortages in 50%+ of new jobs by 2035. | Mixed: High demand vs. pressure for self-financing.
Rural-urban inequality; Automation skills mismatch. | Driving: Aligns with UNITA’s mountain/rural mission.
AI in education; Digital credentials via Europass. | Enabling: Innovation in cross-border recognition.
Green transition & circular economy competencies. | Enabling: Supports UNITA’s sustainability research hubs.
EU Council Recommendation on Micro-credentials. | Constraining: Standardization requires complex compliance.

Internal Analysis

• Unique Attributes: Proximity to rural-mountain regions, multilingual advantage (inter-comprehension), and a strong research-education nexus through six thematic hubs.
• Opportunities: Using the GEMINAE network for global best-practice exchange and leveraging the FOREU4ALL platform.
• External Support Needs: Consensus among national QA agencies, employer co-funding, and fee-paying lifelong learner models.

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3. Prioritization & Action Plan

Prioritization Matrix

Action	Feasibility	Impact	Efficiency	Priority
High | High | High | High
High | High | High | High
Medium | High | Medium | High
Medium | High | Medium | High

Detailed Action Steps

Action 1: UNITA Micro-credentials Framework

• Strategic Fit: Meets Union of Skills upskilling needs.
• Implementation Phases:
  • 2028-2030: Scale to 100+ credentials; define stackable pathways in green energy and cultural heritage.
  • 2031-2032: Automate Quality Assurance; integrate AI-guided personalization.
  • 2033-2034: Full European recognition; generate revenue via premium programs.
• Indicator: Active credentials ≥ 300 by 2034.

Action 2: Cross-University LLL Coordination Hub

• Strategic Fit: Mirrors the UNITA Project Engine Office to fill governance gaps.
• Implementation Phases:
  • 2028-2030: Appoint Alliance LLL Coordinator; quarterly steering meetings.
  • 2031-2032: Integrate counseling and outreach services across all member universities.
  • 2033-2034: Institutionalize performance-based funding.
• Indicator: Network engagement ≥ 90% participation.

Action 3: Industry Partnership Network for Skills

• Strategic Fit: Drives territorial economic development and revenue diversification.
• Implementation Phases:
  • 2028-2030: Establish regional industry councils; co-design curricula with SMEs.
  • 2031-2032: Scale work-based learning and co-funded programs.
  • 2033-2034: Formalize co-financing model (Industry 40% / EU 60%).
• Indicator: Employer partners ≥ 100; Industry revenue share ≥ 30%.

Action 4: Digital Recognition and Mobility Platform

• Strategic Fit: Enables seamless portability via EU digital frameworks.
• Implementation Phases:
  • 2028-2030: Deploy digital badge system.
  • 2031-2032: Integrate blockchain verification and Europass connectivity.
  • 2033-2034: Full EQF integration; share model with other European Alliances.
• Indicator: Portability success rate ≥ 90%.

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