Improving the quality of education has been one of the main priorities of the G8 summit in St. Petersburg on 15-17 July 2006. We already reported in the June issue of the ACA Newsletter Education Europe about the issues addressed during the last G8 education meeting in June. At the St. Petersburg summit the G8 countries confirmed their awareness of the importance of adapting education to the demands of the global innovation-based economy, and agreed that education is increasingly lagging behind the demands of the global economy. In order to address this issue the leaders of the G8 have agreed on substantial work in three key areas: lifelong learning and training, implementation of the Education for All programme, and recognition of qualifications.

The G8 leaders resolved to:

• Encourage investment in education, research and innovation and promote cooperation with the private sector to foster sustainable higher education institutions;
• Facilitate wider use of information and communication technologies, enhance standards in mathematics, science, technology and foreign languages;
• Cooperate with development partners and other stakeholders to achieve the education-related Millennium Development Goals and the objectives of the Education for All programme;
• Use education in order to facilitate social and economic integration of immigrants into host countries.

The leaders agreed on the need to increase exchanges in science and technology at all levels and promote better understanding, recognition and transparency of foreign qualifications. With a view to this, Russia proposed the establishment of an expert group made up of representatives of state organisations, business and civil society for the development of criteria and procedures for the evaluation of qualifications and educational outcomes.