28.02.2017

Focus on Upskilling Pathways

The recently launched initiative by the European Commission sets objectives and requirements for EU member states to tackle the issue of low-skilled adults in Europe. EAEA welcomes the initiative and is currently working on it with its members.

According to the data of the OECD, close to 70 million Europeans lack basic reading and writing skills. Even more cannot use numbers or digital tools effectively in daily live. Without these skills they are at high risk of unemployment, poverty and social exclusion, and, as a further concern of the European Union, it increases the risk of lower productivity and loss of competitiveness.

To tackle the issue, and in the framework of the New Skills Agenda, the European Commission proposed a “Skills Guarantee” which has now been renamed Upskilling Pathways, and which was adopted in December by the European Council. It aims to help adults acquire a minimum level of literacy, numeracy and digital skills and acquire a broader set of skills. The initiative requires the member states to tackle the issue and proposes steps to do it.

EAEA welcomes the Upskilling pathways initiative.

“It is now up to the member states to start implementing this ambitious strategy”, says Gina Ebner, Secretary-General of the EAEA. “We hope that they will choose a life skills approach, which looks at a more comprehensive approach to basic skills. EAEA and our members are keen to contribute to and support this strategy.”

EAEA is currently working closely with its members and encourages them to participate in the planning and implementation of the initiative in their countries and supports their advocacy work.

A consultation will be launched among the EAEA members to monitor the implementation on national and regional level. Based on the feedback, EAEA will prepare a statement and deliver the feedback to the European Commission.

More information

Text: EAEA

15.05.2025 digital literacy

Artificial Intelligence and education: Ethics and legal Aspects 

From Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools that personalise learning to systems that automate administrative tasks, digital technologies are becoming deeply embedded in classrooms, universities, and lifelong learning environments. But alongside the benefits come complex questions about transparency, fairness, and the rights of learners. 

07.05.2025 twin transition

Building agency of adult educators in advocating for the Twin Transition: ALE4TT Training

From May 5–7, 2025, EAEA, in cooperation with SVEB and ICAE, organised a training titled “Making the Case for Adult Learning and Twin Transitions: From the EU to Local Perspectives.” The training was held as part of the ALE4TT (Adult Learning and Education for the Twin Transition) project, co-funded by Movetia. Over three days, the training brought together 15 ALE educators eager to learn more about the twin transition and how to advocate for it.

29.04.2025 skills

EAEA strengthens its commitment to skilling and upskilling initiatives by joining the Pact for Skills

The European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) is pleased to announce that we have officially joined the European Commission’s Pact for Skills initiative.