27.10.2017 eaea grundtvig award 2017

Dialogic approach to learning as the backbone of the school

EAEA GRUNDTVIG AWARD 2017. The Adult School of La Verneda – Sant Marti uses dialogic learning methods and easy-access approach to engage learners.

The aim of the Agora Association of la Verneda – Sant Marti has always been to facilitate access to education for new learners, especially those that are at risk of social exclusion. This is achieved through different affirmative actions, strong partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders and the use of dialogic learning, which is the backbone of the school.

To make sure that courses are accessible to everybody, the school is open every day of the week from early morning until 10 pm. Applications for initial courses such as literacy and Spanish are always open and if necessary, new courses are created. Attendance comes at no cost. The school also reaches out to groups that are particularly vulnerable – the homeless and the unemployed, as well as refugees and migrants – by cooperating with a diverse range of stakeholders. Finally, new learners are engaged through several Successful Educational Actions, such as dialogic gatherings which guarantee access to universal culture, family education to support the enrolment of parents and dialogic pedagogical training offered to volunteers. The dialogic approach to learning also means that learners are directly involved in the management of the school and are involved for example in the preparation of schedules.

The Adult School of La Verneda – Sant Marti achieves its impact at the local, national and international level. With over 2400 learners attending its courses every year, it offers more than 80 educational activities. Recognized internationally, it is the only adult education school in Spain whose experience has been described in the Harvard Educational Review. It has also served as a basis for five doctoral theses.

The project: Adults School of la Verneda – St Marti

  • Award category: National projects (Spain)
  • Learner target group: Learners in risk of social exclusion
  • Innovative practice: Dialogic learning methods

Project coordinator

Resources

The article series shares good practices on engaging new learners by introducing the nominees of the EAEA Grundtvig Award 2017.

Text: Lou-Andréa PinsonPhotos: Adults School of la Verneda – St Marti

News

More news >
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.

18.04.2025 active ageing

Active ageing and the importance of learning in later life 

Older people, defined by Eurostat as those aged 65 years or more, are projected to make up 129.8 million of the EU population by 2050, a significant increase when compared to the 90.5 million at the start of 2019.