How does adult education relate to the Sustainable Development Goals? In many ways, new EAEA background paper discovers.
28.09.2018 development, policy

New EAEA background paper on adult education and sustainability

Adult education contributes to and promotes many of the Sustainable Development Goals. New EAEA background paper takes a closer look at the interlinkages between adult education and sustainability.

Adult education, especially non-formal adult education, contributes to the individual as well as collective development of societies in many ways. Besides providing skills and competences, adult education contributes to social inclusion and the acquisition of life skills. The EAEA background paper “Adult Education and Sustainability” focuses on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and shares the linkages between then and adult education.

The paper examines how adult education contributes to the SDGs as well as reflects on the challenges faced by non-formal adult education and the measures needed to go from theory to concrete actions.

Read the backround paper Adult Education and Sustainability and see also our previous statements.

Text: EAEAPhotos: United Nations

News

More news >
10.02.2026 EAEA Annual Conference

Introducing EAEA’s 2026 Annual Theme: Resilience and Community-Building

EAEA'S 2026 annual theme is closely linked to current EU priorities, especially the Democracy Package - including the Civil Society Strategy and the Democracy Shield initiative. At a time of rising Euroscepticism and threats to democratic values, adult education has the power to strengthen democracy by promoting civic engagement, critical thinking and participation.

09.02.2026 climate

How learning and action shape a more sustainable society: golden nuggets from neuroscience to foster a constructive climate change debate

On February 4-5, EAEA participated in a learning symposium and keynote speech around climate education research and action, in Geneva, Switzerland. The events were organised in the context of the Horizon Europe LEVERs project, in which EAEA is a partner.

04.02.2026 digitalisation

Remote work: Challenges and opportunities for ALE in the digital world

EAEA’s Communication, Capacity-building and Membership Officer, Marina Sakač Hadžić, attended a conference on the topic of Remote Work & Social Change, taking place at the University of Antwerp on the 20th and 21st of January. She combines her work at EAEA with a PhD in law, bringing together insights from non-formal adult learning with ethnographic research.