31.10.2018

Engaging socially and educationally disadvantaged adults in lifelong learning is possible

The Implementing Outreach, Empowerment and Diversity project (implOED) has just launched a comprehensive and hands-on document which will help policy makers and practitioners in the field of adult education and beyond to improve practitioners’ skills as adult educators, involve learners in self-determination of their learning and to find out what makes a difference at policy level.

The goal is to achieve increased social justice, emancipation, integration and inclusion. As such, both the education sector and society will benefit from the long-term positive impact of implementing the approaches detailed in the implOED manual.

‘Outreach is one of the key challenges of adult education – our manual will support both policy-makers and practitioners to make a difference’, says Gina Ebner, EAEA Secretary General. ‘We want to create a better understanding for the changes that are necessary to reach out to and to empower learners.’

The manual, which is now available on the project website:

  • Presents the practice of inclusion – focusing on outreach, empowerment and diversity
  • Shows that these models can be tailored to fit all adult education settings
  • Builds a dialogue between policy makers and practitioners
  • Informs and supports collaboration between all in this field.

This outstanding piece of work was also presented at the implOED final conference “Transforming lives, society and adult education through outreach, empowerment and diversity” which took place in Brussels on the 17th of October 2018. More than 40 practitioners and policy-makers got together to discuss how to outreach to people currently not participating in learning, how to empower adult learners and how to increase and value diversity in non-formal adult education. Find out more by reading the conference report.

For further information, please contact the European Association for the Education of Adults:
Gina Ebner, EAEA Secretary General
gina.ebner@eaea.org
+32 2 893 25 24

26.03.2026 AI

Literacy learning with AI – a pitfall or an effective support?

The role of artificial intelligence in learning evokes both hopes and concerns. A pilot course showed that AI can boost motivation and offer new insights in learning literacy, but its use requires pedagogical consideration and critical discussion.

23.03.2026 inclusion

From Inclusion to a Rights-based approach in Adult Learning and Education  

In adult learning and education, the language of “inclusion” is widely used. Yet an important question remains: have policies and practices truly moved beyond merely integrating specific groups in limited processes towards a deeper understanding of inclusion as a fundamental right for all learners? 

13.03.2026 EAEA members

EBSN and EAEA members shape new recommendations on adult learning

Earlier this year, members of the European Basic Skills Network and the European Association for the Education of Adults came together for a joint webinar to discuss adult learning challenges, following the OECD 2024 PIAAC report.