EAEA's reflections on the future of adult learning in Europe were published in a background paper in December 2019.
13.01.2020

After the EU elections: what will the future of adult learning look like?

The new European Parliament and the new European Commission have started their work on the new portfolios in the second half of 2019. The European Union will have to take a clear direction on issues such as sustainability, democracy, and demographic changes. An EAEA working group explored these issues. The results were published in a background paper in December 2019.

Before the EU elections in May 2019, we launched a campaign in which EAEA and its members asked MEP candidates of all political groups how they wanted to support and promote adult learning. Their answers were published on a dedicated website. Half a year later, the new Members of the European Parliament, as well as the new European Commission, have started their work on the new portfolios.

The European Parliament and the European Commission will have to negotiate the follow-up programmes of Europe 2020, including Education and Training 2020 (short: ET2020). Great Britain will (probably) leave the European Union at the end of January, while other countries are planning to join the EU. Europe faces a number of challenges, such as sustainability, democracy, digitisation and automation, and changing demographics. New European programmes and frameworks will have to take these challenges into consideration and find answers to them.

What does this mean for adult learning? An EAEA working group explored these issues. The results were published in a background paper in December 2019.

EAEA background paper on the future of adult learning in Europe (pdf)

 

Text: EAEAPhotos: EAEA

19.05.2025 activism

No one left behind: community, Bildung, and the future of just transitions

The Just4All Consortium gathered in Stockholm for its third partner meeting – the final before the closing event that will take place in Brussels on September 24th-25th, with a key focus being how to prevent stagnation by actively applying the insights and lessons the project has proved so far.

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.