Those least likely to access adult education are often the ones that need it most. EAEA Grundtvig Award 2020 celebrates initiatives fostering outreach and access approach in adult education.
Outreach and access programmes are helping learners from disadvantaged groups, such as people with disabilities, low-skilled learners and migrants to benefit from adult education. They also highlight the flexibility and diversity needed in the learning provision. Low-threshold access programmes not only develop the confidence of these adults, but also provide them with skills or qualifications to develop their employability and careers.
Building an inclusive community of learning
The winner of the 2020 Grundtvig Award, the Citizens’ University of Larissa – Larissa Learning city, provides access to high-quality non-formal learning to all of its community members, especially the underrepresented social groups.
“The winner has a large scope of activities, uses learner-centered approaches and has clearly had a positive impact on the community. The initiative also shows a significant potential for transferability,” says Alex Stevenson, member of the jury.
The initiative is led by the Municipality of Larissa, a member of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities. One of the most valuable accomplishments of Citizens’ University of Larissa is mobilizing the whole community.
“We are deeply honored to receive the Grundtvig Award 2020,” says Kalogiannis Apostolos, Mayor of Larissa. “The award is an important recognition of the hard team work that has been made by the municipality, employers, local stakeholders, educators and citizens of our city and also an encouragement to make further progress in promoting the lifelong learning philosophy to the local community.”
“Our city’s vision is to create learning opportunities and ensure access for every citizen, especially for vulnerable groups which are most affected during the current socio-economic and health crisis. Nowadays, it is most needed to promote social cohesion and sustainable development on the basis of a philosophy of equality, learning and democratic participation, says Apostolos, speaking on behalf of all the partners in the initiative.
The winner was announced on 2 October 2020, by the EAEA President Uwe Gartenschlaeger. Due to these exceptional circumstances, the usual annual award ceremony will be held next year.
Background
The EAEA Grundtvig Award was launched in 2003 by EAEA in order to recognise and celebrate excellence in adult education. It highlights project results that produce new ideas, new partnerships, new methodologies and a new understanding of how we can work in adult learning.
Contact information / EAEA
Gina Ebner
EAEA Secretary-General
+32 (0)2 893 25 24
gina.ebner@eaea.org
Contact information / Municipality of Larissa
Larissa Learning City
learning-city@larissa-dimos.gr
Municipality of Larissa
proedros@larissa-dimos.gr
Dimitris Deliyiannis
ddeliyiannis@gmail.com