16.12.2022

Financing adult learning and education in Europe

EAEA is happy to present its background paper “Financing ALE in Europe”, prepared by EAEA’s Working Group on Financing ALE. Looking at the current financing levels of ALE in Europe, funding instruments as well as key trends and challenges in financing (e.g. Individual Learning Accounts and EdTech funding), the paper provides a 360-degree view on funding in European ALE and provides recommendations for its financial sustainability.

Download our background report here (pdf)

EAEA has been closely monitoring the funding situation of adult learning and education (ALE) in Europe for a number of years through its Country Reports and projects – in particular Financing Adult Learning in Europe (FinALE), which was completed in 2018. The development of public funding is at the forefront of our monitoring as this is pivotal for the financial sustainability of the sector, but also quality assurance of learning provision.

In 2022, the EAEA working group on financing took a closer look at the current financing levels of ALE in Europe (or, rather, what we know and don’t know about them), financing instruments, and key trends and challenges in financing ALE. 

Based on this, the working group developed a number of policy recommendations (for more details, please consult the background report):

Policy-making level

  • Developing and implementing benchmarks for the financing of ALE
  • Creating incentives for the creation of financial frameworks for ALE
  • Promoting data collection on the funding of ALE
  • Promoting financial tools and instruments that foster collaboration and complementarity rather than competition

Practice level

  • Collecting good practices from other sectors or countries
  • Collecting data in the organisation
  • Raising awareness of the impact of sustainable funding on learners

 

Text: EAEAPhotos: EAEA

08.03.2024 projects

Sharing and Learning from National Initiatives for Upskilling Pathways

The Partner UP project organised a development group on February 27, 2024, to enhance cooperation and trust-building among stakeholders for the implementation of the Upskilling Pathways recommendation. The online meeting aimed to provide participants with a space to share their upskilling initiatives, facilitate peer learning, and potentially establish correlations.

29.02.2024 Erasmus+

Digital information path for EU funding available now

A new online tool enables adult learning and education organisations and providers to find EU project funding instruments that are relevant to their needs and meet the operational capacity of the organisations. The tool was developed in the framework of the Erasmus+funded small-scale partnership Path2EU4AE, coordinated by CONEDU and implemented in partnership with EAEA, Auxilium, and Maribor adult education centre.

15.02.2024 Hall of Fame

Call for nominations to the Hall of Fame

The International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame has opened a Call for Nominations.