19.12.2022

Introducing EAEA’s annual theme 2023: ALE and green transition

The EAEA Sustainability Working Group had a very active year in 2022: not only did it prepare a webinar in the framework of the UNEP Stockholm+50 conference, a major international event on climate and the environment, but it also prepared EAEA’s 2023 annual theme on green transition. A concept paper developed by the working group sets out the main ideas for 2023.

Read the concept paper on ALE and green transition (pdf)

The working group proposes to focus on two areas in 2023:

  1. Green transition and sustainability as a key area for ALE learning programmes, curricula, projects and other initiatives
  2. Greening adult learning and education institutions (using the whole-institution approach that has been promoted within the context of Education for Sustainable Development)

The concept paper aims to engage all members in EAEA’s thematic focus 2023, especially new EAEA members who have joined in recent years and have not yet had the opportunity to go deeper into the discussion on sustainability with us. It outlines EAEA’s past work on sustainability, greening and other related areas, it looks at key policy initiatives at the European and international levels, points out risks and challenges, and highlights a number of good practices from EAEA’s members and beyond. 

As the concept paper will also play a key role in EAEA’s policy and awareness raising work in 2023, it includes recommendations for policy-makers and ALE organisations:

Policy-makers:

  • Give adult learners a strong voice
  • Promote policy coherence at all levels
  • Provide financial and structural support to ALE providers and organisations

ALE providers and organisations:

  • Build partnerships for ALE and the green transition
  • Promote (g)local approaches
  • Promote transformative ALE for green and sustainable change
  • Focus on joint advocacy action

 

Text: EAEAPhotos: EAEA

24.04.2026 Democracy

Digitalisation, skills, and community learning: what’s at stake for adult education in Europe

Europe’s digital transition is reshaping how people work, participate in society, and access services. Yet many adults still lack the basic digital skills needed to benefit from these changes, raising urgent questions for policymakers and adult learning providers alike: how can ALE systems become more inclusive, better funded, and more responsive to learners’ realities?

23.04.2026 access

How do we build trustworthy and transparent adult education registries?

The RALExILA initiative came to an end in late March 2026, with the release of the guidelines and models to support the development of accessible, inclusive and interoperable (digital) ecosystems for adult education and individual learning accounts.

21.04.2026 adult educators

Supporting a culture of quality in the ALE sector

For many educators and policymakers, ‘Quality Assurance’ is linked to strong bureaucratic processes and additional workload, while in our approach Quality Assurance in education is to be seen as a mindful process of continuous improvements.