EAEA’s General Assembly has accepted four new ordinary members and nine associate members. Representatives from four organisations received their membership certificates at the Assembly in Zagreb.
New ordinary members
The Sisian Adult Education Center (SAEC), Armenia
Established in 2014, SAEC offers non-formal educational services to over 20,000 adults in Sisian and its surrounding areas. With a focus on vulnerable groups, particularly women, SAEC aims to involve residents in community activities, provide access to learning, libraries, and fitness, and strengthen social skills and networks.
“Joining EAEA will enable us to enhance our work and advance adult learning and education in Armenia by exchanging experiences and practices with diverse EAEA members worldwide,” says Karen Hovhannesyan, Director of Sisian.
Arci Pelago – Arcipelago Association, Italy
Arci Pelago focuses on promoting the well-being and personal growth of young people and young adults by developing transversal skills and providing safe spaces for learning both offline and online. Joining EAEA will enable Arcipelago to connect with like-minded colleagues, exchange information and ideas, and collaborate on shared projects of interest within the network.
Dan Voiculescu Foundation for Romania’s Development, Romania
Dan Voiculescu Foundation for Romania’s Development is a non-governmental organisation, founded in 1990, that seeks to develop human capital by discovering, enhancing and promoting intelligence and excellence. Over the years, over 6000 children and young people have benefited from free alternative education and vocational development activities within the organisation. They have also organised a series of webinars in online teaching to support teachers and other education professionals.
Educational and Advisory Center “absm”, Kosovo
This organisation has had many years of experience in the field of education and training, in the past 20 years they have trained and retrained more than 10 000 candidates. Their aim is to combine Kosovar experts with the Swiss experience and set an example for quality education and professional training.
New associate members
Accademia IRSEI APS, Italy
Accademia IRSEI focuses on advancing studies and research in areas like innovation, technology, and the economy. Through training courses and professional development, they strive to enhance skills and motivation in economic, entrepreneurial, innovative, industrial, and social development.
“By joining the EAEA, we seek to learn about the best practices in adult education from Europe and share our unique perspectives,” says Federico Mazzara from Accademia IRSEI.
Adult Learning Wales, UK
“We are joining the EAEA membership as another strong voice in Europe to demonstrate the value of adult education,” says Kathryn Robson, CEO of Adult Learning Wales. “Our Organisation is the National Organisation for ACL in Wales. We create opportunities for second chance learning for 10,000 adult learners a year – especially those who are furthest away from education, training and employment. Given our history and dedication to lifelong learning, active citizenship and democracy that spans over 100 years, we feel we can make a strong contribution to EAEA’s work. EAEA’s resources will be of great benefit to us to help strengthen our advocacy work and standards of learning and teaching in ACL across Wales.”
Bulgarian Women’s Lobby, Bulgaria
Established in 2005, this informal coalition of women’s NGOs has been committed to promoting gender equality and combating violence against women. EWL believes in common efforts at local, national, regional and global level. Through campaigns, research, and projects, they strive for collective efforts at local, national, regional, and global levels.
Università delle LiberEtà del FVG – ETS (ULE), Italy
Università delle LiberEtà del FVG has been involved in adult education for thirty years and has been operating at European level for twenty years. It currently has an important informal network of European bodies, cooperating in Erasmus+ projects. The aim of joining the EAEA is to expand the organisation’s European network to share projects and exchange skills and experiences.
GO! Learning together, living together, Belgium
The organisation represents a significant provider of adult education in Flanders and Brussels, with 10 centres for adult education (CVO’s) and over 120,000 adult learners who take part annually. Their aim is to expand the European network of adult educators and support them in their advocacy efforts.
Centre for Advancement of Research and Development in Education Technology – CARDET, Cyprus
CARDET was established in 2004, and it is dedicated to advancing adult education through innovative pedagogical approaches and training opportunities. They strive to enhance the knowledge and skills of adult learners across Europe and beyond, while also advocating for improved accessibility and effectiveness in adult education at national and transnational levels.
Mindfluencer, Hungary
The Mindfluencer Community Public Benefit Association is a long-standing organisation dedicated to empowering young professionals who strive to make valuable contributions to society. With 22 years of experience, they have implemented various projects in Hungary and abroad, including collaborations in underprivileged areas like India. Their main focus is supporting disadvantaged social groups, particularly Roma/Gypsy populations, through inclusive programs aimed at improving their quality of life.
Tempus Public Foundation (TPF), Hungary
Established in 1996, the Tempus Public Foundation has organised several training courses with more than 15 000 people trained by the organisation, including employees of enterprises, ministries, local governments, educational institutions, non-governmental and professional organisations. One of their main goals as members of EAEA is the extensive and structured dissemination of their particular knowledge and approach.
Croatian Chamber of Economy (CCE), Croatia
With a 170-year-old tradition, the CCE is an institution that represents, promotes, and safeguards the economic interests of its members. It actively collaborates with state bodies, professional organisations, and institutions to address issues related to adult education theory and practice. Their activities include member consultations, organising lectures, seminars, forums, and fostering partnerships with similar organisations in Croatia and internationally.
Text: Marina Sakač Hadžić