A new EAEA statement calls for more visibility, funding, and implementation efforts for the European Upskilling Pathways initiative.
24.10.2024 advocacy, skills, Upskilling

‘Upskilling Pathways’ need more visibility, funding, and implementation efforts

EAEA calls for equitable implementation of Upskilling Pathways across Europe to ensure all adults can benefit from learning opportunities.

Read EAEA’s statement on Upskilling Pathways (pdf)

In July 2023, the European Commission assessed the Upskilling Pathways (UP) initiative, originally launched in December 2016, which aims to enhance adult skills through three main steps: skills assessment, tailored learning provision, and validation of acquired skills. The evaluation indicated moderate effectiveness, highlighting uneven implementation among Member States. While some positive trends emerged, challenges such as funding shortages and low awareness persisted, particularly affecting vulnerable groups.

Although initiatives like the Year of Skills have aimed to bolster adult learning and education (ALE), EAEA emphasises that there is still a strong need to recognize and prioritize non-formal ALE alongside formal education to remove barriers to learning.

EAEA’s findings stress the need for better financial support, clearer guidelines, and enhanced stakeholder cooperation to improve UP implementation. A survey of EAEA members and stakeholders shows many challenges, from accessibility and inclusion to transnational cooperation. However,  examples like Latvia, Romania, and Greece show how these challenges can be overcome with the right coordination among the stakeholders.

EAEA calls for targeted implementations that will consider:

  1. Skills assessment – identifying the existing skills of adults and any gaps in the skill set that need to be filled, putting the learner at the centre of the process.
  2. Provision of a tailored and flexible learning offer – providing a learning offer which fills the specific skills gaps identified through the skills assessment.
  3. Validation and recognition – assessing and certifying the skills acquired and encouraging their certification towards a formal qualification.
  4. Facilitate stakeholder engagement and collaboration, including educators, ALE providers, employers, and community organizations on a local, national, and international level.
  5. Build partnerships with non-traditional stakeholders, such as social services, social partners, and SMEs.

Text: EAEAPhotos: EAEA

News

More news >
15.01.2026 advocacy

Upskilling the agrifood sector for the right to food – a call to action

On January 7, the European Citizens’ Initiative “Food is a Human Right for All! Guaranteeing healthy, just and sustainable food systems” from Good Food 4 All started the collection of signatures. The initiative calls for the systematic guarantee of the right to food to promote healthy, just, humane, and sustainable food systems for present and future generations

11.01.2026 advocacy

"An autonomous Europe”: Cyprus’s takeover of the Council Presidency

Cyprus is the last country of the Trio Presidency to take over, following Denmark and Poland, completing an 18-month cycle. In this analysis, we look at the program presented at the beginning of the year, shaping the agenda for the next six months.

07.01.2026 adult educators

Digital competences frameworks for ALE: focus on andragogical approaches

The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning and Shanghai Open University have recently launched the DELTA Framework – Digital Empowerment for Lifelong Learning and Transformative Andragogy for adult educators, with contributions from EAEA and ICAE.