15.01.2025

Raffaela Kihrer becomes EAEA’s new Secretary General

From January 2025, Raffaela Kihrer, former Deputy-Secretary General for EAEA, has taken on the role of Secretary General, signalling a new era for the leadership in EAEA.

From January 1, 2025, Raffaela Kihrer is instated as the new EAEA Secretary General, and Gina Ebner will remain in the organisation as the Deputy Secretary-General.

The changes were approved by the Executive Board, with great thanks being shared for Ebner’s long-term as the head of EAEA.

“The Board and I as the president of EAEA are confident that with this step, we assure a maximum smooth transition in this key position to a colleague, who has proved her excellence and passion already for many years in various capacities,” said Uwe Gartenschlaeger. “At the same time, I would like to express my gratitude to Gina for her incredible contribution to the development of ALE in Europe.”

Ebner served 17 years as Secretary General, and is now looking forward to reducing her workload, as an opportunity to spend more time with her dog, Lexie.

“The Board and I as the president of EAEA are confident that with this step, we assure a maximum smooth transition in this key position”

Uwe Gartenschlaeger

In an email message to EAEA members sent at the end of 2024, Raffaela Kihrer reflects on the upcoming change:

“I’m excited to embrace my new role from the beginning of next year. I’m very much looking forward to working closely with all of you. Our team has grown in recent years and adult learning and education is also receiving increasing attention at the European level: this means new challenges, but also great opportunities for a strong voice of adult learning and education. I’m particularly happy that I can do this together with Gina, and I’m confident that we’ll make a great team in managing EAEA. Together, Gina and I will work on keeping EAEA strong, dynamic, and maybe even occasionally well-rested!”

EAEA’s secretariat congratulates the pair for their decision, and thanks our members for the ongoing support.

Text: EAEA

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.