Throughout its three-year journey, SMALEI has developed crucial resources such as the SMALEI Matrix, Workbook, MOOC, and Digital Academy. These tools aim to guide ALE institutions in integrating sustainable practices into their core functions through innovative leadership and management strategies.

The event opened with a welcome and introduction by Inge Gorostiaga Luzárraga, Director General for Digital Transformation and Advanced Learning of the Basque Government. She stressed the importance of education in promoting sustainability and pointed to the 2023 Basque Education Law, which embeds sustainability as a core principle. Additionally, she highlighted SMALEI’s contribution to advancing green transformation in ALE, helping institutions incorporate sustainable practices into their operations.

Building Sustainability Competences

The first presentation was delivered by Ulrike Pisiotis, Education Expert at the EU Commission, who provided a broad EU perspective on sustainability in education. She emphasised the importance of the GreenComp framework, which outlines key sustainability competencies essential for the workforce. Highlighting the urgency of the issue, she noted that 77% of EU citizens view climate change as a serious problem, while 75% of young people express anxiety about the future. This underscored the critical need to integrate sustainability into education and training, ensuring individuals are equipped with the necessary skills to navigate the green transition.

Furthering this discussion, Tatjana Babrauskienė, EESC member, stressed that sustainability is not just about knowledge but about equipping workers for the green job market. She noted that 40% of jobs in key sectors will be impacted by the green transition, yet 60% of Europeans currently lack the necessary green skills. Addressing this gap requires increased investment in reskilling and upskilling.

SMALEI’s Contributions and Practical Tools

Andrea Bernert-Bürkle from the Association of the Volkshochschulen in Baden-Württemberg introduced the SMALEI Sustainability Matrix, a key project output. This matrix provides a structured approach for ALE institutions to enhance their sustainability strategies across five core areas:

• Institutional Environmental Sustainability
• Learner Engagement
• Awareness Raising and Involvement
• Partnerships for Sustainability
• Green Skills for Trainers and Staff

Interactive tools such as an online self-assessment matrix, workshops, best practices templates, and a sustainable game were also developed to support institutions in their sustainability journey.

August Nilsson from Glokala Folk High School introduced the SMALEI Workbook, designed to assist organisations in implementing the Sustainability Matrix through a five-phase process:

Erdem Vardar, Director of YUVA (Turkey), showcased the SMALEI MOOC and Digital Academy, which offers an e-learning platform, certification options, a discussion forum for engagement, webinars for deeper exploration, engagement and interactive sessions.

Charlotte Ede, Capacity Building and Projects Coordinator at EAEA, led a dynamic workshop session that encouraged attendees to reflect on their institutions’ sustainability strategies. Participants shared various sustainability policies implemented in their organizations, including green travel policies, reducing and reusing merchandise, and institutional green codes. Some highlighted the use of structured frameworks like the SMALEI Matrix to integrate sustainability. In discussing effective policy recommendations for ALE institutions, key suggestions included funding for green travel, developing objective measurement tools, and implementing evidence-based policies.

Leire Oreja from TKNIKA presented SMALEI’s policy roadmap, aligning ALE with key sustainability policies such as the European Green Deal and the 2030 Agenda – SDG4. This roadmap consists of 32 strategic recommendations structured around:

• Policy alignment with green transition
• Transforming ALE institutions
• Equipping educators with sustainability knowledge
• Empowering learners
• Strengthening ALE institutions as sustainability drivers
• Fostering strategic alliances for impact

Challenges and Opportunities in ALE Sustainability

Challenges discussed included:

• The lack of political commitment to green education
• Financial constraints limiting sustainability initiatives
• Workforce adaptation challenges in shifting to green jobs
• Eco-anxiety among learners and educators

Karolina Pisz, Trainer at NGO Trainers’ Association (STOP), specialising in gender equality and sustainable development, shared her experience using SMALEI outcomes in practice. She highlighted the Workbook as a starting point for local projects and useful in design thinking. She also emphasised that SMALEI’s workbook is highly adaptable and easy to use as it can be implemented over different timeframes: short, medium, and extended prototyping versions. She identified four key SMALE’s Workbook strengths:

• Quality and readability
• Flexible application
• Universal impact
• Practical usability

The conference concluded with a strong message: Education is the most powerful tool for change. SMALEI has successfully provided ALE institutions with innovative resources, strategies, and frameworks to drive sustainability. The final networking session reinforced the commitment of ALE stakeholders to continue integrating sustainability into adult learning and education.

Text: Olga ChizhevskayaPhotos: Marina Sakač Hadžić