Providing diverse and adaptable learning opportunities is essential to help adult learners respond to rapid societal challenges such as digitalisation, climate change, and threats to democracy. EAEA 2024 Grundtvig Award highlights flexible learning methods that make adult education more accessible to everyone, including underrepresented and disadvantaged groups.
The winners of the award were selected in two categories: local/regional/national initiatives and transnational initiatives.
The awards were given by the newly elected EAEA President Lauri Tuomi from the Finnish Lifelong Learning Foundation.
Empowering educators through modular, digital learning
TrainSpot2 project won the EAEA Grundtvig Award in the national category. Led by the German Institute for Adult Education (DIE), TrainSpot2 supports flexible, competence-based learning pathways for adult educators. It connects various digital learning platforms – such as EULE and the MOOC “Digital Trainer” – with the German National Education Platform. By interlinking different learning opportunities and supporting individualised learning paths, TrainSpot2 actively promotes learner autonomy, modularity, and transparency of learning outcomes.
The project’s design makes it highly transferable and scalable. It has laid the foundation for a long-term digital infrastructure and plans to continue through further partnerships, refinement of tools, and integration of AI-supported systems.
Peter Brandt and Anne Strauch accepted the award on behalf of the project team.
“Winning the Grundtvig Award affirms our approach that flexibility and frameworks can go hand in hand. With our project TrainSpot, we empower teachers and trainers in adult education to develop professionally in their preferred contexts. For our consortium and our organisation, the award is a strong signal for the importance of coordinated professional development.”
Building civic literacy and social empathy
Citizens Xelerator project won the Grundtvig Award in the category of transnational projects. The project strengthened democratic and civic literacy among adults by promoting social empathy, community engagement, and active participation in democratic life. Led by Mentortec and coordinated by partners in eight European countries, it created flexible learning pathways tailored to adults with unmet literacy and civic needs.
The project supported learners in developing personal, social, digital, financial, and green competences through real-world engagement. Tools like the LifeComp cards and the Citizens Xelerator Action Labs enabled participants to explore community challenges and launch civic initiatives.
“Receiving this award is a significant milestone for Mentortec and for us, as it recognises the transformative impact and innovation of Citizens Xelerator. We have demonstrated that combining creativity with practicality successfully supports inclusion and democratic engagement, and that adult education remains a driving force for meaningful societal change. Thank you to our partners and participants for their dedication and commitment to empowering adult learners through flexible and inclusive education across Europe,” says Marta Reis from Mentortec.
Reis and Andreia Monteiro from Mentortec were not able to attend the ceremony, but their project partner Silvia Perreira received the award on their behalf.
The Award Ceremony was held at the Alte Börse in Leipzig, Germany on 3rd June 2025 and it was a part of the EAEA General Assembly and Annual Conference. Alongside Grundtvig Award, DVV International held a ceremony for the winners of the Rita Süssmuth Award.
Background
The EAEA Grundtvig Award was launched in 2003 by EAEA in order to recognise and celebrate excellence in adult education. It highlights project results that produce new ideas, new partnerships, new methodologies, and a new understanding of how we can work in adult learning.
The 2025 jury consisted of EAEA Executive Board members Marta Jendeková, Association of Adult Education Institutions in the Slovak Republic (Slovakia), George A. Koulaouzides from Hellenic Open University and Balázs Németh, University of Pécs (Hungary).
Contact information / EAEA
Raffaela Kihrer
+32 (0)2 893 25 24
raffaela.kihrer(at)eaea.org
Contact information / Trainspot2 project
Anne Strauch
strauch(at)die-bonn.de
German Institute for Adult Education (DIE)
Contact information / Citizens Xelerator project
Marta Reis
marta.reis(at)mentortec.eu
Mentortec