18.01.2026

Call for Action: Towards a rights-based, human- and planet-centered ALE in times of digitalisation and AI

The European Association for the Education of Adults has joined the Call for Action: Towards a Rights-Based, Human- and Planet-Centered Youth and Adult Learning and Education (ALE) in Times of Digitalisation and AI, together with ASPBAE, DVV International and ICAE, to reaffirm the central role of adult learning in shaping a fair, democratic and inclusive digital transformation.

The background

Rapid advances in digital technologies and artificial intelligence are profoundly reshaping how people learn, work and participate in society. While these developments can expand access to learning and create new opportunities, they also risk deepening inequalities, reinforcing discrimination, undermining critical thinking and placing excessive power in the hands of a few technology actors.

EAEA joined this Call for Action because adult learning and education must be part of the response to these challenges. A technology-driven transition that overlooks adult learners, non-formal education and lifelong learning risks excluding large parts of the population and weakening democratic participation.

 

By endorsing this initiative, EAEA commits to:

  • advocating for rights-based, human-centric and ethical digital and AI policies in youth and adult learning and education;
  • promoting critical digital skills that go beyond technical competences, empowering learners to understand, question and shape digital systems;
  • contributing to cross-sectoral and international cooperation to ensure that digitalisation in education supports social justice, inclusion and climate responsibility;
  • strengthening the capacity of educators, providers and learners to navigate digital transformation in a way that upholds fundamental rights and democratic values.

 

Our engagement in this call reflects its mission to promote lifelong learning for all and to ensure that digital and AI-driven changes in education are guided by public interest, social responsibility and sustainability, in line with international commitments such as SDG 4 and the Marrakech Framework for Action on Adult Learning and Education.

See the full text here.

Text: Greta Pelucco

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Digitalisation, skills, and community learning: what’s at stake for adult education in Europe

Europe’s digital transition is reshaping how people work, participate in society, and access services. Yet many adults still lack the basic digital skills needed to benefit from these changes, raising urgent questions for policymakers and adult learning providers alike: how can ALE systems become more inclusive, better funded, and more responsive to learners’ realities?

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