Why Resilience and Community-building?
In times of rapidly changing political, economic and social contexts, Adult Learning and Education (ALE) plays a crucial role in addressing educational and social inequalities. ALE offers flexible and inclusive learning opportunities for adults who need to adapt to changes in the labour market and society. Beyond skills development, ALE strengthens people’s confidence, sense of belonging and ability to actively participate in their communities.
Latest Eurobarometer data show that distrust in public institutions and misinformation are among the top threats perceived by EU citizens. At the same time, priorities are increasingly shifting toward defense, security, and economic stability. While the majority of public funding is being directed to the military sector, long-term resilience cannot be achieved by security measures alone. Sustainable results depend on building resilient communities through awareness, civic engagement, and a renewed sense of togetherness.
ALE fosters the kind of resilience communities need to face change together, based on solidarity, dialogue and shared values. In this context, the ability of adults to learn, reskill, and adapt over time is not a peripheral issue. It is a core condition for resilience. Who has the skills to understand what is happening? Who can navigate technological change, economic uncertainty, and political instability? Who can distinguish information from disinformation, opportunity from manipulation, and participation from exclusion?
Building resilience means ensuring that all adults – especially those in vulnerable situations – can access upskilling and reskilling opportunities.
Driven by the the EU 2026 priorities, the Union of Skills and Draghi’s report on the future of European Competitiveness, with our annual theme we want to write a narrative that fits into the reality of individuals and communities – through our training activities, statements and projects, we aim to shape a narrative that brings together communities and EU initiatives.
Skills and learning are not only about work. They shape how people understand the world around them, how they make decisions, how they participate in society, and how they protect themselves from manipulation and external threats. An increasing number of EU initiatives are recognizing the strategic value of adult learning: from the 2030 Consumer Agenda, where consumer awareness is essential to effective protection, to the Civil Society Strategy, which highlights the role of NGOs in channeling citizens’ voices into policymaking. Adult learning and education is thus emerging as a key tool to respond to the major transitions and challenges of our time.
How to engage?
The annual theme is an invitation to EAEA members to develop activities that contribute to resilience and community-building in their contexts. Throughout the year, we will highlight members’ initiatives linked to the theme to strengthen a sense of community and peer learning.
This year, EAEA’s annual event will take place in Warsaw on June 9-10. Our annual events are a precious moment for members and non-members to come together and share ideas, exchange know-how and get to know each other. Whether you are a member or not, these moments are an enriching opportunity to feel unity is strength. The two days will be an immersion of keynote speeches, panel discussion, workshops and networking opportunities.
Join the adult learning community of learners, practitioners, researchers and policymakers to exchange on resilience and community-building.
Registrations are open!
By working together and inspiring one another, we can grant adult education the place it deserves – the backbone of democracy and resilient societies. Let’s build this Europe together.
While Europe should aim to match the US in terms of innovation, we should aim to exceed the US in providing opportunities for education and adult learning and good jobs for all throughout their lives.
M. Draghi
Text: Greta Pelucco