Despite difficulties raised due to the pandemic, about 160 low-skilled adults across Italy, Cyprus, Portugal and the United Kingdom participated in various trainings, all part of the pilot phase to evaluate and test self assessment tools focusing on personal, social and learning to learn (PSL) competences. The trainings we organised as part of  the MASTER Erasmus+ project.

Time is moving quickly, and anything around the term “sustainability” has gained widespread attention in the past years. From the dinner table to the Sunday night talk show and into our local adult education centres, sustainability is arriving at the centre stage of many European societies. What is at stake and what are our pathways to advocacy for a sustainable future for all?

The RegALE consortium has launched a survey to investigate the challenges and opportunities of the adult education sector at regional and local levels. The survey also intends to map the gaps and needs of education organisations and stakeholders.

Learners as leaders -workshop showcased that adult learning is not only a tool for personal growth, but it can be used to develop our communities and societies for the better.

In the framework of the BLUESS project, coordinated by the State Vocational Education Institute in Slovakia, EAEA has drafted a report that looks at basic skills policy and practice in Europe, focusing on non-formal adult learning and education. The report is now available!

EAEA welcomes the European Commission’s interest in the demographic change and its effect on Europe. EAEA advocates for a resourceful utilisation of adult education and learning to support the recovery from the pandemic. However, a more inclusive and comprehensive view on ageing and the needs and the potential of the elderly people is needed.

The deadline for the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RFF) is coming up. It’s necessary that all member states include an appropriate percentage for adult learning and education (ALE). The money should also be foreseen for systemic and methodological reforms and initiatives rather than hardware and existing programmes. EAEA therefore calls on the member states to include ALE in their plans and the European Commission to insist on its proper inclusion.

Over the last year, we have seen the severe effects the COVID-19 pandemic had on all aspects of society. The life of millions of people has changed drastically. Adult education in Europe experienced an especially hard cut-back with providers being forced to either move their activities online or close them down. This resulted in a big loss of opportunities for people to exchange, learn and socialise. It is of utmost importance to counter the negative consequences adult learning experienced in 2020 and provide the political and financial support needed.

The EAEA Grundtvig Award 2021 aims to raise awareness on the digital transformation of our society and how it impacts adult education. In particular we want to highlight initiatives that promote democracy with the help of digital media and internet.

EAEA welcomes the Council’s conclusions on improving the well-being of older persons in the era of digitalisation during the covid-19 pandemic and highlighting the opportunities and potential risks for older persons in a digitalised world. EAEA believes that it is essential to support the elderly during these challenging times as well as moving forward in the aftermath of the pandemic. EAEA agrees that the aspect of ageing will need to be considered in all policy fields and older persons will need to be involved in decision-making processes in order to foster inclusion.