The new European Commission, led by Ursula von der Leyen, proposes a Union of Skills as part of its ambitious 100-day plan. The European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) represents the European non-formal adult learning and education sector with thousands of providers and millions of learners. We welcome this initiative but stress that skills must be understood holistically – supporting individuals, communities, and society, not just the labour market.

On March 26, 2025, EAEA organised the online workshop “Mentor Your Way to Sustainability”. The goal of the workshop was to launch the mentoring and peer-review SMALEI guidelines, and to encourage participants to get started on their climate action in their institutions. 15 participants joined from all over the world.

This year, the EAEA Grundtvig Awards will be given to organisations that demonstrate the best approaches to promoting Flexible Learning Pathways.

The new TWIN-IN project aims to equip European farmers with digital and sustainable skills through twin transition schools, lifelong learning, and a gender-inclusive approach.

The MOVE-UP initiative developed a flexible and quality upskilling pathway for unemployed women who are dedicating most of their time and efforts to the role of mother and who are in need to (re) join education activities and the job market.

EAEA’s new background paper explores the factors influencing adult educators’ well-being and its impact on education quality. The paper highlights key challenges, such as low professional status and heavy workloads, while proposing strategies for improvement.

The SMALEi conference provided a vital platform for discussing the role of adult learning and education (ALE) in fostering sustainability. Bringing together policymakers, ALE institutions, practitioners, civil society representatives, and lifelong learning experts, the conference focused on equipping institutions with the tools and frameworks necessary to contribute to Europe’s sustainability goals.

On the 20th of February, EAEA and EBSN (European Basic Skills Network) organised a webinar dedicated to the recently published results of the PIAAC study. Highlighting learner stories, the webinar started with a personal one from Donna Ridings, followed by the keynote speaker Andreas Schleicher, the OECD’s Director for Education and Skills. The panellists brought key insights into national, local and regional approaches, struggles and good practices.

At the beginning of February, the Gender Equality Task Force for Lifelong Learning organised an online kick-off for its 2025 activities. The webinar was an opportunity for the members of the Task Force, including policy advisors, institutional directors, project officers, and public authorities, to discuss the initiative’s upcoming activities. 17 participants attended the meeting.

In January 2025, EAEA organised the Project Design training programme, aimed at equipping professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to develop sustainable and impactful projects in the field of Adult Learning and Education (ALE). The training covered key aspects such as funding opportunities, ALE policy, project conceptualisation, work plan development, budgeting, evaluation, and dissemination. Additionally, it fostered collaboration among participants from various countries.