While the trialogue for the future Erasmus+ programme is in full swing, we would like to reiterate our key criteria for a programme that strengthens European adult education.

The fourth Global Report on Adult Learning and Education (GRALE) was launched on 5 December in Brussels at a meeting of the Interest Group on Lifelong Learning. The event, hosted by the Permanent Representation of Lower Saxony to the EU, took place in the framework of the Lifelong Learning Week 2019.

For the sixth year in a row EAEA presents its country reports – a civil society view of adult education in Europe. These country reports are based on surveys filled in by our members from 30 different European countries, helping to give a voice to civil society organisations and grass roots movements in adult education on a European stage.

On 28 November 2011, the Council adopted its Resolution on a Renewed European Agenda for Adult Learning. Aiming to improve adult education policies and provision, it set out an ambitious strategy for the EU Member States to implement by 2020. EAEA demands a strong follow-up strategy for the agenda that builds on synergies with other EU strategies and frameworks.

Adult educators should not just adjust to the rapid changes in our society, but engage also in shaping of the society, when needed. To do this, we need change-oriented adult education. FuturelabAE-project aims to inspire adult educators to take a more proactive role in solving modern day challenges. It has now published a theoretical report including examples of change-oriented learning.

EAEA sees adult education as a central pillar to improving citizenship education within the European Union. In a newly published report on Adult Education and Citizenship, EAEA puts forward a number of recommendations on how to make citizenship a part of adult education provision.

EAEA sees validation as a key tool in order to promote lifelong learning, to ensure more flexible learning pathways, to encourage learners and build their self-confidence as well as to create a more comprehensive understanding of competences.

Gina Ebner, Secretary General of the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA), was inducted into the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame in September 2019.

BRUSSELS, 30 September 2019 – On 25 September, ahead of the second European Education Summit, the European Parliament’s Lifelong Learning Interest Group met to discuss Skills for Life, Skills for the Future with Members of the European Parliament Julie Ward and Sirpa Pietikäinen, representatives of the European Commission, Finnish Presidency of the Council and stakeholders from all sectors of education, training and beyond. The meeting focused on how to better implement the concept of life skills, which enable people to fully participate in society as self-sufficient individuals, by bringing various domains and stakeholders together, including the different configurations of the EU institutions.

Ten years have gone by since the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training (ET2020) was adopted by the Member States of the European Union. The European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) has closely followed up its implementation. While ET2020 has brought some improvements for the field of education and training, progress in adult learning has been slow. The successor of ET2020 should be ambitious, but also ensure that its objectives can be reached by promoting national strategies for their implementation.