In her State of the Union address in September, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen proclaimed 2023 as the European Year of Skills. Representing the European non-formal adult learning and education sector with its thousands of providers and millions of learners, we very much welcome this thematic year and are ready to contribute to its success.

Through EAEA membership, ARGE BHÖ is expanding its international cooperation and widening its perspectives on adult education. “We want to strengthen our association by continuously taking a critical look at how we operate ”, says Gaby Filzmoser from ARGE BHÖ. This article is part of EAEA’s campaign introducing our members to the European adult education community.

During the summer, the European Commission collected feedback for its Erasmus+ 2021-2027 interim evaluation and Erasmus+ 2014-2020 final evaluation. EAEA prepared a response, bringing together feedback from the EAEA members to the previous and current Erasmus+ programmes.

“Learning is going out of one’s comfort zone, and doing that is never an easy mission”, says Daiana Huber, presenting the work of CPIP. This article is part of EAEA’s campaign introducing our members to the European adult education community.

“Being a member of EAEA means we are part of a collective in Europe”, says Kate Smyth, presenting the work of AONTAS, the National Adult Learning organisation in Ireland. This article is part of EAEA’s campaign introducing our members to the European adult education community.

How can adult learning providers and associations better include learners’ voice across their activities? Two mobilities to Dublin encouraged the staff of Lire et Ecrire, Le Monde des Possibles and EAEA to reflect on systemic ways that facilitate equal participation of adults in learning.

“The creation of the Laboratory of Aging is based on three fundamental pillars: research, knowledge, and creation”, says Mariana Ramos from Municipality of Ílhavo. The winning project in the national category of the EAEA Grundtvig Awards introduces us to its activities.

In April 2022, EAEA visited several organisations in Barcelona and Girona that value diversity and community-based approaches. We learned how adult learning organisations can create a welcoming environment for learners from all walks of life.

What can adult learning organisations do to strengthen the voice of their learners, especially those who are the most vulnerable? Belgian adult educators  travelled to Paris and Rome to explore pedagogical and advocacy tools that can benefit migrants and refugees.

“Our goal is to introduce European standards in non-formal adult education in Serbia, and issue certificates that are internationally recognized”, says Miroslav Pavlović, the president of League 33, presenting the work of the association. This article is part of EAEA’s campaign introducing our members to the wider adult education community.