EAEA Younger Staff Training 2022

EAEA Younger Staff Training brings together adult education professionals from across Europe to network and exchange around policy and advocacy. The 2022 training will take place in Brussels on 12-16 September with a focus on guidance for learning and career. For the first time, the EAEA Younger Staff Training will be held in a blended form, with input sessions taking place online in early September.

The EAEA Younger Staff Training has taken place annually since 2011. The training targets young
professionals in adult learning, encourages an exchange on the diversity of policy and practice across
Europe, and supports building new connections in the field.

In 2022, the training will be held in a blended format: input sessions will take place online on 2 and 8 September, while the face-to-face sessions in Brussels on 12-16 September will focus on hands-on workshops and study visits.

The daily programme in Brussels builds on the participants’ knowledge of their own context by starting every morning with “adult education my country” sessions. To foster interaction and exchange, the training includes a series of study visits and hands-on workshops. The participants will reflect on key issues in adult education, such as advocacy and guidance, fitting their national or local context into the larger European picture.

A group of four women, one is drawing on flap paper
A person drawing on a flap paper in classroom

Practical information

  • Dates: 2 and 8 September 2022 (online), 12-16 September 2022 (in Brussels)
  • Venue: Brussels, Belgium
  • Training fee: 500 EUR; member rate: 450 EUR
  • Fee for participation in virtual sessions only: 60 EUR
  • Registration period: 15 June – 2 September (extended deadline). Please note that registrations will be evaluated on a rolling basis so we encourage you to register early.  

Additional information

YST 2022 Frequently Asked Questions (pdf)

 

 

Online input sessions

Writing a successful project application

2 September, 11:00 – 13:00 CEST

Inputs by Francesca Operti and Christin Cieslak, followed by a Q&A.

During the session, the speakers will introduce the changes in the Erasmus+ programme since 2021 with a specific focus on Key Action 2. They will also share key success factors in applying for Erasmus+ projects based on the extensive experience of EAEA, and taking the perspective of a project evaluator.

EU initiatives on adult learning explained

8 September, 11:00 – 12:30 CEST

Inputs by Klara Engels-Perenyi, European Commission and Gina Ebner, EAEA, followed by a Q&A:

An input session during which participants will learn about the EU competences in the field of education, and explore the challenges in adult learning and the policy responses launched at the EU level, such as the European Skills Agenda. They will also gain an understanding of the general role of civil society at the European level, as well as different aspects of its advocacy work (its purpose, challenges and target groups). Particular attention will be paid to the civil society perspective on the key initiatives launched at the EU level.

Programme in Brussels

Monday 12.9.

Morning: arrival of the participants

14:00 – 14:30: Welcome with coffee, 
with Aleksandra Kozyra

14:30 – 15:30: Getting to know each other and EAEA. Expectations of the training and practical information.

15:30 – 16:30: Adult education in my country: what is adult education in my country? Peer-learning session with Aleksandra Kozyra.

  • What is the definition of adult education
    in my country?
  • How is adult education structured?
  • What are the national frameworks?

16:30 Wrap up

Monday’s sessions

Adult education in my country: what is adult education in my country?
A peer-learning session during which the participants will compare and contrast the adult education landscape in their countries. They will also reflect on (for example): structures, national policy frameworks in adult education and their priorities, participation rates and patterns, the concept of basic skills.

Tuesday 13.9.

(E-)guidance for learning and career

10:00 – 10:40: Adult education in my country. Peer-learning session with Aleksandra Kozyra.

  • What guidance systems exist in my
    country and who do they target?

10:40 – 13:00: Improving guidance for low-skilled adults: Workshop with Tina Mavrić

  • Successful practices on (e-) guidance,
    Tools and approaches targeting adults
    with low qualifications

13:00 Wrap up

13:30 – 16:30: European e-guidance for learning and career. Multiplier event of the MOTIV-ACTION project [optional]

  • Walk-in lunch
  • Innovative tools and methodologies for
    employment counselors, career guidance
    professionals, and adult education
    providers
  • International perspectives on guidance
    (expert panel discussion)

 

Tuesday’s sessions

Adult education in my country: what is adult education in my country?
A peer-learning session during which the participants will compare and contrast the adult education landscape in their countries. They will also reflect on (for example): structures, national policy frameworks in adult education and their priorities, participation rates and patterns, the concept of basic skills.

Improving guidance for low-skilled adults: workshop  
During the workshop, participants will be invited to share successful practices on (e-) guidance from Europe. They will also discuss tools and approaches targeting specifically low-skilled adults with different needs.

Seminar on guidance for learning and career
During the multiplier event of the MOTIV-ACTION project, participants will get to know innovative tools and methodologies for employment counsellors, career guidance professionals, and adult education providers. International perspectives on guidance will also be shared during an expert panel discussion. The event will start with a networking lunch.

Wednesday 14.9.

European projects

10:00 – 10:40: Adult education in my country. Peer-learning session with Aleksandra Kozyra.

  • Applying for European projects in my
    country: challenges and opportunities

10:40 – 13:00: Writing a project application. Workshop with Francesca Operti.

  • Planning a project application in practice:
    group work

13:00 – 14:30: Lunch break

14:30 – 15:30: Study visit to Leerwinkel Brussels
Meeting with Brecht Awouters, Team Leader

15:30 Wrap up

19:00 Common dinner

Wednesday’s sessions

Adult education in my country
A peer-learning session during which the participants will compare and contrast the adult education landscape in their countries. They will also reflect on (for example): structures, national policy frameworks in adult education and their priorities, participation rates and patterns, the concept of basic skills.

Writing a successful project application
A workshop during which the participants will practice planning a project application according to the rules of the new Erasmus+ programme. Please note that the input session introducing the changes in the Erasmus+ programme since 2021 and tips on writing a successful project application will be held online on 2 September.

Study visit
Venue to be confirmed

Thursday 15.9.

Policy and advocacy

09:00 – 09:40: Adult education in my country. Peer-learning session with Aleksandra Kozyra.

  • What are the priorities of adult learning
    policy in my country?
  • What gaps do I see in my country’s adult
    learning policy?

09:40 – 12:00: Advocacy: from analysing the challenges to meeting them. Workshop with Raffaela Kihrer. 

  • Steps to good advocacy and advocacy
    tools
  • Writing policy recommendations

13:00 – 14:00: Lunch break

14:00 – 15:30: Study visit to the European Parliament.

  • Input on the role of European Parliament
    and the educational competences of the
    EU institutions
  • Visit to the Plenary Room

15:30 Wrap up

Thursday’s sessions

Adult education in my country
A peer-learning session during which the participants will compare and contrast the adult education landscape in their countries. They will also reflect on (for example): structures, national policy frameworks in adult education and their priorities, participation rates and patterns, the concept of basic skills.

Advocacy: from analysing the challenges to meeting them
A workshop during which the participants will explore different advocacy tools that can be used by adult learning organisations and will discuss the steps to good advocacy. They will also practice drafting policy recommendations.

Visit to the European Parliament 
A study visit during which the participants will get a briefing on the role of the European Parliament and the competences of the EU institutions, especially in relation to education.

Friday 16.9.

Conclusions

10:00 – 11:00: Study visit to Cité des métiers
Meeting with Joost Barclay, Manager of
Collective Activities

11:30 – 12:30: Reflection session and Q&A with EAEA’s Secretary General Gina Ebner, EAEA

12:30 – 13:00: Evaluation of the training and wrap up with Aleksandra Kozyra

Friday’s sessions

Study visit
Study visit to Cité des métiers, 

Q&A with Gina Ebner
A session during which the participants will have an informal chat with EAEA’s Secretary General, Gina Ebner, about EAEA and adult education in Europe.

Evaluation session
Discussion with participants on their feedback about the training.