On 12-13 March 2024, DVV International, the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) and the European Training Foundation (ETF) held a high-level meeting at the European Committee of the Regions in Brussels, to discuss the crucial role of Adult Learning and Education as a vital aspect of European integration.
In the context of the countries of DVV International’s European Continental Exchange project who are on the path to membership in the European Union (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine are candidate countries and Kosovo is a potential candidate to join the EU), it is crucial for them to respond to EU values and to adapt their national laws to align with the EU’s guidelines and recommendations. On the other hand, recent events and new demands in these countries and regions increase the need to react to emerging challenges and to take strong measures for their next step towards EU integration.
This also applies to the education sector in general, including Lifelong Learning (LLL), and especially the field of Adult Learning and Education (ALE). Enhancing the understanding of how to respond to the current challenges in the field of Adult Learning and Education and enable a better exchange of knowledge and experiences for establishing and improving ALE and LLL-systems between countries were the guiding premises for the organisation of a high-level meeting in Brussels.
Establishing and developing ALE and Lifelong Learning systems – policies, trends and best practices
On 12 March, the start of the high-level meeting was marked by a networking event with a presentation on “Wider Benefits of Adult Learning and Education”. This was organised as a preparatory meeting of the conference to allow the more than 50 participants to exchange ideas, socialise and establish new contacts in a more informal setting.
The event on 13 March titled “On the Way towards EU Integration: Countries of Eastern and South-Eastern Europe Shaping Lifelong Learning Systems” was hosted by the Committee of the Regions in Brussels and took place under the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and in the context of the European Year of Skills.
With the aim of reflecting on the state of convergence of ALE and Lifelong Learning systems with policies, trends and best practices in the EU member states, the conference brought together representatives from Ministries of Education, Agencies for Adult Education, Lifelong Learning or Skills Development, academia and civil society, from national Adult Education associations, platforms, and networks from 21 countries, including the six countries of the Continental Exchange project – Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova and Ukraine. Knowledge and advice was shared by experts from DVV International, EAEA, ETF, the International Council for Adult Education (ICAE), the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) as well as the European Commission represented by the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) and the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG Employment).
The high-level event was opened by representatives from the European Commission, the organising partners and the host of the conference, the President of the Bremen State Parliament.
The three sessions of the conference included topics related to
- Increasing participation in ALE with the overview of current EU policies and participation trends in the field of ALE / LLL and Skills (DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission);
- Building systems for ALE and LLL by showcasing international best practices in developing funding mechanisms (OECD), and success factors and challenges of building the ALE-system in Estonia;
- Relevant actors and stakeholders of ALE and LLL highlighted by the insightful country case on Governing the ALE / LLL sector in Slovenia.
Each topic concluded with an interactive session with the audience, where the participants had the opportunity to express their reflections and share their experiences.
These sessions were complemented by insights from representatives of Eastern and South-Eastern Europe and on their successful reforms and practices, as well as remaining challenges in the field of ALE and LLL. Each country representative from the state education sector or civil society had the chance to mark the biggest achievements yet made and the potential for development in the future.
The final panel discussion summarised the highlights of the event and emphasised the holistic approach to Adult Learning and Education, to ensure access and to leave no one behind, while also creating effective monitoring mechanisms involving all relevant actors at national and local level.
Ensuring further support
Following the insights gained from the presentations and discussions, which highlighted aspects of particular importance, and from the commitment of the participating countries, the organisers of the event – DVV International, EAEA and ETF – declared in a Joint statement their willingness to continue this professional exchange and to support partners from participating countries in policies and activities which are oriented towards further EU integration.
Since 2022, the European Continental Exchange Project of DVV International has contributed to the promotion of ALE and the convergence of ALE and LLL-systems with guidelines and recommendations from the EU in the six countries of Eastern and South-Eastern Europe. In this regard, a number of online and hybrid events were organised to raise the awareness of state and non-state stakeholders. In upcoming years these efforts will continue in the form of professional exchange between experts and stakeholders as well as joint online and on-site events about the CONFINTEA mid-term review processes and ALE-relevant EU recommendations and developments.