A vision for adult learning in Europe
Today NIACE publishes a special issue of our Adults Learning journal reflecting on the European Agenda for Adult Learning. It considers the need for a European vision for lifelong learning, and examines the main themes and priorities for action which emerged from our first major conference as national coordinator for the Agenda.
The Learning for a Better World conference, which took place in Cardiff at the end of April, brought together adult education professionals from all over Europe to discuss the future of adult learning in the European Union.
It was an exciting and stimulating event which highlighted the many common challenges faced by the 27 EU member states, reflected the state of adult learning in the four UK home nations and sketched the beginnings of a renewed vision for adult learning in Europe.
This Adults Learning Extra brings together the considered reflections of the event’s keynote contributors – including NIACE Chief Executive David Hughes, Adults Learning regulars John Field and Tom Schuller, the European Commission’s Martina Ni-Cheallaigh, and the Welsh Government’s Deputy Skills and Technology Minister, Jeff Cuthbert. It also draws out some of the key concerns and challenges highlighted by delegates, and looks forward to the next major conference NIACE is organising in its capacity as national coordinator for the EU Agenda – one in Leicester tomorrow and the next in Edinburgh next year.
In the run-up to the events NIACE will continue to support the implementation of the priorities of the EU Agenda – which include making lifelong learning a reality, promoting equity, social cohesion and active citizenship through learning, and improving the knowledge base on adult learning – liaising with key stakeholders and authorities, and facilitating cooperation and exchange of good practice between member states. We will also run a series of innovation projects and peer-learning activities which will build on April’s and June’s conferences.
As the contributors to this special issue of Adults Learning demonstrate, there are enormous benefits to the work, not least the different perspective discussion with European partners can bring on our own work, placing it in a wider context, and the realisation that there really is a great deal to learn and share with partners in the other UK nations and in the EU more widely.
The Cardiff conference is just the start. We hope readers and members will continue to shape the debate in the months to come.
