Adult learning: a cornerstone for our future

Marijke Dashorst

Common challenges to-day

• Competitiveness• Demographic change• Social inclusion• Political challenges• Personal development

Challenges for the future

• Prosperity: well being/social protection/safety/environment;

• Solidarity: all adults have the right to participate in lifelong learning;

• Citizenship: gobal citizens/intercultural dialogue/European identity with respecting national diversity

Common objectives

• At least secondary level of education for all• Reducing the number of people with low

levels of literacy• No early school leavers• Updating competences : horizontal and

vertical (new skills for new jobs agenda)• Social integration• Involving older people

Therefore what is needed is:

• More ambitious national strategies• Better coordination between ministeries and

with stakeholders• Interface with social and employment policy,

information society, regional and local policy• Implementation of European instruments by

Open Method of coordination• Other infrastructure• Incentives for people

Adult learning to-day

• 2006: It is never too late to learn

• 2007: It is always a good time to learn

• 2008: Conclusions of the Council

• 2007 – 2010: Implementation of the Action Plan

Main Aim of Action Plan: to increase participation

• Benchmark 12.5% of 25-64 year by 2010• In 2007 percentage was 9.5% (EU trend down since

200)• Highly skilled people participate 6 times more• Adult Education Survey (1 year): similar findings• Achieving 12.5% = 4 million more adult learners!

Council Conclusions on Updated Strategy (12 May 2009) raised benchmark to 15% by 2020

Adult Learning Action Plan Priorities

• Analysis of impact of national educational reforms on adult learning

• Improving the quality of adult education provision• Helping adults achieve a qualification at least one

level higher (“One Step Up”)• Validation and recognition of knowledge, skills

and competencies acquired through non-formal and informal learning

• A better and transparent monitoring of the sector, by developing terminology and a set of five core data

Commission follow-up • Working group (MS representatives; to steer implementation)• 5 Focus groups (experts; one group for each action line)• Studies (Calls to tender)

– National reforms (methodology, case studies) 2009– Terminology and core data 2009– Good practice on enhancing qualification levels (‘One step up’) 2009 – Adult learning professions 2008, Key competences of staff 2009 – Overview of existing quality standards for providers 2010– Approaches to validation of prior learning, as part of updated European

Inventory 2010• Conferences and “peer-learning activities” (PLA)

– 4 “regional” (= multi-country) events October-November 2009– PLA on literacy (IE), monitoring (SK), validation (CZ), progression (UK)

2009– European Prison Education Conference early 2010

• Synergy with Grundtvig: conference in January 2010

Challenges for adult learning

• To help overcome the crises: - preparing people for new jobs- updating their skills

• Support the development of a knowledge- society based on social inclusion, active citizenship and diversity

• To support the right to participate in lifelong learning (finance/incentives)

Therefore what is needed is:

• Cooperation and coordination at policy level• Setting clear targets based on evidence - research• Improving the quality and governance of the

sector• Implementing European instruments• Open mindset : learning from each other• Increasing budgets• Monitoring and evaluation

THANK YOU FOR

YOUR ATTENTION