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Why is Adult Education Important?

Following the priorities of the current European policies, education is a key aspect of their implementation and enforcement. Today, no one doubts that education is an important factor in economic growth and social prosperity.
Project period: November 2020 - February 2023 

About LEAP

The project´s objective is to contribute to attaining the target of 15% participation rate of adults in learning as stated in Europe 2020 Strategy. To do so, better policies on adult education need to be promoted. With LEAP we are targeting local authorities to empower them to i) understand and appreciate the importance of the adult education and ii) be prepared to draft local adult education (and/or skills) policy.

The main context for the project is in the Council Council Resolution on renewed European Agenda for Adult Learning that highlights the need to significantly increase adult participation in formal, non-formal and informal learning whether to acquire work skills, for active citizenship, or for personal development and fulfillment, and calls to promote the role of social partners and civil society, as well as optimize the involvement of central, regional and local authorities.
Recently, there were adopted Council conclusions on the key role of lifelong learning policies in empowering societies to address the technological and green transition in support of inclusive and sustainable growth which stresses the immense challenge of re-skilling and up-skilling the adult population in Europe nowadays.
Strengthening the governance system is one of focus areas in OECD Skills strategies. They call for improving the adult learning policy based on long-term adult learning strategy, as well as on co-ordination across ministries, levels of government and stakeholders. Also UNESCO with its Learning Cities concept is instrumental for this project. 

The results of the project:
1) The LEAP plаtfоrm as an Open Education Resource. It provides the visibility оf LEАP project and entry to the Community of Practice in the dоmаin оf lоcаl АE pоlicy.
2) Report on Trends and Dynamics in Local AE Policy Making. The mаpping of situation in project countries (cоmmоn methоdоlоgy, research, report on findings) will highlight the opportunities in local policy making for inclusion of adult education.
3) Toolkit for policy-makers, including a training module. The Toolkit is an organised body of knowledge in the domains of the local policy making and adult education. The attention will be drawn to potential topics for civic education on local level / case studies in climate change, digital skills, health education – pandemia threats
4) Guide on local adult policy making. A very practical tool, a template for drafting of a simple local policy document, applied in practice and produced local policy documents.

The primary target group are local decision-makers, council members, staff of local authorities, ie those who will be drafting a policy. The secondary target group are the adult education ecosystem stakeholders such as education providers, learning centres, cultural centres, civic society, employers who have vested interests in having a good policy. They need to understand the issues and cooperate with policy makers in order to set up a functioning and effective policy. And finally, the beneficiaries will be the general public who will be given quality learning opportunities.
Local decision-makers will be piloting the LEAP Toolkit and LEAP training and here we plan to involve minimum 70 people from all project countries as participants of online training. The numbers of those who will be offered the LEAP results for uptake will be much higher, of course, through dissemination activities and multiplier events.

There are two types of activities planned:
- “Horizontal activities” – general project management and coordination activities such as project meetings, conference calls, internal reporting, monitoring and evaluation, quality
assurance and dissemination with the aim to reach the project results in desired quality as stated in a Project Management Plan.
- “Production activities” – for fulfilling the tasks leading to individual Intellectual Outputs.
In carrying out the project, we apply a straightforward procedure of
- collecting the data, processing them into reports
- on the basis of data producing a Toolkit and training, testing them and after the feedback
- offering a step-by-step Guide on drafting a local policy on adult education and testing it.

Project period: November 2020 - February 2023 

The main impact is envisaged on policy level, specifically on local policy level (district towns). We expect that the awareness of local authorities will rise on the importance of adult education for the future. After using the Toolkit, training and Guide, the policy makers will be able to formulate a simple local policy document.
When the local authorities adopt the agenda of adult education and skills, they will be able with simple steps, bring more learning opportunities to citizens and see improved participation rates of adults in learning. This might bring other benefits – more satisfied citizens, better skilled workforce and potentially increase in economic activities.

WORKING PROCESS

LEAP steps towards local adult education policy development

1

MAPPING

Trends and Dynamics in AE local policy making 
November 2020 - September 2021
 

2

DEVELOPING

the Tооlkit and online training in 6 languages
September 2021 - April 2022

3

PILOTING

and TESTING the Tооlkit, fine-tuning the final version
May - October 2022

4

EXPLOITING

“How to” Guide and templates for LEAP’s uptake
July 2022-February 2023

LEAP Partners

ACADEMIA ISTROPOLITANA NOVA

Slovakia

AINova is an institution of lifelong learning, specifically adult learning. It was established in 1996 with the status of a non-governmental non-profit organisation, legal form of civic  association.

AINova provides competence and institutional development services and policy advice in the fields of European affairs as well as regional and local development. The institution promotes European cooperation whilst preserving the local culture, identity and heritage.

AINova offers specialised training courses and consultancy, and takes part in applied research projects. The institution organises both short-term and long-term educational activities for participants from public and private sectors, and groups of professionals. Since its establishment, AINova has fostered an international dimension through networking in international projects (LLP-Grundtvig, Leonardo da Vinci, Comenius, Erasmus+), by development of cross-border cooperation (Ukraine, Austria) and by offering experience and expertise abroad (Moldova, Balkan countries, mainly through the Slovak Development Aid projects).

Website

MESTO NITRA

Slovakia

Nitra is one of the oldest towns in Slovakia, which originated on seven hills. It can be said to be a paradise for archaeologists. In addition to its rich history, Nitra is also known as a center of agriculture or a city of young people, as it houses two universities, namely the University of Constantine the Philosopher and the Slovak University of Agriculture.The territory of Nitra has been inhabited for almost thirty thousand years. Prince Pribina resided in Nitra, who had the first Christian church in Slovakia built and consecrated. King Rastislav invited
the Thessaloniki brothers Constantine and Methodius to spread the Christian faith in their native language among our ancestors. Constantine is also grateful for the first Slavic script - Glagolitic.

Website

Radio ECCA, Fundación Canaria

Spain

Radio ECCA, Canarian Foundation is a distance Adult Education center funded in the Canary Islands in 1965 and with national presence in 7 regions of Spain (Canary Islands, Andalusia, Extremadura, Galicia, Madrid, Murcia and Alicante). Moreover, Radio ECCA has a great experience in Adult Education in remote areas of Senegal, Cabo Verde, Guinea Bissau and Mauritania.
It has developed distance learning programs for adults (formal and non-formal) for more than 55 years using technology (radio or ICT), reaching a variety of collectives such as families at risk, women, unemployed, entrepreneurs, people with reduced capacity or mobility, migrants/refugees, youth, also in rural areas, etc.
Its own training system, the ECCA System, combines teaching materials with audio classes and tutorial actions that are synchronized to provide a comprehensive learning process.

Website

INSTITUT DE HAUTE FORMATION AUX POLITIQUES
COMMUNAUTAIRES

Belgium                                 

IHF, Institut de Haute Formation aux Politiques Communautaires asbl, is a non profit organisation established in Brussels (Belgium) in 2003.

The principal aim of IHF is to provide the community (including non profit and local authorities) with assistance for the development of a wider international cooperation through activities of specialised training on European policies and the dissemination of European values.

One of the means to reach this objective is the organisation of highly specialised courses and seminars focused at the development of European projects. The courses focus on EU Policies and Legislation, International Relations and Project Management, promoting the possibility to participate in EU-funded programmes.

IHF organises also study groups to Brussels for young graduates, local authorities representatives, SMEs, Universities, promoting mobility activities at different training levels. Since 2004 IHF organised more than 40 study visits to Brussels for more than 500 people.

IHF took part as associate partner in previous EU funded projects, contributing mainly to Disseminaton and exploitation activities. IHF provides further assistance through continuous monitoring of EU legislation and European Institution activities, and consequent spread of related information, assistance in the search for partners and building up of networks.

Thanks to its presence in Brussels IHF asbl developed relevant experience in the organisation of Dissemination and Valorisation activities at EU level, through contacts with MEPs, other European associations and Institutions, stakeholders, consumers groups etc. 

Website

Inspectoratul Scolar Judetean Neamt

Romania

Neamt School Inspectorate:
- Is an active actor in the field of educational staff professional development and also provides evaluation, counseling, monitoring and support in implementing innovative curricula and
learning methods.
- Supports new, inexperienced educational staff for initial and continuous development;
- Fosters a high quality continuous training through scientific methods, carried out at local, regional and national level;
- Organizes symposiums, seminars and conferences, such as The regional Conference of Educational Managers, international conferences and good practice exchange with other
school inspectors, educational managers, community representatives, education experts.
- Supports scientific research in the fields of didactic, in collaboration with universities and realizes diagnosis, analysis and educational strategies.
- Sustains permanent adult education and fosters their role as an educational partner, and active, responsible citizens.

Website

IDP SAS DI GIANCARLO COSTANTINO (ITALIAN
DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS)

Italy

IDP, with branch offices in Italy and in Brussels, was established in 1996 by partners working since 1991 in Brussels in the frame of EU policies and EU funding programmes.

It relies on more than 20 year experience in the development, submission and management of successful EU projects. Since 1999, IDP develops and carries out also specialised training courses for VET and Adult learners focused exclusively on EU related issues (EU Institutions, policies, programmes, project management etc), delivering an average of +1000 hrs/year of training to +550 adult attendees/year.

IDP organises also study visits in Brussels to the EU Institutions or the participation of groups of AL to major EU events (such as the Open Days of DG Regio); moreover, it takes part in all EU events held in Brussels (Info days, conferences, meetings etc) and has regulars contacts with officers and representatives of Brussels-based Institutions, practitioners, associations and projects.

As a training service provider, IDP organises, manages and delivers high quality specialised training for Local and other public authorities, focusing on the various aspects of project management, planning, financial management, implementation, fund-raising, etc In addition to serving the public and third sector, IDP offers services to institutional clients from both national and regional governments. Moreover, IDP is currently a contractor of the EU Institutions/Agencies having been awarded in 2010 two contracts on the basis of competitive bidding.

Website

Nevelok Haza Egyesulet

Hungary

Nevelők Háza Egyesület (in English: Educators’ Centre Association, ECA) is one of the leading NGOs of Hungary, which operates numerous projects and a public institution in the city of Pécs in cooperation with the local municipality. ECA’s aims are to support the civil grass-root movements with its internal and external resources in order that they can grow and strengthen, and be more active and by doing so they can encourage the growth of their closer and wider surroundings. ECA provides services, training activities and educational  programmes according to the principles of sheltering, counselling, empowerment and developing as well as LLL priorities.

Website

Univerzita Konštantína Filozofa v Nitre

Slovakia

The main partner from the university is the Faculty of Education has an ambition to be a modern higher education institution responsive to the needs of the current social practice through basic and applied research.
Following its initial orientation on teacher training, philosophy of education and educational policy, the current focus of the Faculty of Education and its research activities is mainly on the teacher training of academic subjects, artistic-educational subjects, educational subjects, vocational subjects and subjects involving practical training, teacher training for primary education and preschool and elementary education programs as well as andragogy topics. The Faculty also prepares specialists in the non-teaching study programs with the possibility of employment in the field of intercultural mediation in the state and public administration, regional development, tourism, sports and recreation, music, special education, and education in school, after-school, business and other educational facilities.
The Faculty creates conditions for the implementation of various programs of continuous qualification-based study and other forms of lifelong learning.

Website

Co-funded by the Erasmus+ program of the European Union
The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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