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Looking ahead - where is Europe going and what does adult education have to say?. Oslo, 8 September 2015 Gina Ebner. EAEA. Works with (non-formal) adult education and lifelong learning Is an association with 137 members , from 44 countries, representing 5000 associations
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Looking ahead - where is Europe going and what does adult education have to say? Oslo, 8 September 2015 Gina Ebner
EAEA • Works with (non-formal) adult education and lifelong learning • Is an association with 137 members, from 44 countries, representing 5000 associations • Represents civil society for adult learning and education at European level • Raises the visibility of adult education and learning • Influences policy • Works in projects • Provides information about adult education and learning in Europe
The basis of this presentation • Adult education and learning for the 21st century – we need to demonstrate the value of adult education to policy makers • We need a ‘double vision’ – make the economic case at the same time as the human rights / transformation / democracy case Our manifesto
EU Strategies – Europe 2020 Europe 2020 was launched in 2010 to create the conditions for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. 5 targets: 1. Employment:75% of the 20-64 year-olds to be employed 2. R&D: 3% of the EU's GDP to be invested in R&D 3. Climate change & energy: sustainabilitygreenhouse gas emissions 20% (or 30%, if the conditions are right) lower than 1990, 20% of energy from renewables, 20% increase in energy efficiency 4. Education:Reducing the rates of early school leaving below 10%and at least 40% of 30-34–year-olds completing third level education 5. Fighting poverty and social exclusion:at least 20 million fewer people in or at risk of poverty and social exclusion
Juncker’s 10-point agenda • A New Boost for Jobs, Growth and Investment • A Connected Digital Single Market • A Resilient Energy Union with a Forward-Looking Climate Change Policy • A Deeper and Fairer Internal Market with a Strengthened Industrial Base • A Deeper and Fairer Economic and Monetary Union • A Reasonable and Balanced Free Trade Agreement with the U.S. • An Area of Justice and Fundamental Rights Based on Mutual Trust • A New Policy on Migration • A Stronger Global Actor • A Union of Democratic Change
Other challenges • Low basic skills (PIAAC) • Job mismatches • Youth unemployment • Increasing radicalisation • Growing inequalities • Nationalism • Refugee crisis • Not enough innovation and entrepreneurship
What answers do we have? • Not all of them! (EierlegendeWollmilchsau?) • But a lot! • And: Which kind of Europe do we want? A world worth living in? And what role for civil society?
Active citizenship, democracy and participation • European values, intercultural and interreligious dialogue (Peace agents in Sweden) • But also local involvement (Citizens First project in Romania)
Life skills for individuals • Basic skills • Vocational skills – employment • Entrance into more formal learning paths • Family learning • Health • Enormous benefits for the individual (see Bell study) but also societies / economies
Social cohesion, equity & equality • ‘Low skills trap’ • Adult education can compensate a lack of education in earlier life and enable social mobility. • From basic skills training to second chance schools and language learning for migrants – adult education provides many opportunities to improve individuals lives • Equalisesocieties on a larger scale and to create fairer societies as well as more economic growth
Employment and digitalisation • Learning workers and employees are important for innovation, productivity, competitiveness and entrepreneurship • All learning is good for employment • More higher-skilled workers will be needed in the future • Absolute necessity for digital skills – huge shifts in labour market and society in general
Migration and demographic change • Learning for migrants • Intercultural meetings and projects • Older learners – active aging
Sustainability • Information and innovative spaces to develop new life styles, new projects, new approaches • Consumer education • Gardening • Ecological projects • Energy saving • Repair cafes….
What we do • We contribute to EU 2020 • We contribute to Juncker’s agenda • We can help transform lives and societies • We repair but also change!
What we need • More outreach • A better understanding of the shifts through digitalisation • Better infrastructure in Southern and Eastern Europe (and beyond) … • Better funding • More European and global cooperation • More innovation (methodology, research, etc.)
Our proposals • Create a learning Europe! • Everyone take a step up! • Recognise the variety and breadth of adult education! • Create an understanding of the power and joy of adult education! • A European Year of adult learning 2018!