On December 13, 2024, the Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education (AVETAE), with help from Adult Education Institution Dante, hosted an event at Hotel Dubrovnik in Zagreb, Croatia. The event presented the Partner UP project and focused on improving adult education through the Upskilling Pathways initiative. It brought together educators and policymakers to talk about challenges and opportunities in adult learning.
Partner UP is an international project that helps improve adult education in Europe and beyond. It looks for gaps in current systems, shares successful ideas, and creates long-term plans to help adults develop skills in reading, math, and digital technology. These skills improve their chances of finding jobs and being included in society. More about the project can be found at partnerup-project.eu.
The event began with a welcome speech and an overview of the project’s successes and future plans. A presentation shared that 21% of adults in Europe have only basic education, putting them at higher risk of unemployment and social isolation. The presentation stressed the need for learning programs tailored to individual needs, including skill assessments and personalized plans.
A virtual session highlighted successful adult education programs from other European countries. Tina Mavrič from the European Association for the Education of Adults and Sylvia Liuti from FORMA.Azione shared examples of international collaboration and key actions at the national level.
Participants joined group workshops to discuss key topics in more detail. One group talked about the role of different organizations, such as schools, employers, and community groups, in improving adult education. They looked at what works now and suggested ways to improve cooperation and get more people involved. Another group focused on the skills adults need for today’s job market, like using computers and solving problems. They also discussed how to encourage adults to keep learning and how employers can support this through training. A third group worked on how to design programs that fit different learners. They talked about making education flexible and using digital tools to make learning easier for people who are unemployed, older, or already working. The final group explored how to motivate more adults to join learning programs. They looked at barriers like lack of information or money and suggested public awareness campaigns and community activities to promote lifelong learning. Each group shared their ideas in a final session, offering useful advice and recommendations. Discussions highlighted the need for local and regional solutions that match the needs of specific communities while staying in line with European strategies.
The event ended with discussions on future steps, stressing stronger collaboration, innovative program designs, and better outreach efforts. Participants committed to advancing lifelong learning as a foundation for personal and societal growth.
