The UNESCO Region of “Pan-Europe” stretches from Eastern to Western Europe and includes Canada and the Unites States of America, as well as Israel and all Member States of the European Union.  Apart from assessing the overall progress in implementing the Belém Framework for Action on the whole, the foreseen Pan-European CONFINTEA VI follow-up meeting will seek to concentrate on two issues: participation (e.g. mobilizing adult learners, facilitating access to learning opportunities and expanding validation mechanisms) and quality (e.g. professional development of trainers/facilitators, relevant and effective teaching and learning methods and content, and enhanced cooperation with stakeholders).

With this thematic focus, the meeting will be conducive to strengthening European monitoring instruments in the field of adult education, and to reinforcing cooperation in the region.

The European Commission, being a key player in the region with a strong commitment to adult and lifelong learning, will be a key partner for this meeting. UIL is currently exploring with the Commission, specifically with the Unit for Adult Learning at the Directorate-General for Education and Culture (DG EAC), how to organize a joint European Regional CONFINTEA VI Follow-up meeting. As the main regional stakeholder form civil society, the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) will be invited to cooperate as an associate partner.

A draft concept for the conference is under discussion and will be further developed. Meanwhile, several EU member states showed interest to host the conference which is planned for 2013.   

The European CONFINTEA Follow-up is situated in the context of the Europe 2020 strategy which acknowledges skills development and lifelong learning as key elements in response to the current economic crisis and to the broader economic and social strategy of the European Union. Accordingly, it is in line with the ET (Education and Training) 2020 framework which calls for all education and training to be conceived in a lifelong framework, covering learning in all contexts – formal, non-formal or informal – and at all levels, from early childhood to higher, vocational and adult education. Importantly, the Follow-up is corresponding to the renewed European agenda for adult learning which highlights that adult learning is a vital component of the lifelong learning continuum, making an important contribution to social inclusion, active citizenship and personal development.

Download: All conference documents and presentations

Background Reports

• Thematic Working Group on Financing Adult Learning. Final Report
• Thematic Working Group on Quality in Adult Education. Final Report

Link to GRALE II

• Informe mundial sobre el aprendizaje y la educación de adultos (GRALE) Repensando la Alfabetización
• Links to Second Global Report on Adult Learning and Education
• Links to Second Global Report on Adult Learning and Education
• Rapport mondial sur l'apprentissage et l'éducation des adultes (GRALE) repenser l'alphabétisation
• Second Global Report on Adult Learning and Education Rethinking Literacy

Presentations

• ENIL. Equipping Adults for the 21st Century
• Estonia. Efforts to increase adults participation in lifelong learning in Estonia
• European Commission. Education and Culture. Adult Learning in Europe. Challenges and Responses
• European Commission. Joining Forces for Action on Skills and Competences
• France. Literacy national priority 2013
• GHK. Quality, efficiency and equity. The framing elements for funding adult learning
• Institute for Education and Socio-Economic Research. Remarks on Quality, Funding and Equity Indicators
• Ireland. Reaching a critical mass of low skilled
• Lithuania_Upgrading Vocational Teachers Technological Competencies
• Nordic Network for Adult Education. Nordic Experience
• OECD. Results of the Survey on Adult Skills
• Poland_The Polish Learning Curve
• Slovenia. Serving los skilled and rural communities
• The BeLL Study. Social and Civic Benefits of Lifelong Learning
• UIL. Results of the Global Report on Adult Learning and Education - Rethinking Literacy (GRALE II) and implications for action at the Pan-European Level

Report

• Report