EPALE - Electronic Platform for Adult Learning in Europe

There is a high need for formal provision for professionalization of adult educators at academic level (Research voor Beleid, 2008; European Commission, 2013b; CEDEFOP, 2013). In this paper, we explored the views of colleagues from ten universities from nine European countries who work together on developing the joint program on European Master in Adult Education (EMAE) as the European Doctoral School in Adult Education, in this way setting up the largest network of professionalization in adult education at European level. Our colleagues have been interviewed with the purpose of finding out about their motivation, expectations, the added value for their universities, and the outcomes and benefits of joining to such consortium. We also explored the obstacles and difficulties in designing and implementing the joint programs. Their reflections and experiences can be a source of inspiration for other universities interested in joining the consortium or setting up similar offers.

Ekkehard Nuissl, PhD is Professor at the Technical University of Kaiserslautern, Germany (nuissl@die-bonn. de).

Simona Sava, PhD is Professor at the Department of Educational Sciences, West University of Timisoara, Romania (lidia.sava@e-uvt.ro).

Anca Luştrea, PhD is Assistant Professor at the Department of Educational Sciences, West University of Timisoara, Romania (anca.lustrea@e-uvt.ro).

The research has been carried out within ESRALE – European Studies and Research in Adult Learning and Education, Project no. 540117-LLP-1–2013–1-DE-ERASMUS-EQMC. A first draft of the article has been presented at the 4th International Conference “The Role of higher Education in the Process of Professionalization of Adult Educators”, ESREA-RENADET, Larnaca, 11–13.11.2015, and improved, based on the feedback of the participants.