Well, here we all are. More than a hundred participants have been here in the Charenton convention centre since 9am for the national conference to launch the EPALE platform. The objective today is to enable people involved in adult education and training to meet and discuss matters relating to European collaboration between teaching professionals.

Antoine Godbert, Director of Agence Erasmus+ France/Education Formation begins the day with a video presentation.  It provides an opportunity to thank those who have worked so hard to organise the conference: Géraldine Libreau, EPALE France’s subject-matter experts, our two colleagues Christina Norwig and Michèle Mombeek, David Lopez…

Marie Pierre Chalimbaud, Director of the development department at  Agence Erasmus + France / Education Formation takes over and reminds us of the important role which Agence Erasmus + France/Education Formation plays in achieving European objectives relating to access to lifelong learning. She dedicates the event to our late expert Sandra Sornin.

At 9.15, Géraldine Libreau, from the European Commission’s Directorate General for Education and Culture gives us a presentation on the EPALE platform. She hands over to Gaëlle Russier, who gives a brief rundown of the programme for the day and reminds us that Virginie de Galzain’s exhibition entitled “Illettrisme: droit de savoirs” (Illiteracy; the right to knowledge) will be open to visitors all day; more than thirty photos will be on display.

The round-table discussion led by David Lopez and entitled “How does European collaboration help to improve adult education and training?” provides an opportunity to hear a number of professionals describing their experiences of working collaboratively.

·         Leïla Delannoy and Sophie Dominique, European “In living memory” project, Lieux fictifs association

·         Chloé Radix and Claire Marx, instructors with ALPES, a European Literacy@work project

·         Jean-Paul Albert, President of the Basse Normandie Regional Union of the Ligue de l’Enseignement and President of the Ligue de l’Enseignement’s National Education Committee.

·         Catherine Guillaumin, Lecturer in Educational Sciences at the University of Tours: her presentation

Hélène Paumier and Gaëlle Russier will then give a practical demonstration of the platform, showing what EPALE can provide for the community of adult education and training stakeholders (presentation).

Participants will then be encouraged to take part in themed workshops, consider the potential benefits offered by the platform and exchange ideas and opinions. The aim of this discussion time is to think about innovation in education through the themes of the EPALE platform.

Workshop 1 - World Café: Key skills and learner support

Led by Alexia Samuel, domain expert in learner support and social inclusion in France and Marco Paoli, Executive Director of the Concordia Association and basic skills expert. With contributions from Karin Tudal, Director of the Atelier Pédagogique Personnalisé (Personalised Education Workshop) centre in Bergerac.

Workshop 2 - BarCamp: Learning environment and quality of learning

Led by Jean Vanderspelden, ITG Paris consultant and supporter of open and distance learning projects, Thierry Ardouin, Professor of Educational Sciences and Training at the University of Rouen, head of the ”Adult training and professional development” division at the CIVIIC laboratory and Benoit Tostain, Instructor and consultant in e-learning and open distance learning.

Workshop 3 - Stands: Policies, strategies and financing

Led by Guillaume Brionne, Head of the Regional Employment and Training Observatory for La Réunion/Secretariat of CREFOP (Regional Employment, Training and Careers Guidance). With contributions from Roseline Le Squere, Head of the educational innovation section for the university education service, Christina Norwig, National EPALE Assistance Service in Germany and Michèle Mombeek, Policy officer at the Department of International Relations for the Ministry of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation and Head of the National EPALE Assistance Service for Wallonia-Brussels.

Feedback from the workshops should be left on the platform. You can access the appropriate resources by clicking this link.

          Please post your comments and share your highlights of the day with us!