On Wednesday 29 March, from 10 am to 4 pm CEST, EPALE will be hosting the online discussion Building skills for democratic life. The role of adult learning and education.

The written discussion will be introduced by a live stream (10-10.45 am CEST), with invited experts sharing their perspectives and experiences. Experts taking part in the discussion include: Georg Pirker, President of Democracy and Human Rights Education in Europe (DARE), Giulia Meschino, Director of the European Vocational Training Association (EVTA), and Elisa Gambardella, Vice President of the Lifelong Learning Platform (LLLP).

The live stream will be followed by a moderated written discussion, hosting the contributions of our EPALE community members.

Some background

Transversal skills and key competences such as critical thinking, problem-solving and digital literacy cut across sectors, fields, tasks, eras and lives. When modernising education and training systems, it is crucial to adopt a lifelong learning approach and introduce reforms holistically: this prevents exclusion and ensures a common and steady path towards sustainable learning societies. Indeed, a fundamental endeavour of education is to equip learners with the necessary (transversal) skills to navigate modern seas. 

What we will discuss about

Through this online discussion, we will discuss how skills, competences and attitudes ultimately enable people to find fulfillment in their lives and adapt to fast-paced changes - beyond labour market participation. Skills, whether vocational or social, technical or key competences, help adults cope with current crises and make them more conscious about their potential in society. This, in turn, enhances democratic participation and strengthens both communities and social life.

At times when attention is more diverted towards the recovery from the pandemic, modernisation and the twin transitions or the current energy crisis, Europe must not forget the existing threats to democratic values which have been resurging across the continent. Could adult learning and education be a solution?