EU conference examines ways for adult education to respond to changes in society
During Finland’s EU Presidency, the Finnish Ministry of Education will organise the conference Adult Learning, Competence and Active Citizenship, to be held at Hanasaari Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre in Espoo, on 3–4 October. The conference will be opened by Antti Kalliomäki, Minister of Education, and Odile Quintin, Director General, European Commission, will introduce the European Commission Communication on adult learning, entitled Adult Learning: It is never too late to learn. The aim of the conference on adult learning is to analyse the economic, social and cultural changes in the operating environment and discuss how adult education should respond to them. The alternative forums will examine the primary measures for developing adult education and present projects for providing adult learning throughout Europe.
The conference has three themes, the first focusing on the various dimensions of active citizenship, questions of equality and democracy, and how learning could encourage and support participation. The keynote speaker for this theme is Monika Oels, Principal Administrator, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Germany. The second theme focuses on the impact of immigration and how adult education could support working, learning and communicating in multicultural communities. The theme is introduced by the keynote speaker Adame Ouane of UNESCO. Skills required in job markets, and the opportunities for the poorly educated in particular to update their competencies form the third theme. The theme is introduced by the keynote speaker Jukka Pekkarinen from the Finnish Ministry of Finance. The themes are further discussed in five alternative forums, whose conclusions will be presented by Marta Ferreira, Head of Unit, European Commission.
The conference themes will also be central to the European Commission’s forthcoming communication on adult learning. The contents and priorities of the communication on adult learning will be introduced and discussed at the conference.
The conference is expected to attract about 150 participants, including policy-makers dealing with education and training from EU Member States, application and accession countries, experts in adult education and experts from European central labour market organisations, and representatives of various EU bodies. The organisers have also invited representatives from such international organisations as the OECD, UNESCO and the World Bank.
Further information:
- Marita Häkkinen, Project Manager, tel. +358 9 160 76909, GSM +358 50 302 5826
- Jorma Ahola, Counsellor of Education, tel. +358 9 160 77393
Press:
- Tiina Palomäki, Press Officer, tel. +358 9 16077484, GSM +358 400 7042545.