CEDEFOP states that during the meeting of the European Commission, EU Member States and social partners, which took place in Riga in June 2015, the participants agreed on pursuing the objectives leading to: “more attractive, inclusive, accessible and flexible adult learning”.

In 2014, just over 10% of adults (aged between 25 and 64) participated in lifelong learning, well below the EU’s target benchmark of 15% by 2020.

Several obstacles continue to prevent people from participating in and employers from providing adult learning opportunities. According to the European Adult Education Survey, employees identify family responsibilities (21%), conflicting work schedules (18%) and costs (13%) as the main reasons preventing them from participating in training.

The new CEDEFOP’s Policy handbook – Access to and participation in continuous vocational education and training (CVET) in Europe [link] provides policy guidance, outlines success factors and gives examples of good practice to make continuing VET and adult learning more attractive, accessible and of high quality. The handbook can be of use for the EU Member States in achieving the mid-term aims in five priority areas, which were agreed on in Riga [more information here].

 

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the Policy Handbook available here.

 

Source: cedefop.europa.eu