The document discusses several topics related to lifelong learning and older learners in Europe: 1) It outlines key EU policies that promote lifelong learning for older adults, including maintaining skills, social inclusion, active citizenship and cultural engagement. 2) Grundtvig, a program within the EU's Lifelong Learning Programme, supports adult education and mobility projects with a focus on disadvantaged groups, citizenship, older people and intergenerational solidarity. 3) Senior volunteering projects under Grundtvig are strongly increasing and involve retired individuals aged 63 on average, contributing their skills and experience.

1. European Policy on
Lifelong Learning and
Older learners
• Martina Ní Cheallaigh
• IFA, Prague, 30 May 2012
Lifelong learning Date: in 12 pts
programme

2. Active citizenship indicator,
Demographics in the EU
2002Population age structure by major age groups
100% 5% 6%
3% 3% 7% 9% 11% 12%
90% 11% 12% 13% 14%
17%
18%
80% 18% 18%
70%
60%
60%
61% 61%
50% 59% 56% 54% 52% 51%
40%
30%
20%
27% 24%
10% 21% 21% 20% 19% 19% 19%
0%
1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 2060
Less than 19 years 20 - 64 65 - 79 80 and over
Source: Eurostat: 1990-2010: observed populations
Lifelong learning Date: in 12 pts
2020-2060: Eurostat projections
programme

3. European Year for Active Ageing and
Solidarity between Generations
The main objectives are to:
• promote active ageing in employment
• facilitate active ageing in the community
• promote healthy ageing and independent
living
• enhance solidarity between the generations
Lifelong learning Date: in 12 pts
programme

4. Participation trend by age
Participation in education and training in 2010 by age EU27 - %
Source: Eurostat Labour Force Survey (Last update: 2011)
16,0
15,2
14,0
12,0
10,0
9,1
8,0
7,4
6,0
4,5
4,0
2,0
0,0
From 25 to 34 years From 35 to 44 years From 45 to 54 years From 55 to 64 years
Lifelong learning Date: in 12 pts
programme

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Date: in 12 pts

6. Active Citizenship Employment Rate
• Norway • Switzerland 78.6%
• Sweden • Iceland 78.2%
• Denmark • Norway 75.3%
• Austria • Netherlands 74.7%
• Ireland • Denmark 73.4%
• Belgium • Sweden 72.1%
• Netherlands • Austria 70.7%
Lifelong learning Date: in 12 pts
programme

7. Policy acquis at the EU level
• Lifelong Learning policy (since1995): includes formal, non-formal
and informal learning (also used: life wide learning)
• Communication It is never too late to learn (2006)
• Action Plan on Adult Learning (2007)
• European Qualification Framework (2008)
• ET2020 Strategic Framework for European Cooperation (2009)
• Bruges Communiqué (2010)
• European Agenda for Adult Learning (2011)
• Europe 2020 – smart, sustainable and inclusive growth
Lifelong learning Date: in 12 pts
programme

8. EU Agenda for Adult
Learning
• Adult learning - a means of up-skilling or re-skilling those affected by
unemployment, restructuring and career transitions,
an important contribution to social inclusion, active citizenship and
personal development
• Vision for 2020: Well-developed learning provision for seniors, in
order to promote active, autonomous, and healthy ageing, and
which uses their knowledge, experience, social and cultural capital
for the benefit of society as a whole
• Priority 2012-14: Enhancing learning opportunities for older adults
in the context of active ageing, including volunteering and the
promotion of innovative forms of intergenerational learning and
initiatives to exploit the knowledge, skills and competences of older
people for the benefit of society as a whole
Lifelong learning Date: in 12 pts
programme

9. What are the objectives?
• Basic skills
• Social inclusion
• Development of active citizenship
• Cultural engagement
• Health and well-being
Learning to support older adults maintain social
cultural and political involvement in their
community and contribute to active ageing in 12 pts
Lifelong learning Date:
programme

10. Grundtvig
Lifelong Learning Programme - Adult
Education Strand
• Multilateral projects, Networks and Learning
Partnerships
• Opportunities for AE staff mobility: In-service
training, Visits and exchanges, Assistantships
• Accompanying measures, Preparatory visits
• Workshops
• Senior volunteering projects
Lifelong learning Date: in 12 pts
programme

11. Grundtvig
• Strong social focus
– Outreach to disadvantaged and marginalised groups
– Citizenship, older people, inter-generational solidarity, environment
– Social cohesion, inclusion of minorities
• Commitment to informal and non-formal learning alongside
formal adult education
• Broad spread of participating organisations embracing
NGOs, community groups and cultural organisations such
as museums alongside specialised adult education
providers
Lifelong learning Date: in 12 pts
programme

12. Grundtvig projects
• Inter-generational 98
• Art, culture, media 84
• ICT 83
• Active ageing 66
• Learning in later life 57 & Life transitions 10
• Health 37 & sport 6
• Inclusion 32
• Citizenship 30 & Intercultural 30
• Older workers 27
• Care of the elderly 23
• Family learning & solidarity 20
Lifelong learning Date: in 12 pts
programme

13. Grundtvig projects
• Gender/women 18
• Languages 16
• Environment/science 12
• Disabilities 11
• Minorities/ethnic minorities 10
• Entrepreneurship 8
• Transfer of practices 21
• Volunteering 27
Lifelong learning Date: in 12 pts
programme

14. Senior Volunteering
Some figures
2009: 43 projects, 450 volunteers
2010: 63 projects, 643 volunteers
2011: 67 projects, 740 volunteers
Strongly increasing applications 2009-11
25 countries in 2011
Profile of volunteers:
73 % women
average age: 63 years old
usually experienced local volunteers
mainly retired people but not only
Lifelong learning Date: in 12 pts
programme

15. Other programmes
• Leonardo da Vinci
– Older workers
– Continuing vocational training
– Apprenticeship
• Culture, European capitals
• Sport
• Streamlined programme 2014-20 - Erasmus for All
Lifelong learning Date: in 12 pts
programme

16. Thanks for your attention!
Contact: martina.ni-cheallaigh@ec.europa.eu
DG EAC: http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-
policy/adult_en.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-
programme/grundtvig_en.htm Date: in 12 pts
Lifelong learning
programme

17. Participation in non-formal education and
training
80
70
Participation rates in (%)
60 EU
32.7%
50
40
30
20
10
0
HU GR PL IT PT ES LV LT EU BE FR BG CZ SI CY AT EE UK SK NL DE FI SE NO HR
Only job related NFE Both job related and non job related NFE Only non job related NFE
Lifelong learning Date: in 12 pts
programme