This 12 slide presentation Renewing Policy is Module 8 of a nine (9) module online course for adult education policy makers and practitioners to complement an innovative toolkit to guide adult education policy and practice. Participation in adult education varies significantly across states and regions of Europe! Why? Evidence and literature suggests a wide disparity in policy making, programming and implementation skills in the adult education sector across Europe. It is imperative that policy makers and programme managers address this disparity to foster life-long learning for a smart-sustainable Europe (see EU2020 https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/economic-and-fiscal-policy-coordination/eu-economic-governance-monitoring-prevention-correction/european-semester/framework/europe-2020-strategy_en) and to achieve a European target of 15% of the adult population engaged in learning. In response to this challenge, the ERASMUS+ DIMA project (See https://dima-project.eu/index.php/en/, 2015 to 2017) developed a practical 9 module online course to complement an innovative toolkit to guide adult education policy and practice. The DIMA toolkit (See https://dima-project.eu/index.php/en/toolkit) introduces tools for developing, implementing, and monitoring adult education policies, strategies, and practices. Author: Michael Kenny and DIMA Project partners (https://dima-project.eu/index.php/en/partners)

1. www.dima-project.eu
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication]
and all its content reflect the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any
use which may be made of the information contained therein. Project Number: 2015-1-CY01-KA204-011850
Module 8: Renewing Policy
The Content of the following presentation was prepared
jointly by the ERASMUS+ DIMA Project consortium partners
working collaboratively – Voice overs added for the purposes
of the Irish partner by Michael Kenny, Department of Adult &
Community Education, Maynooth University.
(See partner list following …)

2. DIMA Consortium
The consortium consists of 6 partners, from 5 European
countries which cover a wide range of expertise related
to the aims of the project
 Cyprus: Ministry of Education and Culture
 Cyprus: Centre for Advancement of Research and Development in
Education Technology Ltd – Cardet
 Ireland: Department of Adult & Community Education, Maynooth
University
 Slovenia: Slovenian Institute for Adult Education
 Slovakia: National Institute of Lifelong Learning
 Belgium: European Association for the Education
of Adults

3. At the end of this module learners will be
able to:
• Understand the need for regularly
renewing policies and strategies.
• Explain the incremental nature of
policymaking.
• Follow a simple process for renewing
policy.
Learning Outcomes

4. • This Module presents the process for
renewing policies and keeping them up-
to-date.
• The Module should be used in conjunction
with Module 7 (Monitoring and
Evaluation).
• As a policy is monitored and evaluated,
decisions need to be made regarding
updates and adjustments.
Introduction

5. • The module discusses incremental
policymaking concepts and presents a
simple high-level process for renewing
policy and strategy in adult education.
• Some policies in place are not sufficient
and there is a need for a process for
renewing and updating them.
• The theory of Incrementalism in
policymaking, proposes that policy is
always developed in an incremental way.
Introduction

6. • The world is changing dramatically
fast.
• Migration, conflict, climate change
and the economic crisis are constantly
forcing governments to adjust.
• Polices are not carved in stone and
need to be regularly reviewed and
updated.
The need for renewing policy

7. • There is a growing gap between education
and employment.
• Education policy needs to be renewed to
ensure challenges are addressed.
• The following slides present a simple high
level process on how to use the DIMA
Project Toolkit to renew policy.
The need for renewing policy
i
(Download toolkit from E-Prints
http://eprints.maynoothuniversity.ie/10121/
Or https://dima-project.eu/index.php/en/toolkit)

8. Charles E. Lindblom’s 1959 classic essay “The Science of
Muddling Through” argued that …
• Policymakers must understand the need for
alternative approaches to policymaking.
• Policymakers need to engage and rationally think
through the process.
• Policymakers need to renew policy in small steps,
making adjustments along the way.
The science of muddling through
https://zoonpolitikonmx.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/lindblom.jpg
Charles E. Lindblom – the father of
Incrementalism in policy & decision
making.

9. • Incremental policy making: Is Policy
making in small increments – steps.
• Policy making does not always need
detailed extensive planning process.
• Policymaking is incremental since it
always builds on pre-existing
policies and programs.
• Renewing policy builds on the
incremental nature of policy
making.
Incremental policymaking
Pre-existing
policies
New policies About to
eliminate
policies

10. Flowchart for renewing policy
This Flowchart summarises the Policy Making and Renewing Process
DIMA
Toolkit
Is there a policy
in place?
Does it meet
gaps, priorities,
objectives?
Find the ones that are not met and follow
the toolkit to develop appropriate policies.
NO
YES
Go to Module 1
YES DONE
NO
PARTIALLY
Use data from
regular monitoring
and evaluation
(Module 7), ongoing
stakeholder
consultations
(Module 3), and
ongoing needs
analysis (Module 2)
to decide if the
policy and
strategies need
revision.
If there is no policy in place,
then consult Module 1 of
the toolkit to develop one.
If the policy meets its objectives,
then there is no need for action.
If there is a policy in
place it should be
regularly evaluated
to ensure it meets its
objectives.
If the policy does not meet its
objectives, then consult Module 1 of
the Toolkit to make the adjustments.
If policies partially
meet the objectives,
implement the
toolkit steps for
developing more
relevant ones.

11. Recognizing the emergence of a new global
context of learning the UNESCO established a
Senior Expert Group to rethink education in a
changing world. The result is presented
in Rethinking Education: Towards a global
common good? (2016).
In the spirit of the landmark publication the
Senior Expert Group reconsiders the purpose
of education and the principles that govern
education and knowledge as common goods.
The publication is intended a call for policy
dialogue and as a platform for research on the
future of learning.
UNESCO (2016). Rethinking Education. Accessed online on
5/2/2017 at:
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0023/002325/232555e.pdf
Valuable Reading

12. www.dima-project.eu
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication]
and all its content reflect the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any
use which may be made of the information contained therein. Project Number: 2015-1-CY01-KA204-011850
End of Module 8 of 9
Thank you
(Download toolkit from E-Prints
http://eprints.maynoothuniversity.ie/10121/
Or https://dima-project.eu/index.php/en/toolkit)