Adult Learners Week

Adult Learners Week in Lithuania was initiated by the Lithuanian Association of Adult Education in 2000. The motto of the first week was “Adult learning – A Right, a Duty or a Privilege?” The festival was dedicated to general issues of adult education.

In the following years, special themes around adult learning were selected for ALW:

2001 - the European Year of Languages
2002 - “Education against Social Exclusion”
2003 - “Learning Closer to the Learner”
2004 - “We are Europeans. Tolerance is our Message”
2005 - “Citizenship in Practice”
2006 - "Education for Culture. Culture for Education"

The overall objective of ALW in Lithuania is to bring together educational institutions, NGOs, local and religious communities, employers, social partners, local authorities and politicians for common activities. These should be targeted at providing learning possibilities for all - in particular for socially excluded groups - while giving special attention to bringing learning closer to home and upgrading the qualitfications of adult educators.

A major inspiration for the idea of ALW in Lithuania was generated during the discussion process on the Memorandum of Lifelong Learning of the European Commission. The national debate on the issue was organized by LAAE under the guidance of the Ministry of Education and Science in May and June 2001. ALW provided the opportunities for adult educators and other people involved in the matter to share their problems and achievements, to discuss the future of adult education in the country. It has become a traditional event in Lithuania.

ALW in Lithuania is organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science, as well as with numerous institutions of adult education and non-governmental organizations.

Contacts:

Vilija Lukošūnienė
Lithuanian Association of Adult Education
Geležinio Vilko g. 12
LT – 01112, Vilnius, Lithuania

Tel.: +370 5 2619031,
Fax: + 370 5 2312309
lssa@takas.lt
www.lssa.smm.lt