Widening and Strengthening the European Dimension of the Lifelong Learning Week Movement

Widening and Strengthening the European Dimension of the Lifelong Learning Week Movement

European cooperation in the field of learning festivals (Grundtvig1 Project 2002-2004)

The project 'Widening and Strengthening the European Dimension of the Lifelong Learning Week Movement' is an endeavour to contribute to the implementation of the EU policy in the field of lifelong learning. Concrete objectives of the project are:

to share accumulated experience and expertise of some partner countries (Slovenia, Germany, Romania and Bulgaria) and the transfer of know-how related to the promotion of adult education and lifelong learning to some partner countries (Spain, Bulgaria, Romania);
to establish national frameworks for planning and carrying out national Lifelong Learning Weeks (LLWs), evaluate their impacts and disseminate their results;
to organise national celebrations of learning and a collective event in Spain;
to produce and disseminate high-quality informative and promotional material and services, mainly web-based;
to establish cross-country as well as national networks for the promotion of the 'lifelong learning for all' strategy, thus creating partnerships which will be able to continue their mission well beyond the project's lifetime, and disseminating its results nationally and internationally.

Working together will result in LLWs implemented in partner countries as advocacy tools for promoting and raising the profile of adult education and lifelong learning, in the establishment of mutual understanding and partnerships as well as in initiating changes in policies of adult education and lifelong learning. Thus, the EU concept for lifelong learning will be put into practice and the project will contribute to the widening and strengthening of the European dimension of lifelong learning.

These aims are a great challenge to all participating institutions, not only because of their cultural, but also economic differences. Partners from five countries rely on their experience and competence in order to assure the success of their initiative:

Slovenian Institute for Adult Education (SIAE), Ljubljana, Slovenia - project coordinator;
Federation of Societies for Spread of Knowledge ( FSSK "Znanie"), Sofia in cooperation with the German Adult Education Association (IIZ/DVV) Office, Sofia, Bulgaria;
Institute for International Co-operation of the German Adult Education Association (IIZ/DVV), Bonn, Germany;
University of Barcelona, Centre for Social and Educational Research (CREA), Barcelona, Spain;
Spanish Federation of Popular Universities (FEUP), Madrid, Spain;
The National Association of the Regional Centre for Adult Education (AN CZEA), Arad, in cooperation with IIZ/DVV Office, Bucarest, Romania.

The purpose of one of the project's outcomes - the E-bulletin - is to promote the project, introduce news, important events and publications related to the Lifelong Learning Weeks' Movement in partner countries. The E-bulletin offers to all interested readers the opportunity to inquire about the progress and outcomes of our project, presents different facts on the history of Lifelong Learning Weeks and the most important EU documents in the field of Lifelong Learning. It also provides information on adult education, learning festivals, and different research studies in the field of lifelong learning.

For more information click here, or visit the project website.

On behalf of the project team;

Olga Drofenik (project coordinator)
Zvonka Pangerc Pahernik (Slovenian LLW national coordinator)

Updated 6 November 2003

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