Innovations in Education for Transnational and Transversal Active Citizenship

Our project is based on research showing that, in a context of multiple and interdependent crises, society is increasingly complex, fragmented and polarized. This makes it particularly difficult for adults to be active citizens, and creates persistent divisions within and between organizations, communities and movements. Citizens lack the knowledge, skills and abilities to navigate this complex, ambiguous and unstable context; to set up collective initiatives; to develop cooperative actions across borders; and to establish links with European institutions. Our research into the learning needs of active adults across Europe as part of this project corroborates pre-project research, suggesting significant needs for skills to work transversally across themes and transnationally across geographical areas, as well as needs to increase resilience, avoid burnout and know how to adopt agile strategies to promote social and political change.

1. To generate scalable knowledge and resources enabling the acquisition of new skills among adult educators seeking to motivate and empower civil society and active citizens with skills and perspectives for transnational initiatives. 2. Improve the quality and scope of adult education through the development of a skills and learning framework, an innovative curriculum and digital learning resources that respond to the learning needs of active citizens and civil society to act more effectively in diverse cultures and contexts, and to increase their capacity to lead transversal and cross-sectoral community initiatives. 3. Innovate in learning methods and frameworks that support active democratic citizenship, using peer learning and communities of practice, and share these innovations for impact across the sector. 4. Exploit and build on the results of other European projects.

We formed an interdisciplinary team of adult educators, researchers, policy specialists, and communication experts from across Europe to create, test, and share new adult education resources. Engaging with over 2,000 adult educators through interviews, focus groups, and data analysis from partner organizations, we produced a comprehensive report on the learning needs of young active adults, This research informed the development of a learning and skills framework tailored to these needs. We created and tested activities and resources to foster strategic thinking, transnational and transversal organizing, contextual understanding, and integrating learning into active strategies. These resources were tested with over 300 participants and evolved into a guide and learning program. We implemented online and blended methodologies, enabling 60 learners to complete a one-year non-residential training program. Through weekly debriefings and evaluations, we continuously adapted our educational approach and refined our materials.

We produced 5 concrete results: 1) A research report on the learning needs of adult learners, derived from participant evaluations, surveys, focus groups, interviews, and literature reviews. This report was extensively discussed among leading adult educators during the project. 2) A competency and learning framework based on the research findings for politically active adults. This adaptable framework has been shared with over 100 adult education organizations. 3) A training program and guide, developed from research and trials, addressing contextual understanding, strategic action, transversal and transnational competencies, and integrating learning into political practice. Available in four languages, it includes hundreds of readings and exercises for use by trainers and adult educators beyond the project. 4) Digital and blended learning formats, including e-learning systems and customizable learning paths, enabling distance learners to access hundreds of learning resources in four languages. 5) An action learning and peer learning approach, developed from organizing long-term blended and mixed training courses, to address the complex needs of politically active adult learners beyond basic training.