The PartnerUp Project has successfully enhanced lifelong learning opportunities for adults across Europe through 26 months of dedicated efforts. Its mission was to empower adults with critical skills, helping them achieve secondary qualifications or equivalent certifications, inspired by the EU’s 2016 Recommendation on Upskilling Pathways.

Addressing Europe’s lifelong learning challenges

Adults with low qualifications often face limited job prospects, economic instability and social exclusion. PartnerUp tackled these challenges through innovative collaboration, strategic interventions and sustainable lifelong learning practices. By engaging over 1000 stakeholders, the project has advanced the EU’s goal of achieving 47 per cent adult education participation by 2025, supporting learners in improving their skills, advancing careers and contributing to society.

Major achievements: driving cross-Europe change

PartnerUp’s impact stems from its focus on research, partnerships and tailored solutions. Key accomplishments include:

  • Stakeholder engagement: Over 760 policymakers, educators and community leaders participated in consultations and peer learning, fostering trust and collaboration essential to advancing adult education systems.
  • Interactive road maps: PartnerUp created roadmaps with insights from seven partner countries and EU-level contributions, offering policymakers and practitioners best practices and strategies to strengthen adult education.
  • Study visits and peer learning: More than 200 participants exchanged knowledge during eight study visits (3 in-person and 5 virtual), exploring strategies from diverse European systems.
  • Tailored implementation plans: The project designed specific plans for seven partner countries and the EU, addressing gaps in adult learning systems and promoting sustainable improvements.
  • Virtual map: This interactive tool serves as a central hub, offering access to reports, findings and best practices to support adult education across Europe.
    Explore the map at: partnerup-project.eu/virtual-map.

Collaborations across Europe

PartnerUp’s success was made possible through the collaboration of leading organisations from across Europe, including:

  • European Association for the Education of Adults (Belgium)
  • CARDET (Cyprus)
  • Latvian Adult Education Association & State Education Development Agency (Latvia)
  • AONTAS (Ireland)
  • European University Continuing Education Network (Belgium)
  • Agency for Vocational Education & Training and Adult Education Institution Dante (Croatia)
  • ASOCIATIA EURO ADULT EDUCATION (Romania)
  • Hellenic Adult Education Association (Greece)
  • FORMA.Azione (Italy)

By empowering learners and fostering collaboration, the PartnerUp Project has laid the foundation for a more inclusive and sustainable adult education system across Europe. Its contributions continue to shape the future of lifelong learning and workforce adaptability, addressing challenges posed by the digital and green transitions.

Discover how PartnerUp is shaping the future of adult education at: https://partnerup-project.eu/.

The European Commission’s support for the production of this article does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors. The Commission cannot be held responsible for any use of the information contained therein. Project Number: 101087193