Education provides us with a key site to nurture and support wellbeing, which is an important prerequisite for the learning process. Research has identified that inducing positive emotions within education acts to enlarge cognitive perspectives while simultaneously enhancing the capacity of individuals to attend to more information, make richer interpretations, and experience higher levels of creativity and productivity. Simply put, those who feel better tend to learn better. his is why assessment methods should align better with the wellbeing of learners, to provide a safer learning environment.

This study looks at the education policy challenges which arise in respect of the validation of non-formal and informal learning in Europe focusing on persons with low levels of formal qualification. It builds upon a study (see Gaylor, Schöpf, & Severing, 2015 for the Summary in German) on the recognition of non-formal and informal learning that was conducted within the scope of a Bertelsmann Stiftung project entitled “Continuing training for all”. The object of investigation was the current nature of such procedures in eight European countries. In the continuation of this work, which is based upon the examples of good practice identified in the study, possible courses of action are developed which are directed towards decision makers in the European Union and its member states at a policymaking, economic and societal level. This European publication is co-edited by the Bertelsmann Stiftung and the Lifelong Learning Platform.

Eager to know what beneficiaries of Erasmus+ think of the programme? The LLLPlatform runs an annual review of the Erasmus+ programme implementation and shares its results with policy-makers to enhance the application process and the content of the programme. This survey is conducted by the LLLPlatform to evaluate how EU networks have experienced the past round of applications of the Erasmus+ programme: what do you think of Erasmus+? Are you satisfied with its new features? What problems did you encounter? What suggestions for improvement would you make? This publication explores the results of the Survey 2018! Results are mostly in line with the major issues of the programme, and there is room for improvement…

The Lifelong Learning Platform is happy to announce that our Activity Report for the year 2016 is finally out! “2016 has been a year full of challenges and opportunities for the Lifelong Learning Platform, its members and Europe at large. In spite of a challenging European and international context, Brexit , increased radicalisation, fear, populism and horrifying acts of terrorism, we remain convinced of the power education has to reverse worrying trends and rebuild our European identity. In these troublesome times, access and quality to learning opportunities for all can bring optimism back into political discourse and gather citizens with a hopeful vision of the future”.

The Annual Conference 2018 took place on 5-6 July in Vienna, Austria. This year’s topic is “Lifelong Learning Culture: A partnership for rethinking education”. The conference saw one hundred participants debate the role of education and culture in building lifelong learning societies: from active citizenship to intercultural dialogue, to validation and to learning environments, the conference opened up pathways for civil society organisations to operate in. The event closed with specific recommendations to improve the European education systems.

The LLLP Annual Conference 2019 took place on 19-20 June in Brussels, the capital of Europe. This year’s topic is “Learning democracy, values and participation: the added value of lifelong learning”. The conference saw stakeholders and participants from all sectors debate the role of education in building lifelong learning societies: from active citizenship to common values, to global citizenship education to learning environments, the conference opened up pathways for civil society organisations to operate in. The event closed with specific recommendations to improve the European education systems.

The 9th edition of the LLLWeek tackled the burning topic of “Learning Democracy, Values and Participation”, and took stock of the EU Elections in May 2019. MEP Dace Melbarde was the host of the LLLWeek, and we organised 15 debates on the most various topics: from citizenship education to students’ rights, from career guidance to adult learning and education, from validation and volunteering to global citizenship education. We are proud to say that we brought together learners and educators, field workers and policy-makers, researchers and political representatives, and gave us all the opportunity to discuss today’s greatest educational challenges.

This publication aims to present the outcomes of the exchanges that took place within our platform in 2010-2011. It includes policy recommendations as well as some very concrete initiatives taking place around Europe that ought to be better known, shared and supported. 39 good practice examples from the different sectors of education and training are thus presented under each priority action in order to illustrate concrete ways forward.

AR17 The Lifelong Learning Platform is happy to announce that our Activity Report for the year 2017 is finally out! “2017 has been a year of momentum: full of challenges and opportunities for the Lifelong Learning Platform, its members, partners, and Europe at large. We celebrated 60 years of the European Union, the proclamation of the of European Pillar of Social Rights, 30 years of Erasmus, and to conclude the year the European Education Area was announced”. Annual Conference, LLLWeek, “Reimagining education in a digital world, a lot has happened: relive the year with us!

In the autumn 2011, the LLLPlatform conducted a survey and feasibility study on National Stakeholders’ Forums, on the model of the European Stakeholders’ Forum organised every year in partnership with the European Commission. Those Forums would be the tools to implement a genuine cooperation between different kinds of stakeholders and educational sectors, and perhaps consultation mechanisms with decision-makers of all levels on European lifelong learning strategies and policies.

The “well-being” dimension of learning is becoming key in today’s society. In partnership with the Educational Disadvantage Centre, Institute of Education, Dublin City University and Cedefop, the LLLPlatform has addressed the key issue of Community Lifelong Learning Centres as hubs for the blooming of a true lifelong learning approach in our societies. We analysed the current policy context and built on the latest recommendations to advocate for the “learning for well-being” paradigm and to call for coordinated action at EU level to support Member States.

The LLLPlatform believes monitoring the implementation of the Erasmus+ programme is of crucial importance to verify that application procedures are as user-friendly as possible and to assess how the programme can be improved for an even better experience from next year on. Following the 2014 success, the Platform reconducted its Erasmus+ Implementation Survey in 2015, gathering close to 300 answers from across Europe (the survey was available in EN, FR, ES and DE). The survey closed mid-September, results have been compiled, and the Platform presented the results on 30 November, as opening event to the LLL Week 2015.