Comparative Studies on Adult and Lifelong Learning Erasmus Project

Project Title

Comparative Studies on Adult and Lifelong Learning

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning; Pedagogy and didactics

Project Summary

European policies on lifelong learning increasingly affect adult education and lifelong learning practices in the EU member countries. At the same time, study programmes and disciplines focusing on adult and lifelong learning in Europe do only include to a very limited extent, questions of European policies or international comparisons of adult and lifelong learning. Additionally, mobility rates among education students are very low (e.g. ERASMUS+ student mobility). To become active actors in the context of a common European Education Area, prospective educators need to learn how they (1) can analyse the relation between European policies and concrete educational practices, (2) are able to do comparisons on adult and lifelong learning in different European countries, and (3) can create professional networks with other prospective educators in the field.

The Strategic Partnership ‘Comparative Studies on Adult and Lifelong Learning’ has created a strong partnership between seven European universities from Germany, Italy, Portugal, Hungary and Denmark. All partners have outstanding international expertise in the field of adult and lifelong learning. The partnership has developed, piloted and implemented a joint study module, including a short-term mobility phase and an international approach, for master’s and doctoral students in adult education and lifelong learning. The joint module has developed students’ competences in European educational policies and comparative research in adult and lifelong learning. It provides a new mobility possibility for students in education and reached thereby 230 participants. Furthermore, it developed an international online network in the field of adult education and lifelong learning

The following intellectual outputs have been developed:
a) Joint-module methodology: ‘Comparative Studies in Adult Education and Lifelong Learning’
b) Online tutorial for the preparation of students for the joint module (as OER)
c) Professional online network divided in an information tool (based on the projects website as Information Tool) and a communication space (based on LinkedIn-Networks). The open LinkedIn-Network received up to 783 members (status 12.09.2018), which allows a continuous exchange of international professionals in adult education and lifelong learning.
d) A comparative analysis as an academic result for the implementation of comparative studies in adult and lifelong learning and as learning outcome of the pilot participants.

The intellectual outputs were presented and disseminated at three multiplier events:
a) Intensive workshop: Need for comparative skills in adult and lifelong learning
b) International seminar: Joint module in comparative studies in adult and lifelong learning
c) Transnational conference: Comparative analysis in adult and lifelong learning
The multiplier events were used to present the results of the project and participants’ learning outcomes, and to recruit partners for using the outcomes of the Strategic Partnership.

The joint module was tested in three pilots: Cohort 1 with 86 participants, Cohort 2 with 83 participants, and Cohort 3 with 61 participants. For the first cohort, a ten-day on-campus phase (excl. travel days) was planned. For the second and third cohort, a 12-day on-campus phase (excl. travel days) was realised. The evaluation results of all three pilots have reached very high satisfaction (Winter School 2018: 4.42; Winter School 2017: 4.24; Winter School 2016: 4.20; 5-point scale: 1= poor; 5= excellent). The midterm evaluation outlines that the programme has had a lasting impact on the participants’ personal and professional development and has enabled students to develop analytical, comparative and transversal competencies, which are estimated as highly relevant for their future careers in an increasingly globalized context. For the sustainable implementation of the intensive phase, the Strategic Partnership is developing continuous financing sources.

During the three years, the Strategic Partnership achieved the following impact: (1) systematic integration of European educational policies and comparative studies into national adult education and lifelong learning curricula at the participating institutions and beyond, (2) an increase in mobility among former and potential participants of the joint module, and (3) a stronger presence of European perspectives in individual study pathways in adult education and lifelong learning. Furthermore, the mid-term evaluation highlights the increased motivation of former participants to work in international contexts (4.12 out of a 5-point-scale). The joint module has contributed extensively to the students’ plans to take up or finalize a doctoral thesis (4.28 out of 5-point-scale) in adult and lifelong learning.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 328769 Eur

Project Coordinator

JULIUS-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITAT WURZBURG & Country: DE

Project Partners

• TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET CHEMNITZ
• UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PADOVA
• UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI FIRENZE
• AARHUS UNIVERSITET
• UNIVERSIDADE DE LISBOA
• PECSI TUDOMANYEGYETEM – UNIVERSITY OF PECS
• HELMUT SCHMIDT UNIVERSITAT UNIVERSITAT DER BUNDESWEHR HAMBURG