With more than 25% of EU citizens being affected by social exclusion, contributing to overcoming social marginalization is becoming increasingly important. Even though education and learning cannot guarantee (social) success, they are increasingly necessary aspects when aiming at that success (Istance, 1997; De Greef et al, 2010; Lupi et al., 2011). In particular, adult education is one of the best ways to prevent social exclusion (De Greef 2009) as it ensures that people remain involved in society and with others. The project Life all in focuses on the synergy between informal and formal learning in L2 programmes, with informal learning seen as a lever for optimizing formal learning activities (cognitive, social and motivational) and in turn to enhance social inclusion of participants. The overall objective of the project is to contribute to social inclusion and integration of participants in L2 adult education by developing the synergy between formal and informal learning. The specific objectives of the project are: 1. Defining to which extent AE providers implement conditions for formal and NFIL (non formal and informal) of L2 for social inclusion; 2. Providing recommendations and tool kits for institutions and policy makers for bridging formal and NFIL L2; 3. Providing a good practice example and fostering networking & exchange of practices between AE institutions within the L2 training programmes for enhancing social inclusion. The main target group consists of adult education decision makers on local, regional and national level (depending on the country) who are active in the field of connecting formal and informal learning, decision makers, learners, trainers, and trainees as final beneficiaries. The following activities are planned to be realized: • Analysis guideline • Peer evaluation • Report on overall analysis of the collected data • Tool kit development • Piloting tool kit • Feedback analysis • Revision of tool kit • Tool kit validation • Project website development with community of practice and visibility actions The expected results are: a) project team operational - Project Management Guidelines will be prepared and will consist written responsibilities of the management team, description of the supporting tools and methodologies for communication and quality and partnership agreements b) created report based on peer evaluation and output of previous research projects c) validated toolkit (that can be replicated in other teaching courses but L2) d) created community of practice through discussion platform e) web portal f) disseminated project outputs.
LIFE, ALL IN: Connecting formal and informal learning to enhance social inclusion” (=LAI), financed by Erasmus+ - KA2 – Cooperation and Innovation for Good Practices was carried out during a time when more than 25% of EU citizens was being affected by social exclusion, therefore, the overarching objective of the LAI project was to contribute to social inclusion and integration of adult participants in second language (L2) education program by developing and connecting the synergy between formal and informal learning by providing a systematic methodology that addresses the gap and build a bridge to fully exploit the synergy of formal, non-formsal and informal learning in L2. More concrete, the project was designed to equip adult education providers with a toolkit on how to connect formal, non-formal and Informal learning (FNIL) and empower concerned policy makers to be informed on the efficacy of FNIL in L2 programmes for adults with the help of a validated tool-kit. The project had 5 participating organizations. CVO Antwerpen (BE) was the coordinating organization. CVO Antwerpen is an adult education center with several campuses in and around the city of Antwerp in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is one of the largest centers for adult education certified and funded by the Flemish Government. It organizes more than 950 modular daytime and evening courses per year. This are courses for immigrants, formal vocational education and second chance to learn, higher professional education, language courses, entrepreneurial training courses, maritime training, welding and courses in application software. Axxel is a training organisation which offers VET and independent studies both for youngsters and adults in Helsinki, Finland. Axxell has about 2700 students that study at the 6 different departments of Axxell (Lappfjärd, Helsingforsregionen, Åbo, Pargas, Kimito, Karis, Ekenäs och Esbo). In addition to vocational training, Axxell in one of the biggest integration training providers for adult migrants. C.P.I.A. 6 - Centro Provinciale Istruzione degli Adulti (IT) organises modular daytime and evening courses in Viterbo, Italy. The courses offered are structured as follows: literacy and learning of the Italian language for foreigners, first level courses - First and Second Teaching period. Oslo Voksenopplæring Skullerud (NO) is an organisation working within the field of Adult Education, qualifying adult refugees and immigrants for life in Norway by teaching them Norwegian language and social sciences. Youth Entrepreneurial Service Foundation (FYROM) is a non-governmental organization, which aims to stimulate the entrepreneurship in Macedonia through reinforcing the business and soft skills of future entrepreneurs needed for successfully running of an own company. YES sets the goal to support innovative start-up businesses through many activities and subventions in order to help the local development of the currently most productive sector – SMEs. The main activities were project management, a requirements analysis including the identification of good practices and conducting peer visits and focus groups, the organisation of a workshop and final conference for stakeholders, the development, piloting and validation of the toolkit, quality assurance and exploitation and dissemination. Concrete results of ‘Life- all in’ are the requirements analysis report, the online toolkit, a validation report, a project website, project management guidelines, a quality management plan, 2 critical friend reports, a dissemination plan and report, a sustainability report and a project leaflet/brochure. Relevant stakeholders are now aware of the fact that a toolkit is there for them to support them during the development of programs that optimally utilize the combination and blend formal and non-formal learning of the participants.