In recent years, internationalisation in the field of adult education and lifelong learning has led to new demands in the field. A diverse target group in adult education practice and an increasing number of international students at universities pose challenges on both levels. Moreover, a mismatch between the existing skills of students and practitioners and the skills required by the labour market in adult education and lifelong learning calls for a more integrated approach to educating students and practitioners together. The current low level of cooperation between higher education and practice constrains professionalisation in adult education and lifelong learning and calls for more connected systems and deeper exchanges of knowledge and experience. Additionally, increasingly dynamic and complex ways of living mean huge challenges to individual learning and mobility (especially in terms time and financial resources). That is why the Strategic Partnership ‘International and Comparative Studies for Students and Practitioners in Adult Education and Lifelong Learning’ (INTALL) will develop for the first time a methodology for building joint structures in the professionalisation activities of universities and practitioners in adult education and lifelong learning. To achieve this, the following outputs will be developed: • a blended learning methodology for teaching students and practitioners together (IO1), • a joint learning community for international teaching and learning settings (IO2), • a portfolio method for strengthening employability in adult education and lifelong learning (IO3) and • a digital learning environment ‘International and comparative studies @ home’ (IO4). The development of these intellectual outputs will be accompanied by an intensive pilot phase in three Winter Schools. These Winter Schools will bring master’s and doctoral students and professionals in adult education and lifelong learning together to implement the methodologies in a sustainable way. Additionally, teaching staff from higher education and practice meet for developing a joint learning community. Flexible learning pathways in a blended-learning mode and the recognition of learning on different levels take the diversity of the target group in account. The intellectual outputs and learning and teaching activities are designed to tackle the current and abovementioned challenges in adult education and lifelong learning. The Strategic Partnership expects increasing internationalisation in the field, trustful cooperation between higher education and practice, increased employability of graduates in adult education, a better match of existing and required skills, and a growth of professionally qualified practitioners in the field. In addition, joint materials for teaching in international settings will support education on all levels. Besides, the flexible online learning pathway contributes to making education accessible in the digitised world. To ensure the sustainability and widespread use of the project results at the institutional, national, European and international levels, all developed products will be available online via Open Access. Various dissemination activities and a broad supporting system with many associate partners will ensure the long-term implementation of INTALL beyond the term of the partnership.
In recent years, internationalisation in the field of adult education and lifelong learning has led to new demands in the field. A diverse target group in adult education practice and an increasing number of international students at universities pose challenges on both levels. The heterogeneity of students and practitioners in adult education and lifelong learning calls for a more integrated approach to educating students and practitioners together. This Strategic Partnership ‘International and Comparative Studies for Students and Practitioners in Adult Education and Lifelong Learning’ (INTALL) has gives an answer to the still low level of cooperation between higher education and practice constrains professionalisation in adult education and lifelong learning. It developed a methodology for building joint structures in the professionalisation activities of universities and practitioners in adult education and lifelong learning. To achieve this, the following outputs have been developed by the partnership among eight European universities from Germany, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Hungary and Ireland and two practice institutions (EAEA, DVV) in the field of adult education and lifelong learning: • a blended learning methodology for teaching students and practitioners together (IO1), • a joint learning community for international teaching and learning settings (IO2), • a portfolio method for strengthening employability in adult education and lifelong learning (IO3), • a digital learning environment ‘International and comparative studies @ home’ (IO4) and • an interactive Online-Methodology for Teaching Students and Practitioners together (IO5). The development of these intellectual outputs was accompanied by an intensive pilot phase in three Winter Schools (since 2021 the Winter School is known as Adult Education Academy). These Winter Schools have brought together master’s and doctoral students and practitioners in adult education and lifelong learning to implement the methodologies in a sustainable way. Thereby building a bridge between academic learning and the field of practice in adult and continuing education could be supported and 181 participants could be reached. Additionally, teaching staff from higher education and practice have met for developing a joint learning community. Flexible learning pathways in a blended-learning mode and the recognition of learning on different levels take the diversity of the target group in account. The intellectual outputs and learning and teaching activities are designed to tackle the current and abovementioned challenges in adult education and lifelong learning. The Strategic Partnership expects increasing internationalisation in the field, trustful cooperation between higher education and practice, increased employability of graduates in adult education, a better match of existing and required skills, and a growth of professionally qualified practitioners in the field. In addition, joint materials for teaching in international settings support education on all levels. Besides, the flexible online learning pathway contributes to making education accessible in the digitised world. To ensure the sustainability and widespread use of the project results at the institutional, national, European and international levels, all developed products are available online via Open Access. To present the project results and to recruit partners for using the Strategic Partnership outcomes, three multiplier events were conducted: (1) International Workshop: INTALL@Home. (2) Web Conference: Re-thinking Adult Education Research. Beyond the Pandemic Towards the INTALL Project Results. (3) Online event: Going virtual with your (international) training: challenges and opportunities. Besides the multiplier events, various dissemination activities (LinkedIn professional network: 1.265 members, 31.08.2021) and a broad supporting system with 19 associate partners a long-term implementation of INTALL beyond the term of the partnership is ensured. During the three years, the Strategic Partnership achieved the following impact: (1) bringing professionalisation activities from universities and practice in this field together in a systematic manner and (2) providing graduates in adult education with an international profile for the employment market (3) through joint recognition of professional opportunities at the partner universities and partner institutions, and (4) by systematically supporting students and practitioners by developing and reflecting on competencies and skills required in international or internationally influenced working contexts.