The project aimed to promote active aging and lifelong learning by developing and testing a non-vocational educational counselling service for people aged 55+. One key objective was to design an innovative and accessible model of counselling tailored to the needs and interests of older adults, who are often professionally inactive, have a lot of free time and would like to spend it interesting ways. In parallel, a practical guide for adult education staff was created to support professionals working in this field. The project also focused on capacity building: at least six adult education staff members (three from each partner organization) enhanced their competences through joint research and the exchange of best practices. The aim was to address the shortcomings in our offers in the field of non-professional educational counselling for people aged 55+. During the testing phase, ten participants aged 55+ (five in each partner country) received individualized educational counselling. As a long-term impact, the project aimed to expand the educational offer of at least four adult education providers (two from each partner country), enabling them to integrate educational counselling as a regular service for the 55+ age group.
The demographic shift caused by the rapidly aging population in Europe has created an urgent need to support the well-being of individuals aged 55 and above. While life expectancy is increasing, older adults often face barriers in accessing meaningful, personalized, and age-appropriate educational opportunities. Many still possess valuable knowledge, skills, and motivation to contribute to society, but may lack the tools or support to do so effectively. This project addresses these needs by promoting active aging and lifelong learning through structured educational counselling. By offering guidance tailored to the specific needs of older individuals, the project fosters a sense of purpose, strengthens their social engagement, and enhances their personal development. In doing so, it supports not only the individuals themselves but also the communities they remain an active part of. This initiative also aligns with EU strategies like the Europe 2020 agenda, which emphasize lifelong learning as essential for personal growth and social inclusion. By offering tailored educational counselling, the project encourages ongoing learning and strengthens social participation in adults aged 55 and above.