The EPALE community conference 2021, the European Community of Adult Educators conference, was successfully held online in two parts (12 and 13 October and 18 and 19 October). In the first part, on 12 and 13 October, interesting speakers spoke in the Conference Plenary, and participatory workshops were organised in the second part. The first day of the conference was dedicated to inclusive and creative adult learning. We were introduced to a global perspective on innovative practices in adult learning and continued with a discussion on inclusive and creative strategies to break down barriers. In his speech, the concluding speaker Otto Scharmer guided us through the concepts of his U theory and learning from the emerging future. An interview with him is also published on the conference website.
Participation, education and digital access are topics that were the focus of the second day of the conference, 13 October. We began with a speech by keynote speaker Divine Frau-Meigs on the importance of media literacy and awareness in a rapidly changing environment. The discussion on the importance of digital activism in a democratic society was followed by a discussion on active ageing and the power of intergenerational cooperation in education. The topics of the participatory workshops were: innovation’s role in the basic skills training – ensuring learner-centred support, boosting outreach through partnership-building to promote the provisions of adult basic skills, green education in practice – how to mainstream sustainability in the provisions of adult learning, diversity and safe spaces in ALE. In parallel with the European EPALE Community Conference, interesting national debates took place in some countries.
Did you miss the event or want to hear the exciting parts of the conference again? Then, visit the conference website where the recordings are waiting for you.
Špela Močilnikar (spela.mocilnikar@cmepius.si), CMEPIUS
