SMALEI Final Conference: A Milestone in Advancing Sustainability in Adult Learning

This post is also available in the following languages: Euskara, Español

On 26 February, the SMALEI Final Conference: Empowering Adult Learning and Education for a Sustainable Future took place in Brussels. Organised by EARLALL and the EAEA, the conference marked the culmination of the SMALEI Erasmus+ project, which has been dedicated to enhancing sustainability in adult learning and education (ALE) institutions. Through the project’s innovative tools and policy recommendations, SMALEI has aimed to empower ALE providers to contribute meaningfully to the green transition.

The event, held at the Delegation of the Basque Country in Brussels, served as a platform for thought leaders, policymakers, educators, and civil society representatives to explore SMALEI’s achievements and discuss the critical role of ALE in fostering a sustainable future. The opening remarks by Inge Gorostiaga Luzárraga, Director General for Digital Transformation and Advanced Learning at the Basque Government’s Ministry of Education, set the tone for the day. She highlighted the transformative power of ALE, noting that it equips individuals with the skills and resilience needed to navigate an evolving labour market and tackle global sustainability challenges.

One of the key discussions focused on the development of sustainability competences, with an insightful presentation from Ulrike Pisiotis, a Policy Officer at the European Commission’s Directorate General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture. She emphasised the need for education systems to better prepare individuals for climate challenges, particularly given that over 75% of young people worldwide express concerns about the future. Pisiotis introduced GreenComp, the European Sustainability Competence Framework, which outlines key competences that learners need to act with responsibility and foresight for the planet. She stressed the importance of integrating sustainability competences into curricula, particularly future thinking, which is often overlooked in traditional education systems.

The conversation then shifted towards the labour market, with Tatjana Babrauskienė, a member of the European Economic and Social Committee and Head of International Relations at the Lithuanian Education and Science Trade Union. She highlighted the immense potential for job creation in the EU’s green transition, estimating that up to five million additional jobs could emerge by 2050. However, she also pointed out the significant skills gap, with over 60% of Europeans lacking the necessary qualifications for green jobs. Addressing this challenge, she stressed, requires a concerted effort to integrate adult education into sustainability policies and workforce development strategies.

A central feature of the conference was the introduction of SMALEI’s key resources designed to help ALE institutions embed sustainability into their practices. Andrea Bernert-Bürkle from Volkshochschulverband Baden-Württemberg presented the SMALEI Matrix, a tool aimed at guiding institutions through sustainable strategy development. Participants engaged in an interactive workshop exploring the five key areas of the matrix: environmental sustainability, learner engagement, green skills for trainers, partnerships for sustainability, and awareness-raising. Complementing the matrix, August Nilsson from Glokala folkhögskolan introduced the SMALEI Workbook, a practical guide to integrating sustainability in daily operations. Packed with exercises and templates, the workbook serves as a hands-on resource for institutions committed to green transformation. Meanwhile, Erdem Vardar from Yuva showcased the SMALEI Digital Academy, a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) that enables organisations to access self-paced learning on sustainability in ALE.

Interactive workshop

The afternoon sessions allowed participants to reflect on how these tools could be adapted to their institutions. Many expressed particular interest in green skills for trainers, human resource strategies, and cross-sector collaboration. They also highlighted the need for stronger policy support to bridge the gap between adult education and sustainable development.

 

Leire Oreja from Tknika, the Basque VET Applied Research Centre, closed the policy segment by presenting SMALEI’s policy recommendations and roadmap for integrating sustainability into ALE institutions. She underscored that a truly sustainable future requires an engaged and informed citizenry and that this can only be achieved through a lifelong learning approach that permeates all educational domains.

Going futher on your own – final reflections and call to use the mentorship scheme

As the event drew to a close, Charlotte Ede (EAEA) and Karolina Pisz (Freelance Trainer, Member of sTOP). reflected on the project’s impact. Throughout SMALEI, more than 300 ALE staff members across Europe have engaged with the initiative, contributing to a growing network of institutions committed to sustainability. Pisz emphasised the universal applicability of the SMALEI Matrix and the Workbook’s effectiveness in helping organisations envision a sustainable future.

The SMALEI Mentorship and Peer-Review Guidelines were officially launched. To support the development of sustainability practices in adult learning organisations, these guidelines are intended as a starting point for 1) personal mentorships and 2) organisational peer reviews. To support the launch of the mentorship guidelines, partners were able to browse a couple of printed copies and also were invited to take part in the March 26 Event “Mentor Your Way to Sustainability” which will build on the workshop during the final conference. Mentorship is a powerful tool for institutions to meet, work together, and improve their sustainability.

In her final remarks, Inge Gorostiaga Luzárraga reminded participants that the end of the SMALEI project does not signal the end of this journey. Rather, it marks the beginning of a collective effort to integrate sustainable leadership into ALE policies and practices. She called on stakeholders to continue fostering collaboration across borders and to champion sustainability as a guiding principle in adult education.

With its ground-breaking resources and strong network of engaged institutions, SMALEI has laid a solid foundation for the future of sustainable adult learning. The challenge now lies in ensuring that its legacy endures—transforming institutions, empowering learners, and shaping a greener, more resilient society.

➡️How can I keep up-to-date with the project?
✅Join our Green Adult Learning and Education Institution on Linkedin: https://lnkd.in/e_ihsdTG
✅Join SMALEI Digital Academy: https://lnkd.in/eZ_tC_8R

Conference materials

• GreenComp and Lifelong Learning – Ulrike Pisiotis, Education Expert Learning for Sustainability, Policy officer at the EU Commission’s Directorate General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture – Presentation
• Bridging Adult Education and Green Policies: Advancing the EU’s Sustainability Goals, Tatjana Babrauskienė, EESC member, Head of International Relations, Lithuanian Education and Science Trade Union – Presentation
• SMALEI for You: SMALEI Matrix – Andrea Bernert-Bürkle (Volkshochschulverband Baden-Württemberg), SMALEI Workbook, August Nilsson (Glokala folkhögskolan), SMALEI Digital Academy, Erdem Vardar (Yuva) – Presentations
• SMALEI Policy Recommendations – Bridging the Gap between Politics and Adult Education, Leire Oreja, Collaborator in the Bioscience and Sustainability area of Tknika, Basque VET Applied Research Centre – Presentation
• Lessons Learnt – Reflections on the project outcomes, challenges and future steps to further support sustainable practices in ALE – Charlotte Ede (EAEA),  Presentation