Time to Fresh Up: Cultivating Economic Literacy for Resilient Work in Europe

(Paid) work gives a person's life content (hopefully also meaning), secures income and structures time. The cohesion (or disintegration) of societies is to a great extent organised through work. The way in which work and income are distributed indicates power relations within a society. Labour therefore touches on people's elementary needs. This contrasts with the profound current transformations - digitalisation, ecological crises, the gap between rich and poor, etc. - which might raise uncertainty about one's own career prospects and future social security. What is needed are a) civic education that empower people to understand developments (so that they do less need to rely on authoritarian, "right-wing" interpretations) and b) practical support that helps people to (re)orientate themselves and find creative solutions to its work situation autonomously. Economic education can c) encourage people to verbalise and objectify their questions and displeasure so that conflicts can be resolved peacefully. In the European single market, labour is also a European issue. It requires the further development of d) intercultural competences.

The consortium aimed at 1. Making aspects of WORK a subject of adult education in Europe by providing information and training material for adult learners and adult educators. Educators can gain competences to promote a) socio-economic learning related to work and b) reasonable decision-making based on arguments in view of complex situations. 2. Bringing ECONOMISTS, ADULT EDUCATORS and ADULT LEARNERS together by „working“ on a learning platform on work which provides material to stimulate reflection on the 'big picture' of economy and the small-scaled lives with its opportunities to discover new paths for resilient work in Europe and one's own life. 3. Practicing both DIALOGUE by considering micro-economic and macro-economic approaches, 4. Fostering a EUROPEAN DIMENSION by reflecting work in a supra-national horizon and against each partner's society's background to enhance intercultural learning. 5. Practicing DEMOCRATIC learning by promoting didactic approaches which empower to own research, self-organisation, self-confidence and public spirit.

The project activities encompassed - creating a learning platform (LP) with introductory videos, a longer course video (4 min.), background information on the topic, interactive exercises, activities to be applied in groups (methods), - transnational exchanges during online and physical meetings to a) organise the work, b) provide detailed feedback on the contributions for the LP, c) exchange on socio-economic questions, d) apply the developed activities, provide feedback and revise the articles, proofread and translate them, - writing short articles on current topics around work („food for thought“), - regular evaluation, - dissemination activities including one multiplyer event per partner, - reflecting on impact, - considering sustainability questions, e.i. how to fund the learning platform’s expenses within at least the next 5 years. The 3 transnational project meetings were held in the beginning, in the middle and at the project’s end; The two workshops (LTTA) took place in between the project management meetings. The multiplyer events could be organised by each partner as physical meetings for a local audience.

The project activities encompassed - creating a learning platform (LP) with introductory videos, a longer course video (4 min.), background information on the topic, interactive exercises, activities to be applied in groups (methods), - transnational exchanges during online and physical meetings to a) organise the work, b) provide detailed feedback on the contributions for the LP, c) exchange on socio-economic questions, d) apply the developed activities, provide feedback and revise the articles, proofread and translate them, - writing short articles on current topics around work („food for thought“), - regular evaluation, - dissemination activities including one multiplyer event per partner, - reflecting on impact, - considering sustainability questions, e.i. how to fund the learning platform’s expenses within at least the next 5 years. The 3 transnational project meetings were held in the beginning, in the middle and at the project’s end; The two workshops (LTTA) took place in between the project management meetings. The multiplyer events could be organised by each partner as physical meetings for a local audience.