EUropean NETworking as a method for further training and exchange of ideas in the lifelong learning sector.

The main challenge the project addressed was lower than possible level of European networking of Civil Society Organisations active in the lifelong learning, adult education sector. The idea of ...

The main aim of the project was to support the European level networking of the Civil Society Organisations active in the lifelong learning sector. The specific goals were: 1. Facilitating European level networking of adult learning Civil Society Organisations through increasing the accessibility of information and applicable knowledge, guidelines and recommendations concerning the European Cooperative Society (SCE) as a form of EU level networking. 2. Facilitating European cooperation in the adult education sector by delivering practical and reusable resources for the practitioners for self-directed education in the field of European projects initiation, designing, developing and realising. 3. Supporting the resilience of adult learning Civil Society Organisations and their capability to cope with the most current challenges for adult education: Digital transformation, inclusion and diversity in education, environmental awareness of the learners and educators, supporting active democratic activity of adult Europeans. 4. Supporting the development and strengthening of the FIRST Network as a laboratory for developing and testing solutions for the capacity building to operate in the international arena, enhancing innovativenes

METHODOLOGY & ACTIVITIES The design of the work programme was chronological, divided into 3 main phases. Project activities were divided into 20 Work Packages (WP), including transversal activities of management, evaluation and dissemination. There were 2 activities delivering Project Results, five Transnational Project Meetings, five Multiplier Events realised. The planned three international Training Events (LTTA) were cancelled by the evaluating expert. The Partnership found an alternative solution to deliver the intended outcomes of the cancelled LTTAs. The Project Results include: PR1. Delivered Toolkit on European Project Management for the Civil Society Organisations active in the Lifelong Learning Sector, in two parts: Part 1: Project planning and designing and Part 2: Realising, monitoring & evaluating the project, including. The Toolkits include Addenda with recommendations concerning the current challenges for lifelong learning: Inclusion and Diversity, Digital Transformation, Environmental awareness & supporting active democratic participation, developed as case studies. PR2. Delivered Recommendations for European Networking of the Civil Society Organizations active in the Lifelong Learning Sector, also including abovementioned Addenda. PARTICIPANTS & TARGET GROUPS The direct target group of the project included the members, workers, co-workers, volunteers and the adult learners of the non-vocational, adult education organisations, especially the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) including informal groups, Non-governmental organisations and other non -profit and not for profit organisations. The indirect target group include wide range of education – related organisations, institutions and decision makers. The dissemination activities reached, in total, at least 77.043 receivers. THE PARTNERSHIP CYCLE The project partners were five 3rd sector, civil society organisations, working in the field of lifelong learning, adult education from Poland, Italy, Hungary, Portugal and Iceland. All Partners were the members of the FIRST Network. Even though all the organisations involved were 3rd sector and working in the field of lifelong learning, they had various profiles and experience – which made the Partnership composition somehow representative for the adult liberal education sector in Europe. What is more, the EU NET realization was supported by several associated Partners.

RESULTS & IMPACT The results of the project are both tangible and intangible (material and immaterial). The direct tangible results – PR1 and PR2 - were reached during the work packages. PR1, The Toolkit on European Project Management for the Civil Society Organisations active in the lifelong learning sector, in 2 parts: Part 1: Project planning & designing. Part 2: Realising, monitoring & evaluating the project, delivers comprehensive, practical, attractive, self-directed learning material, giving a realistic picture of the European project manager profession, specific for the CSO sector. PR2 are The Recommendations for developing European cooperation of the Civil Society Organizations active in the Lifelong Learning Sector, including the Addenda on how to cope with the most current challenges for adult education: 1: Ecological and social aspects of Inclusion and Diversity in adult education. 2: Digital transformation for better distance and online teaching and learning for adults. 3: Environmental awareness of the learners and educators & supporting active democratic participation of the adult Europeans. The challenging process of delivering of the PR2 summarised, in one document, a good deal of new knowledge concerning one of the European Union’s experimental, failed attempts to provide a suitable, EU level, legal and organisational form for networking, cooperation and economisation – the European Cooperative Society (SCE). Followed by providing comprehensive recommendations for successful EU level cooperation building derived from the successful European networks experiences. The intangible results were illustrated in the field of increase of knowledge, skills and awareness, change of attitudes etc. These results were measured after the multiplier events. The direct intangible results may be seen both on individual and organizational levels, referring to change of attitudes and values related to European cooperation and networking, introducing innovations, professionalization of the adult education staff, and developing long-term development strategies of the 3rd sector adult learning organisations. The indirect, third level results are those long-term ones, clearly connected with the varied project impact. The impact analysis of the EU NET project – as well as wider impact analysis was conducted. The EU NET project is a closing element of the systemic project-approach to the support for the beginners from the CSOs in the field of European cooperation, coordinated by FAIE and co-created jointly, in various configurations, by 8 partner organisations from 8 EU countries. The EU NET project was preceded and based on also on the conclusions of the 2 former, related project: 1stTIPPM, resulting in funding the FIRST Network ("First-time international project realisers network”, Oct. 2018 – Sept. 2020) and AER-V ("Recommendations for international project managers competences recognition and validation for lifelong learning", Dec. 2019 – Dec. 2021). The overall impact of all these projects was addressed at the impact meeting held 6th of May 2024, especially form the FIRST Network perspective. SUSTAINABILITY The project results will be sustainable, among others, through: - Delivering applicable, reusable knowledge related to: European projects management, new ways of networking on the European level, new solutions for addressing the most current challenges in adult education. This knowledge is useful also for the other sectors of education. What is more, the learning and self-directed learning materials are possible to be adapted and updated in time, adjusting to the current needs of the sector. - Strengthening and amplifying the FIRST Network as a laboratory for designing and testing solutions enhancing innovativeness and resilience of the adult education sector.