About the NEAAL Project
The New European Agenda for Adult Learning determines the approach and focus to how adult learning is being supported and promoted across Europe, to 2030. European countries work together to put the agenda in place in their own countries. AONTAS is responsible for this in Ireland.
This project is funded through the New European Agenda for Adult Learning (NEAAL)
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
In November 2021, the Council of the European Union put in place a New European Agenda for Adult Learning.
This focuses on the need to significantly increase adult participation in formal, non-formal, and informal learning across Europe.
It is a vision of how adult learning should develop in Europe by 2030.
There are five priority areas:
- Governance of adult learning – with a strong focus on whole-of-government national strategies and stakeholder partnerships
- Supply of and participation in lifelong learning with sustainable funding
- Accessibility and flexibility – to adapt to people’s needs
- Quality, equity, inclusion and success in adult learning – emphasising the professional development of adult learning staff, the mobility of both learners and staff, quality assurance and active support to groups of people who are underresourced or marginalised in our society
- The green and digital transitions – meaning that all members of our society can be well equipped to participate in and adapt to a world shaped by technology and climate change.
NEAAL in Ireland
Here in Ireland, AONTAS are the national coordinator for NEAAL. We were nominated to this role in 2014 by the Department of Education and Skills.
In this role, we design and run programmes funded by the European Commission that strengthen adult education.
We work with adult educators and learners across Ireland and facilitate cooperation with the other EU Member States who on NEAAL in their own countries.
There are new NEAAL programmes every two years.
The current project is called “Building Stable Roots in a Sustainable Learning Ecosystem”.
Across 2024 and 2025, we are running a series of programmes and activities. These are:
The Learners as Leaders programme, which empowers learners across Ireland to be champions of adult learning in their communities.
Learner Voice development for educators, including training in how to embed Learner Voice processes into course design and structure
The Project Advisory Group, a collection of people coming together to direct and focus NEAAL activities
AONTAS on the Road, where we travel to community education practitioners around the country providing training and new resources
Innovation in Community Education, including new ideas on how to address issues on climate change and the advancement of technology
And other activities including collaboration with our European countries, promoting the work through national and local awareness-raising campaigns, holding an event relevant to our EU work, policy submissions to advocate for change with decision makers, and large-scale events similar to the “Window to the World” adult education summit last November.
What impact have we had or will we have with this project?
The target groups for this project are learners with low educational attainment in employment, lone parents, Travellers, people who are homeless, migrants and refugees, people with disabilities, older learners, women (particularly home-makers), marginalised and vulnerable adults, adult and community educators, adult and community education staff, employers, and EU partners.
Our main objective is to enhance a powerful and empowering learning ecosystem for learners, organisations, and the community education sector in Ireland.
We are focussed on empowering learners, building the capacity of community education practitioners, raising awareness on the green and digital transition, enhancing the standing and visibility of the community education sector, and promoting the idea that learning can happen anywhere.
We aim to facilitate workplace learning, foster innovative learning environments in community education, and emphasise the transformative power of education.
We are committed to driving the successful implementation and long-lasting impact of the European Skills Agenda and the European Year of Skills initiative.
Read more about the previous NEAAL project, “Inclusive Recovery and Transformation: Adult Learning Post-Covid-19” (2022-2023)
News
The very latest news from the adult and community education sector
BlogNews
Exploring Community Impact at Ballycommon Technology & Training Centre
3 October 2025
Exploring Community Impact at Ballycommon Technology & Training Centre Written by AONTAS Published on October 3, 2025 Share This A...
News
A Cornerstone of the North Dublin Community: Coolock Development Council
26 September 2025
News
Nominations Now Open for the AONTAS STAR Awards 2026!
26 September 2025
Nominations Now Open for the AONTAS STAR Awards 2026! Written by aontasdev Published on September 26, 2025 Share This Nominate...
News
Adult Education Tutor Pay – Reflecting a Broader Funding Gap in FET
28 August 2025
Greater investment in adult education is needed. Today, adult education tutors are marching from SOLAS to the Department of Further...
News
Showcase Your Impact at the AONTAS Adult Education Summit 2025!
27 August 2025
Join Ireland’s leading voices in adult learning by securing an exhibition stand at the AONTAS Adult Education Summit 2025 on 19-20 November...
Blog
