10 jarig jubileum Grundtvig programma: EU steunt 'tweede kans' met volwassenenonderwijs (en)

Androulla Vassiliou i, the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, will take part in events in Copenhagen on 22-23 September to mark the 10th anniversary of Grundtvig i, the European Union's adult education programme.

Grundtvig helps adults boost their skills and employability by providing financial support for training courses and learning mobility. The Commission believes this support is needed more than ever to overcome the crisis and to free up all of Europe's growth potential, by ensuring that those who missed opportunities in the past are able to flourish in the future.

Over the past decade, the EU has invested €370 million in the adult education sector through the programme and provided 17 000 grants for organisations involving an estimated 500 000 participants.

"Grundtvig gives adults of all ages a second chance to gain skills and qualifications which will improve their job prospects and personal development," said Commissioner Vassiliou. "The programme supports a wide range of organisations, with a strong focus on disadvantaged adults. It is a vital part of the European Commission's strategy for lifelong learning and will contribute to our Youth on the Move initiative and the Europe 2020 goals for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth."

The Grundtvig programme helps adults who left school with basic or no qualifications, as well as providing support for teachers, trainers and other staff in adult education centres and associations, counselling organisations, information services, NGOs, enterprises, voluntary groups and research centres.

Commissioner Vassiliou will meet Grundtvig beneficiaries and adult education experts during a conference to mark the 10th anniversary of the programme in Copenhagen on 23 September. She will also meet the Danish Minister of Education, Tina Nedergaard. Her visit will begin on 22 September with a visit to the Danish School of Education at Aarhus University. The Commissioner will also meet the Minister of Culture, Per Stig Møller.

To knwo more

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  Read the full press release "10th anniversary of Grundtvig programme: EU supports 'second chance' through adult education" (IP/10/1156, 22 September 2010)
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  European Commission: The Grundtvig programme
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  Copenhagen conference website
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  Conference "Grundtvig, a decade of European innovation in adult learning", January 2010
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  Facts & figures about EU mobility programmes in education, training, research and youth