Registration is now open for the EBSN Annual Conference 2026, which will take place 17–19 June 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal.Held under the theme “Basic Skills for Life, Work and Democratic Participation in Times of Transformation”, this year’s conference will bring together policymakers, researchers, practitioners, educators and adult learning professionals from across Europe for exchang...
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EBSN Chair Alex Stevenson in ELM Magazine: PIAAC results must lead to stronger action for adults with low basic skills
A recent interview published by ELM Magazine features Alex Stevenson, Chair of the European Basic Skills Network, reflecting on England’s latest PIAAC results and warning that adults with low basic skills are still being left behind. The interview offers an important contribution to the wider European debate on how adult learning and education systems should respond to persistent in...
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Beyond the Low-Skills Trap: A Joint Policy Strategy by EBSN & EAEA
In response to the 2024 OECD Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) and stagnating participation rates across Europe, the European Basic Skills Network (EBSN) and the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) launched a sector-wide consultation.
The resulting joint policy package shifts the narrative from blaming learners for a "lack of motivation" to addressing the structural failures in a...
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Call for Contributions Open: EBSN Annual Conference 2026
We are pleased to announce that the Call for Contributions for the EBSN Annual Conference 2026 is now open.
The conference will take place 17–19 June 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal, hosted in cooperation with the Research Center for Linguistics at NOVA University Lisbon (CLUNL).
Under the theme “Basic Skills for Life, Work and Democratic Participation in Times of Transformation”, the conference will b...
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New ELINET blog: Whose literacy needs are not being met?
A new blog post on ELINET by Aoife Crawford (Research and Policy Officer, National Adult Literacy Agency – NALA, Ireland) explores a crucial question: whose literacy needs remain unmet - and why?
The article starts from a striking figure: in Ireland, one in five adults have literacy needs, meaning they score at or below Level 1 (out of five levels) in the OECD Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC). ...
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Join the iRead4Skills Final Conference – 25 February 2026
The iRead4Skills Final Conference will take place on 25 February 2026 from 14:15 CET at the Rectorate of NOVA University Lisbon (Auditorium B). The event will be held in a hybrid format, with the possibility to attend either onsite in Lisbon or online.Under the title “A new journey through knowledge”, the conference will present the main results of the iRead4Skills project and explore the strateg...
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Save the Date: EBSN Annual Conference 2026 in Lisbon (17–19 June)
The EBSN Annual Conference 2026 will take place on 17–19 June 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal, in cooperation with the Research Center for Linguistics at NOVA University Lisbon (CLUNL).
Under the theme “Basic Skills for Life, Work and Democratic Participation in Times of Transformation”, the conference will bring together adult education and basic skills professionals from across Europe,...
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Call for Papers: ESREA Network on Policy Studies in Adult Education Conference 2026
Adult Learning and Education: Widening the Scope for Action
📍 University of Hamburg, Germany
🕓 13–15 May 2026
The University of Hamburg and the ESREA Network on Policy Studies in Adult Education invite contributions for the 2026 conference “Adult Learning and Education: Widening the Scope for Action.”
Researchers and practitioners are encouraged to submit abstracts exploring how ad...
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EVENT: Designing Learning Spaces in Basic Education
On 5 November 2025, the German National Coordination Point of the European Agenda for Adult Learning, in cooperation with AEWB Niedersachsen, will host the conference “Designing Learning Spaces in Basic Education” in Göttingen, Germany.
The event will explore how learning spaces can be designed to inspire participation and motivation in basic education. Experts from Germany and ac...
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EVENT: Læring i Nord 2025 – Basic Skills in the Nordic Countries: New Data, Next Steps
On 24 October 2025 (12:00–15:00 CEST), EPALE and the Nordic Network for Lifelong Learning (NLL) — a member of EBSN — will host the annual Læring i Nord digital conference, focusing on basic skills in the Nordic countries.
This year’s edition will explore how to strengthen adults’ literacy, numeracy, digital and oral skills, drawing on new data from PIAAC2. Policymakers, practition...
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