LATEST UPDATES FROM EBSN
News & Events
In March 2026, EBSN and the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) published a joint policy package responding to recent evidence on adult skills and participation in adult learning.
The policy package, entitled “Beyond the Low-Skills Trap”, builds on consultation with EBSN and EAEA members and brings together policy reflections, member feedback and ...
The EBSN Annual Conference and General Assembly 2026 will take place in Lisbon, Portugal, from 17 to 19 June 2026, bringing together policymakers, researchers, practitioners and organisations working in the field of adult basic skills, lifelong learning and inclusion.
This year’s conference theme is “Basic Skills for Life, Work and Democratic Participation in Times of ...
Across Europe, the challenge of low basic skills remains structural. According to the OECD’s Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), roughly one in four adults in Europe — around 54 million people — struggle with literacy or numeracy skills. Participation in adult learning remains uneven across countries and often fails to reach those who ...
On 21 April 2026, the European Basic Skills Network (EBSN) contributed to the EVTA Community MeetUp “Strengthening Basic Skills in VET: Supporting Learners for the Future”, organised by the European Vocational Training Association (EVTA).
The online session brought together European stakeholders to reflect on the growing importance of basic skills in vocational education ...
The Nordic-Baltic PIAAC Conference 2026 will take place on 26–27 August 2026 at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. The event will bring together policymakers and researchers to explore the potential of OECD’s PIAAC and to discuss the latest insights shaping the future of adult skills development.
The programme will feature keynote ...
Cedefop, the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, has published a vacancy for the position of Expert in Research and Policy Analysis.
This opportunity may be of particular interest to professionals working in the fields of skills development, lifelong learning, vocational education and training, labour market analysis, and evidence-based ...
UNESCO has launched the call for applications and nominations for the UNESCO International Literacy Prizes 2026.
Since 1967, the Prizes have recognised outstanding and innovative programmes that promote literacy and contribute to the development of inclusive, literate societies worldwide. More than 500 initiatives led by governments, non-governmental organisations ...
On 26 March 2026, EPALE hosted the online discussion “Rooting democracy and active citizenship in adult learning”, generated and facilitated with the support of EBSN. The exchange brought together educators, policymakers, researchers and practitioners from across Europe to explore how adult learning can strengthen democratic participation in a time of social ...
We are inviting you to join us for the upcoming EPALE discussion titled Rethinking Libraries as Innovative Learning Spaces on 28 May between 10:00-16:00 CET.
Libraries are increasingly recognised as innovative learning spaces in adult education, going far beyond their traditional role as repositories of knowledge. They offer accessible, ...
A recent article published by The Conversation has reignited an important debate about adult literacy, revealing that more than one in three Australian adults may lack the literacy skills needed to fully participate in modern society. The findings serve as a reminder that functional literacy remains a major challenge not only in Australia, but across many developed ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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. ...
The world of work is evolving rapidly — and adult learning must adapt to stay relevant.
In a recent post on EPALE, the we explore how anticipating future skills needs can inform more effective strategies for adult education. By aligning learning opportunities with changing labour market demands, adult learning provision can remain flexible, inclusive, and ...
The European Basic Skills Network is proud to highlight the achievement of one of its founding members, the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA).
NALA’s Learn with NALA programme has been awarded the UNESCO International Literacy Prize 2025, recognising its outstanding contribution to supporting adults in Ireland to develop their literacy and digital ...
Artificial Intelligence is transforming how we teach and learn — creating new opportunities, but also new challenges for adults with low basic skills.
In September, the European Basic Skills Network (EBSN) facilitated an online discussion on EPALE about the role of AI in adult learning. The debate explored how AI can support learning — through personalised ...
EBSN invites its members and the wider adult learning community to take part in the upcoming EPALE discussion “AI and Basic Skills in the Digital Era”, taking place online on 18 September 2025, 10:00–16:00 CEST.
The discussion will explore the role of artificial intelligence in supporting basic skills learning – including literacy, numeracy and digital skills – and ...
The Cyprus Pedagogical Institute, Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth of Cyprus, in collaboration with the University of Cyprus, is pleased to announce the 6th International Conference “Literacies and Contemporary Society: From Skills to Practices”, taking place 24–25 February 2026 in Nicosia, Cyprus.
This important event is included in the official programme of the ...
The EBSN Annual Event 2025 took place in Brussels on 18–20 June, offering a unique occasion for professionals, researchers, and policymakers from across Europe to come together and engage in meaningful exchange on adult basic skills policy and practice. It was a pleasure to meet so many committed colleagues in person – the energy, expertise and openness of the ...
On 10 April 2024, the EBSN hosted a highly engaging international webinar to showcase the core methodology developed within the PROMOTE project – a transnational initiative focused on upskilling professionals working in and around correctional settings. The event attracted over 60 participants from across Europe and beyond, including adult learning professionals, ...
On 10 April 2024, the EBSN hosted a highly engaging international webinar to showcase the core methodology developed within the PROMOTE project – a transnational initiative focused on upskilling professionals working in and around correctional settings. The event attracted over 60 participants from across Europe and beyond, including adult learning professionals, basic ...
EBSN & PROMOTE Webinar: Enhancing Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration for Social and Community Inclusion
10th April 2025 | 14:00 – 16:30 CET
The European Basic Skills Network (EBSN) and the PROMOTE project are delighted to invite you to an insightful webinar exploring vocational excellence and professional development in the justice sector—with valuable insights applicable across various multi-organizational collaborations supporting vulnerable ...
EBSN & PROMOTE Webinar: Enhancing Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration for Social and Community Inclusion
10th April 2025 | 14:00 – 16:30 CET
The European Basic Skills Network (EBSN) and the PROMOTE project are delighted to invite you to an insightful webinar exploring vocational excellence and professional development in the justice sector—with valuable insights applicable across various multi-organizational collaborations supporting vulnerable ...
The European Basic Skills Network is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the EBSN Annual Conference 2025, which will take place from 18 to 20 June 2025 in Brussels, Belgium.
This year’s conference will centre on the implications of the OECD PIAAC 2023 survey results, with a particular focus on how low levels of basic skills contribute to growing ...
The European Basic Skills Network is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the EBSN Annual Conference 2025, which will take place from 18 to 20 June 2025 in Brussels, Belgium.
This year’s conference will centre on the implications of the OECD PIAAC 2023 survey results, with a particular focus on how low levels of basic skills contribute to growing ...
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