Projekt „CULTURE DACTOR. Creative activities as a leverage for lifelong learning.”, was co-financed by Program Wiedza Edukacja Rozwój (POWER) 2014-2020 (Knowledge Education Development Programme 2014-2020) from „Above-national mobility of non-formal adult education staff” project, realized by Foundation for the Development of the Education System. The overall objective of the project was to learn and exchange successful partners' solutions, models and forms of supporting and organizing lifelong learning of adults in the frame of non-formal education. Additional specific goals were:a / Increasing of the ability to implement cultural and artistic elements in the process of non-formal adult education as an intercultural factor in the processes of integration of local communities.b / Raising the level of competence to develop and applying good practices in the process of networking of non-formal education institutions for adults and to understand factors contributing to the increase in cross-sector cooperation in the adult education sector.c / Initiation of activities in the area of designing management processes in adult education institutions that work in the local communities.Project was implemented in the period of 1st September 2018 – 31st December 2019.Participants of the project were 4 people - staff adult education in Foundation of Alternative Educational Initiatives (FAIE). Within the framework of the project, 3 educational mobilities (job-shadowing type) were implemented:a/ to Norway (Norges Huflisdslag) - methods of using cultural and artistic elements in adult education;b/ to Austria (EDUCULT) - knowledge of trends in adult education sector and integration of local communities through educational and cultural activities;c/ to Portugal (Rightchallenge - Associação) - creating a knowledge base for educational and cultural cross-sector cooperation.The results of the project are: strengthening the international cooperation of the FAIE with partner organizations; FAIE staff to acquired skills in the scope: models of managing adult educational institutions, methods of incorporating cultural elements into an educational process, rules of building intersectoral links and strategies for the developing of educational activities; increasing social and language competences and intercultural awareness. Additional products are: 3 - “knowledge pills” – reports on the course of 3 mobility - published on the FAIE channel (YouTube) and Recommendations for Adult Education Entities (published on EPALE platform).Project impact and long-term benefits:a/ important for all project partners and stakeholders of the adult education sector are: increasing the ability to build partnerships, strengthening the recognition of the organization, increasing the organization's ability to influence the environment, comparing adult education models, developed recommendations for the adult education sector, strengthening the exchange of databases, were undertaken new educational initiatives;b/ in addition - important for the FAIE: Internationalization of the Foundation's activities, initiation of the process of transferring solutions from other adult education systems, strengthening the substantive potential of the FAIE staff.c/ increase of knowledge base for Polish entities which are active in the adult education sector.

CONTEXT/BACKGROUNDThe main challenge the project addresses is little support available for the adult education providers at designing attractive and inclusive intergenerational education. The project focuses on supporting adult educators at joining various generations of adult learners in a common educational process that allows learning from each other, learning with each other and learning about each other. Among the current trends and topics of interest in education addressed by the project, important both for the young and the senior generation of learners are: language learning, taking part in educational mobilities & Erasmus Programme, EU citizenship rights, digital competences & critical thinking, responding to environmental and climate-change challenges, making education more personalised and attractive to the learners.AIMThe general aim of the project is to support the adult educators at designing, delivering and promoting more attractive and inclusive education for all generations of adult learners.PARTICIPANTSThe direct target group of the project includes the members, workers, co-workers, educators and volunteers of the Third Sector adult education organisations (i.e. Civil Society Organisations, including informal groups, Non-governmental organisations and other non-profit organisations).The indirect target group include wide range of education – related organisations, institutions and decision makers.The dissemination activities would reach, in total, at least 44.619 recipients.THE PARTNERSHIP CYCLEIs built by six Partner organisations, working in the field of lifelong learning, intergenerational adult education from Poland, Spain, Greece, Italy, Austria and Latvia. Five of the involved are civil society organisations; one – public language school. Each of the P artners is an expert in one of the fields identified as challenging and important for intergenerational learning.ACTIVITIESThe design of the work programme is chronological. All project activities are divided into 3 phases and 13 Work Packages (WP), including transversal activities of management, evaluation and dissemination. There are 6 Transnational Project Meetings (TPM) planned: 1 kick-off meeting, one summary meeting and 4 working meetings aiming at exchange of experiences and good practices. The work flow during the 4 working meetings gives each Partner a space to share its expertise in the field of intergenerational learning.There are also two international short-term joint staff training events planned. The work programme also includes one start-up package (WP01) and a concluding package (WP10) finalized in delivering final recommendations and the Exit Strategy.RESULTS & IMPACT The results of the project will be tangible and intangible (material and immaterial). The direct tangible results will be reached during the work packages, while the intangible will be illustrated in the field of increased of knowledge, skills and awareness, change of attitudes etc. The indirect, third level of results are those long-term ones, clearly connected with the varied project impact.The direct intangible results will be seen both on individual and organizational levels, referring tochange of attitudes and values related to international cooperation realizing & inclusive, intergenerational learning designing, organising and promoting. SUSTAINABILITYThere are 2 project results that will be especially sustained after the project ends:1) The Recommendations for more inclusive intergenerational adult education (E-publication) – that will be further used in the next, strategically planned project initiatives.2) The six experienced, tested and evaluated training modules, related to the most current challenges for intergenerational education, supporting development of the key competences of the adult learners (E-publication). The project proposed is an element of a long-term strategic plan of the project Partners, aiming at delivering new solutions and tools supporting intergenerational education in the frame of future, common initiatives. The cooperation is concluded with outlining the Exit Strategy for possible follow-up initiatives.

"<< Background >>The project ""The languages of creativity. Good practices for the golden age educators. ' was response to the needs identified by the project consortium.The needs were as follows:- acquiring knowledge about successfully used methods of teaching handicraft techniques,- acquiring knowledge about innovative methods of teaching foreign languages,- learning about good practices regarding the impact of artistic, cultural and creative activities on the mental and physical well-being of adults,- raising awareness of effective methods of the motivating adults to participate in lifelong learning- increasing the level of the internationalization of the consortium members.<< Objectives >>The aim of the project was to increase innovativeness and quality of activities of the Consortiums’ staff in the field of ways and means of teaching adults as well as motivating adult learners to actively participate in lifelong learning (LLL), through learning good practices applied by the receiving partners.The specific goals were:1) Increasing adult educators staff competences in the field of applying handicraft techniques as a tool for increasing social integration, based on local cultural heritage, supporting social capital building.2) Increasing the adult education staff competences in the field of innovative methods of teaching foreign languages, motivating to participation in international educational activities, based on intercultural values.3) Increasing the level of knowledge concerning an impact the creative activities may have on the physical and psychical well-being of the mature learners, encouraging them to be active in LLL.4) Increasing the level of knowledge concerning effective ways of motivating adult learners to participate in LLL.5) Internationalisation of the Consortium building organisations.6) Upgrading the inter-cultural and language competences.<< Implementation >>Learning Mobility participants took part in 2 Learning Mobilities:a / The first mobility took place in Norway, September / October 2021. Host organization - Norges Husflidslag from Oslo. Mobility type - course. The participants raised their knowledge in the field of the handicraft techniques; they also raised their competences in the field of: organization of intergenerational and artistic activities based on the use of local cultural heritage resources and combining educational and cultural activities at the local level.b / The second mobility was carried out in Spain in October 2021. It was a job-shadowing for adult education staff. The subject of learning mobility was related to new methods of learning foreign languages. Additional topics were: social integration through adult education and motivational factors for lifelong learning. The receiving organization was Escuela Oficial de Idiomas Madrid-Villaverde.<< Results >>The project results are as follows:- strengthening international cooperation between organizations from Poland and organizations from Norway and Spain- increasing knowledge about handicraft techniques as a tool to increase the level of social integration- increasing the level of knowledge on the use of local cultural heritage in the process of adult education- establishing of the new contacts with entities from the cultural sector active in the adult education - increasing the level of intercultural and linguistic competences- increasing the level of knowledge about innovative methods of learning foreign languages- increasing the level of competences related to motivating adults to participate in the lifelong learning- increasing the ability to include creative elements in educational activities as a factor of supporting psycho-physical development."

The main problem the project addressed was low level of innovativeness of the 3rd sector adult education organisations. This lowers the effectiveness and efficiency of adult education, being a barrier for effective outreach to the adult learners. One of the reasons for this is low level of international, partnership cooperation and networking of the adult education organisations. European cooperation brings innovations in the methods of work to better fit the needs and expectations of the adult learners, including low-skilled and low-qualified ones. It also brings development of professional skills of the organisations staff – adult non-vocational, liberal education professionals. Low level of cooperation in international environment results in low level of trust, low level of intercultural competences and often even consent to discrimination. Lack of cooperation on the European level may be the basis for questioning the united Europe existence. AIMThe overall aim was to support increasing innovativeness of the adult education organisations, in terms of education methodology, outreach to adult learners and managing adult education organisations, through supporting them at undertaking new ways and areas of activities.PARTICIPANTS The two primary, specific direct target groups were: 1. Staff members/volunteers/experts of the adult education 3rd sector organisations who would like to undertake initiating and realizing international, partnership cooperation for the benefit of their organisations – as the first-time international project managers; 2. The managers and management bodies members (the boards, auditing commissions, councils etc.) in the 3rd sector adult education organisations that would like to initiate and run international cooperation – with the first step to be to appoint a person responsible for international cooperation management.The indirect target group included wide range of education – related organisations, institutions and decision makers.Direct project participants were 1620 persons. The dissemination activities reached, in total, over 80.000 recipients.PARTNERSHIP CYCLEProject partners were six 3rd sector, civil society organisations, working in the field of lifelong learning adult education from Poland, Italy, Hungary (2 Partners; partner change), Denmark and Austria. 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.METHODOLOGY & ACTIVITIESThe design of the work programme was chronological, divided into 3 main phases. Project activities were divided into 17 Work Packages, including transversal activities of management, evaluation and dissemination. The project delivered: 6 Intellectual Outputs, 5 Transnational Project Meetings, 10 Multiplier Events and 2 Training Events. The Intellectual Outputs include: IO1. Multilateral Survey Report on good practices & success stories at supporting international projects managers in the adult education civil society organisations. IO2. Multilateral Research Report on key competences of international project managers in the adult education civil society IO3. ‘SUPPORT PORTAL’ for the first time international projects realisers, www.first-network.eu IO4. Mentoring and e-mentoring system for the first-time international project realisers. IO5. Training course curricula and open educational resources for the first time international projects realisers. IO6. Established and working International Support Network: FIRST Network.RESULTS & IMPACTThe results of the project are tangible and intangible (material and immaterial). The direct tangible results were reached during the work packages, while the intangible were illustrated in the field of increase of knowledge, skills and awareness, change of attitudes etc. The indirect, third level results are those long-term ones, clearly connected with the varied project impact.The direct intangible results were seen both on individual and organizational levels, referring to change of attitudes and values related to international cooperation realizing, introducing innovations, professionalization of the adult education staff and developing long-term development strategies of the 3rd sector adult learning organisations.SUSTAINABILITYProject results are be sustainable, among others, through:- Delivered and sustaining SUPPORT PORTAL gathering all the basic information essential for 1st time international project managers and the 3rd sector adult learning organisations planning to include international cooperation into their mid- and long-term development strategies. The SUPPORT PORTAL promotes the European cooperation idea underlining European common values and solidarity. - Founding International Support Network assisting first-time international projects realisers.

<< Background >>BACKGROUNDThe main challenge the project addresses is lower than possible level of European networking of Civil Society Organisations active in the lifelong learning, adult education sector. The idea of the EU NET is built on the outcomes, conclusions and the Exit Strategy of a 2 – year long Erasmus+ KA 2 project, 2018 – 2020, of five European organisations active in the field of adult education: “First-time international projects realisers support network” (1stTIPPM). The project was concluded in founding the FIRST Network in December 2020. The Mission of the FIRST Network (FN) is strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations and entities active in the adult education sector to operate in the international arena, enhancing innovativeness and the ability to adapt to changes in the modern world.Analysis preceding founding the FIRST Network disclosed lack of proper/affordable legal and formal solutions supporting networking accessible for the non-profit and/or not-for-profit CSOs. There seem to be a legal gap on the level of European legislation. The procedure of founding and registering European networks is just expensive and complicated. The European Cooperative Society form seems promising, but it is totally unsurveyed and unexplored.The EU NET also addresses the identified need for more practical examples, more case studies, material for further self-education in the field of European level cooperation and networking of the adult learning CSOs.<< Objectives >>THE AIM & OBJECTIVESThe main aim of the project is to support the European level networking of the Civil Society Organisations active in the lifelong learning sector.The specific goals are: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 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 innovativeness of the lifelong learning sector and its ability to adapt to changes.<< Implementation >>PARTICIPANTS & TARGET GROUPSThe direct target group of the project include 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 notfor profit organisations.The indirect target group include wide range of education – related organisations, institutions and decision makers.The dissemination activities would reach, in total, at least 107.133 receivers.THE PARTNERSHIP CYCLEProject partners are five 3rd sector, civil society organisations, working in the field of lifelong learning, adult education from Poland, Italy, Hungary, Portugal and Iceland. All Partners are the members of the FIRST Network. Even though all the organisations involved are 3rd sector and working in the field of lifelong learning, they have various profiles and experience – which makes the Partnership composition somehow representative for the adult liberal education sector in Europe. What is more, the EU NET realization would be supported by several associated Partners.METHODOLOGY & ACTIVITIESThe design of the work programme is chronological, divided into 3 main phases. Project activities are divided into 20 Work Packages (WP), including transversal activities of management, evaluation and dissemination. There are 2 activities delivering Project Results, five Transnational Project Meetings, five Multiplier Events and three international Training Events planned.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,Part 2: Realising, monitoring & evaluating the project,including: Addenda with recommendations concerning the current challenges for lifelong learning: Inclusion and Diversity and Digital Transformation, developed after the idea camps/workshops/networking events – LTT 1 and LTT2.PR2. Delivered Recommendations for European Networking of the Civil Society Organizations active in the Lifelong Learning Sector, including an Addendum with recommendations concerning the current challenges for lifelong learning: Environmental awareness and Active democratic participation – developed after the idea camp/workshop/networking event – LTT 3.<< Results >>RESULTS & IMPACTThe results of the project will be tangible and intangible (material and immaterial). The direct tangible results will be reached during the work packages, while the intangible will be illustrated in the field of increased of knowledge, skills and awareness, change of attitudes etc. The indirect, third level of results are those long-term ones, clearly connected with the varied project impact.The direct intangible results will be seen both on individual and organizational levels, referring to change of attitudes and values related to international cooperation and networking, introducing innovations, professionalization of the adult education staff, and developing long-term development strategies of the 3rd sector adult learning organisations.SUSTAINABILITYProject 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 would be useful also for the other sectors of education. What is more, the learning and self-directed learning materials will be possible to adapt and update 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.