The PartnerUP project’s objective is to support the implementation of Upskilling Pathways, the EU’s ambitious strategy which addresses the learning needs of many people in Europe – according to PIAAC, more than 60 million – in acquiring basic skills, i.e. literacy, numeracy and digital skills. This high number means a huge challenge for Europe: people with low basic skills have fewer job chances, a higher risk for poverty, worse health, participate less in society and have little sense of self-efficacy. Participation in adult education and training is crucial, as it helps people find, keep and further develop in their job. However, adults with low skills are less than half as likely to participate in adult learning as those with higher skills, as adults with low skill levels find it more difficult to recognise their learning needs and hence are less likely to seek out training opportunities.

The Partner UP project is made up of a consortium of adult education organisations and agencies from Croatia, Greece, Cyprus, Ireland, Latvia, Romania and Italy, as well as two European networks, the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA), who coordinate the project, and eucen. It aims to identify, analyse and improve partnerships both at the national and European level through which the Upskilling Pathways strategy can be better implemented. Based on an analysis of the current partnerships as well as the missing links it will set up first cooperations and develop road maps, both on national and European levels.

To achieve this goal, the project will involve peer learning and study visits, through which partners will learn from each other and be enabled to transfer successful practices to their contexts. Next, development groups will be established to bring together stakeholders, build trust and establish cooperation structures. The outcomes of these activities include road maps as well as ‘Lessons Learned’, and will display innovation for the implementation of Upskilling Pathways, both at the national and European level. Eucen will play a particularly important role in synthesising the project’s main learning points, as well as conducting an analysis of stakeholders at the European level.

The PartnerUp project has a consortium of 11 partners:

– EAEA, Belgium (coordinators)
– Cardet, Cyprus
– Latvian Adult Education Association, Latvia
– Agencija za strukovno obrazovanje, Croatia
– Asociatia Euro adult education, Romania
– EUCEN, Belgium
– Epistimoniki enosi ekpaidefsis enilikon somateio, Greece
– AONTAS, Ireland
– Ustanova za obrazovanje odraslih dante, Croatia
– Forma.Azione, Italy
– Valsts izglitivas attisbibas agentura, Latvia

The ministries in Romania, Cyprus and Greece as well as the national forum of the 3rd sector in Italy are associate partners of this project.

Here is the link to the project website.