Financing Adult Learning and Education

"In most European countries, (non-formal) adult education is inadequately funded. In contrast to the formal system, the sources of financing are fragmented. Allocation of public funding can come - depending on the respective country and region - from different ministries, regional and local authorities as well as communes. Furthermore, employers and public employment services play a central role in the financing of adult education. In many countries and depending on the providers and the individual situations and learning needs of the learners, the learners themselves contribute through fees. Different funding mechanisms target providers and learners to enable them to provide learning offers or to participate in learning.Whilst the cost of many learning offers remain an obstacle for many Europeans (especially younger or older people or persons with low educational attainments as highlighted by the Adult Education Survey), funding for adult education has been under increased pressure due to the financial crisis, leading to a cutting of funds for education even in traditionally well-supported countries such as Finland. This is in contrast with a clear need to increase participation in lifelong learning. The PIAAC results have shown that at least 20% of Europeans lack basic skills, and the benchmark for participation has decreased in the last few years rather than made progress. The Thematic Working Group on Financing Adult Learning European Commission tackled this issue in 2012/13. The FinALE project was a reaction and follow-up on this work. The consortium started from the belief that there is a need to look into this topic from the point of view of civil society and to update what has been achieved to make proposals for policy and financing practice that focus on providers and learners. FinALE aimed to answer the following questions: why do we need to invest in adult education? What are the indicators for funding? Where is investment needed? Which instruments work? Which funding mechanisms can engage (more) new learners? The objective of the project was to provide a set of analyses as well as policy recommendations targeted at policy-makers of all levels (European, national, regional, local, communal) and at providers to be used as information and advocacy tools.Through a mix of different methods, including peer learning among the partners, quantitative and qualitative research, desk research, and consultations of stakeholders, the partnership monitored and analysed adult education policies and funding instruments and made recommendations on how to improve them. The main target groups were policy-makers, adult education providers and organisations as well as other stakeholders, such as research institutes, social partners etc. Feedback from these target groups were collected at the multiplier events of the project and through mapping and consulting key stakeholders, establishing an expert group on the financing of adult education in Europe as a ""by-product"" of the project. The outcomes were published in the FinALE Advocacy Toolkit (online publication), the FinALE Executive Summary (online and printed publication), the FinALE research paper on Where to invest, the FinALE paper on financial indicators for adult education, and the FinALE website (www.financing-adult-learning.eu). All publications as well as further information on the project and the topic of financing adult learning will remain available for consultation and download on the project website. The insights into the funding of adult education gained as well as the policy recommendations developed in the project equipped adult education organisations and providers with tools for their own advocacy work, and policy-makers with a better knowledge about key challenges in the financing of adult learning. While a short-term impact on adult education organisations as well as policy-makers can already be seen as the products are referred to and used in presentations, on official platforms etc., the consortium expects the main impact of the project to be visible on a mid-term and long-term perspective. The outputs are contributing to improved efficiency of public expenditure and investment in adult education as well as more effective adult education policies by drawing on European best practices and establishing a set of financial indicators for monitoring and evaluating use of resources."