Adult learning is recognized as a key component of lifelong learning and Member States are required to remove barriers to participation, to increase overall quality and efficiency in adult learning, to speed up the process of validation and recognition and to ensure sufficient investment in and monitoring of the field (European Commission, 2006, 2007; European Parliament, 2008; European Council, 2008).
It is unanimously recognized that adult learning can play a pivotal role in meeting the goals of the Lisbon Strategy, by fostering social cohesion, providing citizens with the skills required to find new jobs and helping Europe to better respond to the challenges of globalisation. Such needs are taken into consideration in this Volume where the main issues faced are related to what 33 European countries have been doing in order to raise the skills levels of low-skilled workers, address the problem of the high number of early school leavers, combat social exclusion, ensure the efficiency, effectiveness, quality of adult learning.
Paolo Federighi
He is full professor at the University of Florence. Since 1972 he has been carrying out research activities in the areas of lifelong learning policies and strategies, involved in Knowledge Management issues and dealing with transfer of innovation in educational systems and within firms, institutional learning and policy transfer, skills development for adults learners and workers.
Ekkehard Nuissl von Rein
He is University Professor for Adult Education in Essen and has been working in several contexts as advisor in the field of education and adult education. Since 1991 he has been the Director of the German Institute for Adult Education (DIE) and represented Germany at the OECD, the UNESCO, the European Commission.
Simona Sava
She is the Director of the Romanian Institute of Adult Education (IREA). With over 15 years experience in education, training, research and project and programme management in higher education, she currently works as a Professor of Adult Education at the West University of Timisoara.
Vanna Boffo
She is a Researcher in General and Social Pedagogy at the Faculty of Science and Education of the University of Florence where she teaches General Pedagogy. She works in the philosophy of education, the educational relationships, training, communication and care of Self.
Francesca Torlone
She is researchers and senior project planner for Melius srl. She is involved in the Scientific Committees of international researches on youth unemployment, adult learning, Soft Open Method of Coordination among Regional Governments, vocational training and skills development for professionals and managers.
