As Yuva Association, in 2022, we became a part of the SMALEI (Sustainability Matrix for Adult Education Institutions) project carried out with leading European institutions in the field of adult education. The partners of the project coordinated by the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) are the European Association of Regional and Local Authorities for Lifelong Learning (EARLALL) from Belgium, the Baden-Württemberg Adult Education Association (VHS Verband) from Germany, Glokala from Sweden, the Ministry of Education of the Basque Government, the Polish NGO Trainers Association (STOP) and Yuva Association.
The SMALEI project aims to improve the sustainability of adult learning and education providers and organizations across Europe and increase their capacity to contribute to societal developments going forward. Another aim of the project is to raise awareness about environmental and climate change issues and to enable adult education institutions to take concrete steps towards sustainable growth.
Within the scope of SMALEI, green competences for adult education educators and staff will be acquired and methodologies will be developed. This will encourage behavioral changes and contribute to the environmental sustainability of the European Union.
Within the SMALEI project, project partners will develop a matrix to assess the current state of sustainability issues in ALE organizations, applied tools and policy recommendations. The resulting material and conclusions will be tested by all partners in order to be transferable to other organizations and countries.
The matrix is expected to address the following issues:
- Environmental sustainability of adult education institutions
- Green skills of trainers and staff
- Student participation
- Raising awareness and engaging people
- Developing cooperation and partnership for sustainability
The SMALEI project started with face-to-face meetings in Stuttgart on September 19-20, 2022. The parties then met online on November 4 and November 24 to discuss the project. Details of the planned website were discussed. The project continues in 2023.
