Do we have a numeracy problem? "Yes!" says the UK National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) and published seven recommendations to improve adult numeracy. NIACE makes it clear that a successful governmental approach to numeracy needs to focus on learners' interests and reflect everyday lives.

Would you like to explore education and training issues with your peers in other European countries? Are you interested in expanding your professional network? Do you wish to learn more about education and training policy and practice across Europe? Then perhaps it’s time to participate in the EU’s Study Visits Programme.

When the financial means are few and the bureaucracy is mean, the meaning of resourceful adult educators becomes obvious.

Each year, the European Association for the Education of Adults celebrates innovation and excellence in adult education. The Grundtvig Award highlights project results that produce new ideas, new partnerships, new methodologies and a new understanding how we can work in adult learning. In 2011, EAEA is looking for projects that tackle Learning Experiences through Volunteering.

In 2011, a new decentralised structure will be piloted for the state contribution to cultural activities. This may have an effect on the study associations’ important freedom to arrange cultural activities on their participants’ terms.“Sweden is facing a paradigm shift which will demand increased cooperation within and between study associations and collaboration with other non profit organisations” is the opinion of the Swedish Adult Education Association (Folkbildningsförbundet).

The website of SVEB (Swiss Federation of Adult Learning) is also available in English.

According to latest figures compiled by the European Commission, more than 10 million people are using a ‘EUROPASS’ online CV to help them find a job. By offering a standardised CV template, available in 26 languages, Europass helps job-seekers to market their knowledge and skills in a user-friendly way to employers all over Europe and beyond. Almost half of Europass users are under the age of 25.

“Opportunities for all - Promoting social inclusion of migrants” was the theme of a Grundtvig workshop in Stockholm in November. Participants from 17 countries discussed refugee issues on the initiative of the Study Promotion Association (Studiefrämjandet) and the Swedish Red Cross.

“I would expect to see an increase in Europe-wide cooperation in the future,” says Hugo Rickberg, programme coordinator at the Red Cross in Stockholm.

The Grundtvig programme is a European funding programme aimed at creating a stronger European dimension in the work of adult educators and learners. Launched in 2000, Grundtvig has been around for a decade. For many of those years, the programme has been steered at the Commission by programme coordinator and deputy head of unit Alan Smith. For those familiar with adult education politics at the European level, Smith is ‘Mr Grundtvig’. LLinE met Alan Smith in November to discuss Grundtvig’s past and present, and most crucial, the future.

The current problems in Portugal and Ireland show that the financial crisis is not over by a long shot. Austerity measures in the affected countries have led to public expenditure being significantly reduced, with corresponding consequences for adult education. This InfoLetter provides examples of the current situation of adult education in the individual countries.