“Study Circles are OK!” would be a fine slogan for an advertising campaign for study circles and their work. Not just because of the snappy, powerful message, but also because of the meaning. The letters ‘OK’ stand for the Dutch words ‘Ontmoeting and Kennisverrijking’ (getting together and knowledge enhancement), two key study circle terms. An educational project for seniors, which has proven to be a success around the world.

During the last months the European Commission has launched several public consultation processes in the context of the preparations for the next programme generation after 2013. EAEA as European umbrella organisation for adult education took part in the consultation. We met Gina Ebner, EAEA Secretary General to talk about the new education programme.

The first half of the European Year of Volunteering coincides with the Hungarian presidency of the European Union. Due to these two events occurring at the same time, special attention is paid to volunteering in Hungary, both at a social and governmental level.

The Dutch Research Institute Research voor Beleid published the final report of the assessment of the "Impact of ongoing reforms in education and training in the adult learning sector". The report makes clear that both the European Commission and the Member States need to take action to improve their adult learning systems and underlines that increasing and widening participation of adults in learning should be on the foreground of European educational policies.

Eurydice has published a new report focusing on formal education and training opportunities for under-qualified adults and also covers policies and measures for enhancing the participation of adults in higher education in Europe. The report reflects on five key issues faced by European countries and concludes that the completion of a formal qualification should now be seen as a step on the lifelong learning ladder rather than an end in itself.

ICAE will hold it´s 8th World Assembly in Malmö, Sweden 14-17 of June 2011. ICAE is a global civil society organization for the right to education for adults.

In the UK volunteering does not necessarily mean engagement in education. They are treated as two distinct activities although there are connections but also disconnections. Much arts based learning is closely linked to voluntary led organisations. The University of the Third Age in the UK is a voluntary learning organisation. However many adults wishing to return to formal education often discount any voluntary experience they have had as evidence on previous learning.

Over three days experts from the world of adult education discussed the EU's Adult Learning Action Plan, at a conference in Budapest, 7-9 March. The conference underlined the need for adult learning, more than ever before, to contribute to smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in Europe, as part of its economic recovery, and in response to its ageing, multicultural and constantly changing societies.

Community education courses in Ireland could return the Government's €10 million investment almost threefold in the benefits from increasing volunteering alone, research has suggested.

The European Year of Volunteering. An example: Marie Málková, graduate in Industrial Engineering, 48-years-old, married, 3 children, Catholic, working voluntarily as a companion for seniors.