Europeanisation of adult education – Prospects and challenges?

This article examines the ongoing Europeanisation of adult education policy within the European Union (EU), focusing on the development and governance of the European Education Area (EEA) as a key framework for coordinating education and training (ET) across Member States. It highlights the role of the open method of coordination (OMC), a non-binding intergovernmental policy mechanism, in fostering convergence and peer evaluation among countries since the Lisbon Agenda and subsequent treaties. The article discusses challenges such as political tensions, economic disparities, and the inclusion of low-skilled and disadvantaged adults, while presenting recent research on governance, policy implementation, and the impact of EU soft power in adult education. Contributions also address the complexities of multilevel governance, leadership, validation of prior learning, and the influence of EU policies beyond its borders, emphasizing the dynamic and contested nature of adult education policy in Europe.