This project establishes and coordinates a network of independent national experts across the 27 European Union Member States to provide critical country-specific analyses and cross-country perspectives on adult skills and learning. The primary challenge addressed is the need for the European Commission's Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL) to monitor and understand policy developments and persistent challenges in adult learning, particularly concerning participation rates, socioeconomic discrepancies, digital and green skills gaps, training in the workplace, and job-to-job transitions. This initiative directly supports the implementation and monitoring of key European policy frameworks, including the European Skills Agenda, the Council Resolution on a new European agenda for adult learning 2021-2030, individual learning accounts, Upskilling Pathways, and national commitments under the European Semester.
The task of the ICF and PPMI | Part of the Verian Group team is to provide comprehensive guidance to the experts through detailed notes, a kick-off webinar, and dedicated briefing sessions, ensuring clarity on expected outputs and quality standards. A collaborative virtual platform facilitates continuous communication and information sharing. The core of the project involves country-specific research, where national experts utilise secondary sources and conduct targeted interviews to complete standardised templates, producing two status reports and one in-depth country report annually. Throughout this research, we maintain rigorous monitoring and quality assurance, employing a multi-stage review process that includes formal and content-based checks to ensure accuracy, consistency, and adherence to guidelines.
The project delivers critical insights and analytical outputs to DG EMPL, enabling informed policy-making and strategic monitoring. Specifically, the results include:
- Twenty-seven national status reports are submitted twice each year, providing up-to-date analyses of national policy reforms, implementation of European adult learning initiatives, and critical assessments of challenges and areas requiring attention. (PPMI | Part of the Verian Group is in charge of 10 countries: CY, CZ, EE, EL, HR, LT, LY, SE, SK, SI).
- Twenty-seven national country reports annually, offering in-depth analysis on a selected thematic area, such as training at the workplace or supporting job-to-job transitions. (PPMI | Part of the Verian Group is in charge of 10 countries: CY, CZ, EE, EL, HR, LT, LY, SE, SK, SI).
These deliverables contribute directly to the Education and Training Monitor and other key policy analysis activities, offering a robust evidence base for advancing adult learning policies across the European Union.